How to get blood out of a mattress, including period blood

Step by step: how to get blood out of a mattress, including period blood

Safety first. Use only 3% household hydrogen peroxide, and never mix it with vinegar or chlorine bleach in the same bottle or on the same spot. Peroxide can lighten colored fabric, so test it on a hidden spot of the mattress cover first.

1. 1

   Strip the bed and check every layer

   Take off the sheets, mattress pad and protector and treat them separately in cold water. Look at the mattress itself under good light. If the protector caught it all, you are done with the mattress.

2. 2

   Blot fresh blood with a dry cloth

   Press a dry white cloth or paper towel on a fresh stain to soak up as much as you can. Press, lift, and move to a clean part of the cloth. Do not rub: rubbing pushes blood deeper into the foam and spreads the ring wider.

3. 3

   Dab with cold water

   Dampen a clean cloth in cold water, wring it out well and dab the stain from the outside edge toward the center. Cold water keeps the proteins in blood from setting. Blot dry after each pass and stop when no more color transfers.

4. 4

   Apply hydrogen peroxide to what is left

   Test peroxide on a hidden corner of the cover first. Then dab or pour a small amount of 3% hydrogen peroxide on the stain; it will fizz on blood. Leave it about five minutes, then blot up the foam.

5. 5

   Repeat until the stain stops fading

   Most fresh stains are gone after one or two rounds. A dried stain may take four or five. Between rounds, press out moisture so you are not soaking the layers underneath.

6. 6

   Rinse and press out the moisture

   Dab the spot with a cloth dipped in cold water to remove leftover peroxide or cleaner. Lay a dry towel on top and press with your hands or a few heavy books for a few minutes. Repeat with a fresh towel until the spot is only slightly damp.

7. 7

   Dry the mattress completely

   Point a fan at the spot, open a window and leave the bed unmade for several hours. Make sure it is fully dry before you put the protector and sheets back. If any odor remains, sprinkle baking soda on the dry spot, wait 30 minutes and vacuum it up.

Which cleaner works best on blood in a mattress?

Cold water first, then hydrogen peroxide for most mattresses. Saatva’s stain guide names white vinegar or 3% hydrogen peroxide as the most effective options for blood, and notes that peroxide foams on contact. Pick one and use it on its own.

The University of Georgia Extension stresses treating blood as soon as possible, because set stains can be very hard to remove, and warns that heat sets them. That means no hot water, no hair dryer on the stain and no steam.

How to get out old, dried period blood

Rehydrate it first, then use an enzyme cleaner or peroxide and give it time. Old stains are brown because the blood has oxidized and bonded to the fibers, so a quick wipe will not move them.

• Dab the stain with cold water and leave a damp cloth on it for 10 minutes to soften it.
• Spray an enzyme stain remover until the stain is damp but not soaked, and leave it for the time on the label.
• Blot, then follow with peroxide if the cover is white and the stain is still visible.
• A light shadow may remain on a very old stain. It is cosmetic. A protector covers it, and keeps the next accident off the mattress.

For blood on sheets, pajamas and underwear, our guide on how to remove blood stains covers soaking and laundering.

Memory foam, warranties and keeping it dry

Use as little liquid as possible, because foam holds water and dries slowly. Purple advises against steam cleaners, which can soak memory foam, and says its covers shrink if you put them through the washer and dryer, which voids its return and warranty policies. Check your own mattress’s care label before you unzip anything.

Dry the spot the same day. The EPA’s mold guidance says that when damp materials are dried within 24 to 48 hours, in most cases mold will not grow. A fan, an open window and an unmade bed are usually enough for a small spot.

Stains themselves can affect a warranty claim at many brands, so a washable waterproof protector is worth having, especially during your period or with kids in the bed.

Mistakes to avoid

• Using hot water, which cooks the proteins in blood and sets the stain.
• Scrubbing the spot hard, which spreads the ring and frays the cover.
• Pouring water or cleaner straight onto the mattress so it soaks into the foam.
• Mixing hydrogen peroxide and vinegar in one bottle; use one, rinse, then the other if needed.
• Remaking the bed while the spot is still damp, which traps moisture and invites mildew.