How do you get dried blood out of a towel?

It can be a hassle when you find dried blood on your towels, whether it’s from a nosebleed, cut, or monthly cycle. Dried blood can be difficult to remove if you don’t act quickly. Fortunately, there are several methods you can try to get dried blood stains out of towels.

What Causes Dried Blood Stains

Blood is made up of proteins, red blood cells, white blood cells, and platelets suspended in plasma. When blood dries, the proteins and platelets bond together tightly, making it hard to remove the stain.

There are a few factors that can make dried blood stains even more stubborn:

• Heat – Hot water and drying can set blood stains into fabric
• Time – The longer the stain sits, the harder it is to remove
• Fabric – Blood adheres tightly to cotton and other absorbent materials

That’s why it’s important to treat blood stains as soon as possible. The quicker you can begin removing the stain, the better chance you have of getting rid of it completely.

Supplies Needed

Removing dried blood stains takes a little bit of work, but you likely have most or all of the supplies you need already at home:

• Dish soap or laundry detergent – Helps lift and dissolve stain
• Cold water – Prevents setting stain with heat
• Hydrogen peroxide – Bleaches and breaks down blood proteins
• Baking soda – Absorbs stain and acts as a mild abrasive
• White vinegar – Cuts through grease and dissolves residues
• Enzyme cleaner – Breaks down organic materials like blood
• Color-safe bleach – Removes discoloration without fading dyes
• Old toothbrush – Scrubs fabric to help lift stain

Gather your stain-fighting ingredients and supplies before getting started. Having everything on hand will make the process faster and more effective.

Method 1: Cold Water

For fresh stains, start by running the item under cold water. Cold water can help loosen the blood and prevent it from setting into the fabric. Follow these steps:

1. Rinse back of stain with cold water until water runs clear.
2. Rub a small amount of dish soap or detergent into the stain.
3. Let soak for 15-20 minutes in cold water.
4. Rinse thoroughly to remove all soap.
5. Air dry and check if the stain has lifted. Repeat if needed.

The quicker you can rinse out the blood after it happens, the better your results will be. This method works best for stains less than a day or two old.

Why Cold Water Works

Cold water constricts blood vessels and causes blood proteins to coagulate more slowly. Hot water causes proteins to set, making stains much harder to remove. Cold water keeps blood in liquid form longer so it can be rinsed away.

Method 2: Hydrogen Peroxide

Hydrogen peroxide is commonly used to brighten and disinfect laundry. It’s also a powerful stain remover. Hydrogen peroxide can help lift dried blood stains through its bleaching abilities.

1. Apply a small amount of hydrogen peroxide directly to the stain.
2. Let sit for 5 minutes to allow it to bubble and work.
3. Rub the stain between your fingers under cold running water.
4. Rinse thoroughly and air dry.
5. Check stain and repeat if needed until it lifts.

Be careful not to over-saturate the fabric, as too much peroxide can damage fibers. Spot test first for colorfastness.

How Hydrogen Peroxide Removes Blood

Hydrogen peroxide is an oxidizing agent. When applied to fabrics, it releases oxygen bubbles that break apart blood proteins and lift them from the material.

Method 3: Baking Soda

For really stubborn, set-in stains, baking soda is a great stain fighter. The abrasive texture combined with its absorbent properties help draw out dried blood from fabric.

1. Make a paste with 3 parts baking soda to 1 part cold water.
2. Rub the paste thoroughly into the stain using your fingers or old toothbrush.
3. Let sit for 10 minutes to allow baking soda to absorb and lift blood.
4. Rinse with cold water until baking soda is removed.
5. Air dry and check if stain has lifted. Repeat if needed.

Baking soda is safe for most washable fabrics. It works by pulling stain away from the fibers as the paste dries.

Why Baking Soda Lifts Dried Blood

Baking soda is a natural deodorizer and cleaning agent. It contains mild abrasive crystals that can help scrub away stubborn stains. Baking soda also absorbs and pulls blood up off the fabric surface as it dries.

Method 4: Vinegar

White vinegar is an all-purpose cleaning marvel. The high acidity of vinegar helps dissolve residue and cut through grease and grime. Vinegar can help loosen the bonds of dried blood on fabric when combined with dish soap.

1. Fill a bowl with 1 part white vinegar and 2 parts cold water.
2. Add a drop of dish soap and swirl together.
3. Soak towel in vinegar solution for 30 minutes up to a few hours.
4. Check stain and rub vigorously if needed.
5. Rinse thoroughly until vinegar smell is gone.
6. Wash as normal and allow to air dry.

