How to get blood out of a couch: fabric, microfiber and leather

Step by step: how to get blood out of a couch

1. 1

   Find the cleaning code

   Look for a tag under the seat cushions or on the frame with a W, S, WS or X. W and WS fabrics can take the water-based method below. S means solvent only and X means vacuum only: skip to the section on those fabrics.

2. 2

   Blot up fresh blood right away

   Press a dry white cloth or paper towel onto wet blood and lift, moving to a clean area each time. Do not rub or scrub. The goal is to pull blood out before it soaks into the cushion foam.

3. 3

   Dab with cold water from the edge inward

   Dampen a cloth with cold water, wring it out and dab the stain, starting at the outer edge and working toward the center so it does not spread. Blot with a dry cloth after each pass. Fresh blood often comes out with this step alone.

4. 4

   Add a few drops of dish soap

   Mix 2 cups of cold water with about 1 teaspoon of clear dish soap. Test it on a hidden spot, then dab it on the stain, wait 5 minutes and blot. Repeat until the cloth comes away clean.

5. 5

   Use an enzyme cleaner on what remains

   Mist an enzyme stain remover on the spot until it is damp but not soaked. Leave it for the time on the label, often 10 to 15 minutes, then blot. Enzymes break down the blood proteins that soap leaves behind.

6. 6

   Rinse out the soap

   Dab the area with a cloth dampened in plain cold water, then blot dry. Leftover soap attracts dirt and can leave a darker patch that looks like the stain came back.

7. 7

   Dry and brush the fabric

   Press a dry towel firmly on the spot, then let it air dry with a fan pointed at it. When it is dry, brush the pile lightly with a soft brush so the texture matches the rest of the cushion.

How to get blood out by couch fabric

Match the method to the fabric code, because water on the wrong fabric leaves a ring that is harder to remove than the blood. The University of Georgia Extension’s blood stain guide says to always use cool water on blood and warns that overwetting upholstery can make the fabric finish migrate and leave a circle.

La-Z-Boy’s care instructions say to spot clean water-cleanable fabric with a water-based shampoo or foam upholstery cleaner, pretest it, avoid saturating the fabric, and clean from the outside of the stain toward the middle to prevent circling. For S fabrics it calls for a water-free dry cleaning solvent only. American Leather adds that solvent cleaning needs a well-ventilated room and gloves.

How to get blood off a leather couch

Wipe it with soap foam, not soaking-wet cloths. The UGA guide suggests whipping mild soap into cool water, applying only the suds with a sponge, rubbing gently without spreading the stain, and wiping dry with a soft cloth.

Do this soon, while the blood is still on the surface. On unfinished (aniline) leather, blood can soak in quickly; blot only and call a leather specialist. Follow up with a leather conditioner once the spot is dry. Our guide to cleaning a leather couch covers the full routine.

How to get dried blood out of a couch

Rehydrate it with cold water, then let an enzyme cleaner sit on it, and expect to repeat. Dried blood has bonded to the fibers, so blotting alone will not move it.

• Lay a cloth dampened with cold water over the stain for 10 to 15 minutes to soften it. Do not let it drip into the cushion.
• Gently loosen the surface with a soft brush, then apply the enzyme cleaner and wait the label time.
• On light, colorfast W fabric only, dab 3% hydrogen peroxide with a cotton swab, wait a minute or two and blot. Test it first; it can lighten dyes.
• If a shadow remains after three or four rounds, stop. More scrubbing will wear the fabric before it lifts the stain.

Mistakes to avoid

• Using hot water or a steam cleaner, which sets blood permanently.
• Rubbing the stain in circles, which spreads it and fuzzes the fabric.
• Spraying water on an S-code microfiber couch, which leaves water rings.
• Using hydrogen peroxide on dark or colored fabric without testing it first.
• Leaving soap in the fabric, so the spot turns dark again as it attracts dirt.