How to Get Blood Out of Clothes
The short answer
Blood is a protein stain — heat causes blood proteins to coagulate and bond permanently to fabric. The rule is cold water only, at every stage. For fresh blood, flush immediately under cold running water. For dried blood, soak in cold water for 20–30 minutes to rehydrate before treating. Apply enzyme cleaner containing protease or dish soap, and do not put the item in the dryer until the stain is fully out.
Before you start
You need: cold water, liquid dish soap or enzyme cleaner.
For white or most light-colored clothing: oxygen bleach dissolved in cold water is a useful next step if the stain persists after dish soap treatment. Test on a hidden seam first (inner hem or inside seam) — press a damp cloth with dissolved oxygen bleach against the fabric for 5 minutes and check for color change.
Check the care label. Dry-clean only items: do not wet-treat; take to a professional cleaner.
Steps
- 1Rinse the stained area under cold running water immediately. Cold water dilutes and flushes blood before the proteins set.
- 2Apply a small amount of liquid dish soap or enzyme cleaner (containing protease) directly to the stain. Enzyme cleaners are particularly effective on blood because they break down the protein structure.
- 3Work the product in gently from the outside edges inward. Let it sit for 5–10 minutes. For dried blood that has been rehydrated, let it soak for 20–30 minutes.
- 4Rinse thoroughly with cold water.
- 5Machine wash on a cold cycle following the care label.
- 6Before putting the item in the dryer, check the stained area while still damp. If any stain remains, repeat from step 2. Heat permanently sets blood that is not fully removed.
What not to do
- Do not use hot water at any stage — heat coagulates blood proteins and permanently bonds them to fabric.
- Do not put the clothing in the dryer until the stain is confirmed out.
- Do not use chlorine bleach on colored clothing — it removes the dye along with the stain.
Helpful supplies
Dish soap or enzyme cleaner containing protease are the primary tools. Protease enzymes chemically break down blood proteins rather than just diluting them, making enzyme cleaner more effective than dish soap on dried or set blood.
Oxygen bleach dissolved in cold water is a useful next step on white or most colored clothing if dish soap alone does not remove the stain. Test on a hidden area first — press a damp cloth with dissolved oxygen bleach against an inner seam for 5 minutes and check that color does not fade or transfer before treating the visible stain.
Frequently asked questions
Does hydrogen peroxide remove blood from clothing?
3% hydrogen peroxide (drugstore grade) can help on white or light-colored fabrics. It works by oxidizing blood proteins. Test on a hidden area first — pour a small amount on an inner seam, wait 5 minutes, and check whether the fabric color changes or fades. If unchanged, apply to the stain and rinse cold. Do not use on silk, wool, or dark-colored fabrics without testing.
Can you remove dried blood from clothing?
Yes, but it requires more work. Soak the stained area in cold water for 20–30 minutes to rehydrate the dried blood, then apply enzyme cleaner or dish soap and work it in gently. Rinse cold and repeat if needed. Blood that has been through the dryer is significantly harder to remove — heat permanently bonds the proteins to fabric.
Use the Stain Rescue Tool to get a step-by-step plan for your specific clothing and the supplies you have at home.
Use the Stain Rescue Tool