How to Get Blood out of Cotton
Turn the water on to the coldest possible setting., Hold the fabric taut between your hands., Place the stain under the running water., Rub the stain with your finger and rinse it some more., Put some soap onto the stain and continue scrubbing it...
Step-by-Step Guide
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Step 1: Turn the water on to the coldest possible setting.
Let it run for a few minutes, especially if it is a hot day, so that the water can cool down some more. -
Step 2: Hold the fabric taut between your hands.
Gently grip the garment, keeping your fingers to either side of the stain, and pull.
The fabric should be stretched out, like the top of a drum.
Don't pull so hard that you risk ripping the garment, though. , Hold it for a few minutes until turning it over.
Most of the blood should have come out. , You can also use an old toothbrush, but be careful not to scrub too hard, or you will risk setting the stain into the fabric. , You can use any type of soap, including liquid and bar soap.
You can use basic hand soap or even a small amount of laundry detergent. , Be sure to keep scrubbing the stain until all of the soap is gone.
Most of the blood should be gone by now.
The stain will likely still remain, however. , There are many products available that can remove blood stains.
Some of these products are simple household products that you may already have in your bathroom cabinet or pantry.
This section will show you how to use these products.Keep in mind, however, that some stains may have permanently set into the fabric, and you may still have some slight residue. , Simply sprinkle some salt over the stain and let it sit for a few minutes, then gently scrub it with your finger or an old toothbrush.
Rinse the stain well with cold water.
If you don't have any salt on hand, but you happen to wear contacts, try using some of the saline solution you use for your contacts. , Crumble a few aspirin pills in a small dish and mix them with just enough cold water to create a paste.
Spread the paste over the stain and let it sit for 30 minutes or overnight before rinsing it off. , Sprinkle some baking soda into a small dish and add in a few drops of cold water.
Mix until you get a paste, then spread the paste over the stain.
Wait 30 minutes or let it sit overnight before rinsing the garment off with cool water. , Simply pour some hydrogen peroxide (the same kind that comes in a brown bottle and that you can find in the first aid section of a drug store) or lemon juice over the stain.
Let it sit for a few minutes, then rinse it out using water.
Be sure to scrub the stain with you finger or an old toothbrush.
Both hydrogen peroxide and lemon juice can lighten fabric, so they are not recommended for bright or dark-colored garments. , Simply pour some white vinegar over the stain and let it sit for five to ten minutes before rinsing it out., Simply spray or pour the stain remover onto the fabric and leave it on for the amount of time recommended by the manufacturer; this is usually around five to 20 minutes. , These types of detergents are great at breaking down proteins, which is what blood is made out of., Try to get the stain out as soon as you see it; the longer the blood sits in cotton, the harder it will be to get out. , The hot water will set the stain into the fabric, making it almost impossible to remove.
When using cold water, try to make it as cold as you can.
Turn on the tap to the coldest setting and let the water run for a few moments until it becomes really cold. , Bleach can remove almost anything, including blood stains.
Unfortunately, it can also remove color, so it is not recommended for colored garments.
It is also very harsh and can eat away the fibers in fabric, creating holes and tears.
Lastly, bleach does not react well with hard/well water, and it can worsen the blood stain.Avoid mixing detergents when using bleach, or you may cause a chemical reaction ad create dangerous fumes. , Even if the garment looks clean and spotless after you have washed it, there might still be some residue, which won't show up until after everything is dry.
Instead, hang the garment in a well-ventilated area, preferably in the sun.
If you toss it into the dryer, you will risk setting the stain, making it nearly impossible to remove.If you are in a rush and it is gloomy outside, consider turning a fan on and pointing it at the garment. -
Step 3: Place the stain under the running water.
-
Step 4: Rub the stain with your finger and rinse it some more.
-
Step 5: Put some soap onto the stain and continue scrubbing it.
-
Step 6: Rinse the soap off the stain.
-
Step 7: Know what you can use.
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Step 8: Try using some salt.
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Step 9: Make a paste using water and aspirin.