This vinegar soak works well for large or heavily stained areas. The longer you soak, the more it has time to work.

How Vinegar Removes Dried Blood Stains

Vinegar helps dissolve the coagulated proteins in blood through its acidic properties. The dish soap also helps lift residue. Together, they penetrate, dissolve, and detach dried blood from fabric.

Method 5: Enzyme Cleaner

Enzyme cleaners contain activated enzymes that are designed to break down organic compounds like proteins, oils, and grease. This makes them ideal for lifting challenging set-in stains like dried blood.

1. Check stain cleaner is enzyme-based or designed for blood stains.
2. Apply a small amount directly to the stain.
3. Let sit for 5-10 minutes.
4. Rub the stain under cold running water with fingers or toothbrush.
5. Rinse thoroughly and allow to air dry.
6. Wash as normal and repeat if stain persists.

Look for enzyme cleaners near the laundry or cleaning aisles. Follow instructions on packaging.

How Enzymes Remove Blood Stains

Enzymes break the molecular bonds in organic compounds like blood, digesting the proteins and loosening the stain over time. This allows stains to be rinsed clean with cold water.

Method 6: Color-Safe Bleach

Color-safe bleach uses hydrogen peroxide to lift stains without bleaching or fading dyes. For dried blood, it can help break down and dissolve residue.

1. Check clothing tags and test for colorfastness.
2. Mix a bleach solution according to packaging.
3. Apply to stain and let sit 10-15 minutes.
4. Rub with soft brush and rinse with cold water.
5. Wash as normal.

Never use chlorine bleach on blood stains, as it can leave a permanent orange discoloration. Opt for an oxygen-based color-safe bleach.

How Color-Safe Bleach Works on Blood

Color-safe bleach uses hydrogen peroxide to lift stains the same way. It bleaches and degrades blood proteins without stripping color from fabrics when used properly.

Tips for Removing Dried Blood

Follow these tips when tackling dried blood stains:

• Act quickly – Treat stains ASAP for best results.
• Flush with cold water – Hot water sets stains.
• Blot don’t rub – Rubbing can grind stain further into fabric.
• Avoid chlorine bleach – Can discolor fabric.
• Use an enzyme cleaner – Breaks down organic stains.
• Check care tags – Follow garment washing instructions.
• Test on inconspicuous area first – Check for colorfastness.
• Repeat as needed – It may take multiple tries to fully lift stain.

Will Dried Blood Come Out of Towels?

Yes, dried blood can come out of towels, but it depends on the age of the stain and your removal methods. The key is to act fast before the blood bonds too tightly with fibers.

For fresh stains, cold water and dish soap can help lift blood effectively. Hydrogen peroxide also helps lift recent stains.

For older, set-in stains, try an enzyme cleaner, baking soda scrub, or vinegar soak to penetrate and dissolve the hardened proteins. It may take repeated effort.

How to Prevent Blood Stains

While stain removal is possible, it’s still best to try and prevent those stubborn blood stains in the first place whenever possible.

Here are some tips to help avoid setting in bloody stains:

• Act immediately – Rinse fabric as soon as stain occurs.
• Use cold water – Warm water can set stains.
• Don’t over dry – Heat can bond blood to fibers.
• Use protective layer – Place towel over sheets or furniture.
• Don’t overload wash – Clean blood-stained items separately.
• Try stain-resistant towels – They repel stains better.

While not foolproof, being proactive makes stains much easier to handle or avoid altogether.

Stain Resistant Towels

Stain resistant towels have a protective coating that prevents liquids and stains from absorbing easily into the fibers. This allows fresh stains to be rinsed off before they have a chance to bond.

While not impenetrable, stain resistant towels give you more time to treat stains properly. They are especially useful for frequent blood stains.

Conclusion

Dried blood doesn’t have to become a permanent fixture on your towels. With the right methods and tools, even stubborn stains can be lifted and removed completely.

The most important step is to act fast after the stain occurs. Flush it out immediately with cold water before applying a targeted stain removal method.

Enzyme cleaners, hydrogen peroxide, vinegar, baking soda, and color-safe bleach can all help tackle dried blood by dissolving proteins and lifting them from fibers.

It may take patience and repeated effort for tough, set-in stains. But with a little time and elbow grease, you can get dried blood out of towels successfully.