How To Remove Blood From Carpet

The impact on your carpet can make any accident more stressful. If you find that a few drops of blood have escaped onto your carpet, there are multiple ways you can clean it – as this post will explore.

Why are bloodstains so hard to clean?

When you get a cut, your blood recognises that it is exposed to air and starts to clot. While this is great inside your body, it gets more complicated when it comes into contact with other materials. It will still clot and bind to any surface it lands on, making for stubborn stains. This means that it can be difficult to get blood out of carpet.

Warmth speeds up this reaction, so it's important to use cold water when tackling bloodstains.

How can you get blood out of carpet?

Thankfully, there are ways to break up the bond formed between the blood and the carpet. Whichever method you choose to use, make sure you do a patch test first on a hidden segment of carpet. Also, remember to blot stains instead of rubbing them, to avoid driving them further into your carpet fibres.

Cold water and washing up liquid

If you manage to catch the blood stain right away, you may be able to use cold water and washing up liquid to clean it. Add a small amount of washing up liquid cold water and pour it over the stain, blotting it away with a cloth.

White vinegar and water

Mix one cup of white vinegar with two cups of water. You can either spray this onto the stain, or soak a rag in it and leave that over the stain. You can then blot the mixture away.

White vinegar and baking powder

One of the best weapons against any carpet stains, white vinegar and baking powder react together to combat spillages and remove blood from carpet.

First, apply a generous amount of white vinegar to the stain. Leave this to soak for 10-20 minutes. Then, liberally sprinkle baking powder on top and leave for a further 10-20 minutes. You should then be able to hoover up the powder.

Salt or cornflour

Add water to salt or cornflour and mix until it forms a paste. Apply this paste to your bloodstain and leave it to set for 20 minutes. Finally, blot away the mixture with cold water.

Water and ammonia

Mix one or two teaspoons of ammonia with cool water and apply it to the bloodstain. After 5-10 minutes, blot it away with a damp cloth.

Get an expert to remove blood from carpet

If you're worried about how to remove blood from carpet, calling in an expert will give you peace of mind. Use the National Carpet Cleaners Association (NCCA) directory of UK carpet cleaners to find an accredited carpet cleaner to handle your stain.

Find your local carpet cleaner in our directory or call 01562 547754 with any questions.