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Step 10: Make a paste using water and baking soda.
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Step 11: Try treating lighter colored fabrics with hydrogen peroxide or lemon juice.
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Step 12: Try using some vinegar.
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Step 13: Keep commercial stain removers in mind.
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Step 14: Consider using an enzyme-based detergent.
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Step 15: Act fast.
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Step 16: Always use cold water instead of hot.
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Step 17: Use bleach with care.
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Step 18: Avoid using dryers and air dry the garment instead.
Detailed Guide
Let it run for a few minutes, especially if it is a hot day, so that the water can cool down some more.
Gently grip the garment, keeping your fingers to either side of the stain, and pull.
The fabric should be stretched out, like the top of a drum.
Don't pull so hard that you risk ripping the garment, though. , Hold it for a few minutes until turning it over.
Most of the blood should have come out. , You can also use an old toothbrush, but be careful not to scrub too hard, or you will risk setting the stain into the fabric. , You can use any type of soap, including liquid and bar soap.
You can use basic hand soap or even a small amount of laundry detergent. , Be sure to keep scrubbing the stain until all of the soap is gone.
Most of the blood should be gone by now.
The stain will likely still remain, however. , There are many products available that can remove blood stains.
Some of these products are simple household products that you may already have in your bathroom cabinet or pantry.
This section will show you how to use these products.Keep in mind, however, that some stains may have permanently set into the fabric, and you may still have some slight residue. , Simply sprinkle some salt over the stain and let it sit for a few minutes, then gently scrub it with your finger or an old toothbrush.
Rinse the stain well with cold water.
If you don't have any salt on hand, but you happen to wear contacts, try using some of the saline solution you use for your contacts. , Crumble a few aspirin pills in a small dish and mix them with just enough cold water to create a paste.
Spread the paste over the stain and let it sit for 30 minutes or overnight before rinsing it off. , Sprinkle some baking soda into a small dish and add in a few drops of cold water.
Mix until you get a paste, then spread the paste over the stain.
Wait 30 minutes or let it sit overnight before rinsing the garment off with cool water. , Simply pour some hydrogen peroxide (the same kind that comes in a brown bottle and that you can find in the first aid section of a drug store) or lemon juice over the stain.
Let it sit for a few minutes, then rinse it out using water.
Be sure to scrub the stain with you finger or an old toothbrush.
Both hydrogen peroxide and lemon juice can lighten fabric, so they are not recommended for bright or dark-colored garments. , Simply pour some white vinegar over the stain and let it sit for five to ten minutes before rinsing it out., Simply spray or pour the stain remover onto the fabric and leave it on for the amount of time recommended by the manufacturer; this is usually around five to 20 minutes. , These types of detergents are great at breaking down proteins, which is what blood is made out of., Try to get the stain out as soon as you see it; the longer the blood sits in cotton, the harder it will be to get out. , The hot water will set the stain into the fabric, making it almost impossible to remove.
When using cold water, try to make it as cold as you can.
Turn on the tap to the coldest setting and let the water run for a few moments until it becomes really cold. , Bleach can remove almost anything, including blood stains.
Unfortunately, it can also remove color, so it is not recommended for colored garments.
It is also very harsh and can eat away the fibers in fabric, creating holes and tears.
Lastly, bleach does not react well with hard/well water, and it can worsen the blood stain.Avoid mixing detergents when using bleach, or you may cause a chemical reaction ad create dangerous fumes. , Even if the garment looks clean and spotless after you have washed it, there might still be some residue, which won't show up until after everything is dry.
Instead, hang the garment in a well-ventilated area, preferably in the sun.
If you toss it into the dryer, you will risk setting the stain, making it nearly impossible to remove.If you are in a rush and it is gloomy outside, consider turning a fan on and pointing it at the garment.
About the Author
Brandon Robinson
Brandon Robinson is an experienced writer with over 1 years of expertise in education and learning. Passionate about sharing practical knowledge, Brandon creates easy-to-follow guides that help readers achieve their goals.
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