How to Clean Blood from Carpet

If you enjoy binging on spy movies, there’s typically a character known as “The Cleaner.”

After a bloody shootout, the Cleaner scrubs the crime scene so thoroughly that police cannot extract a shred of DNA evidence. As audience members, we get a stunning before-and-after view.

In real life, getting blood stains or dried blood out of your carpet can be harder than Hollywood would make it seem.

But by using natural or conventional household cleaning products, following a proven process, and applying a little elbow grease, your carpet can look as good as new.

How to clean blood from carpet before it dries?

For cleaning blood, there can be a significant difference between wet and dry stains.

Home and business owners are generally better served to clean blood from carpeting as quickly as possible. Like other splatters, it can soak into carpet fibers and be very tough to restore the original luster. That being said, these are the products and processes I notice can effectively rescue your carpet from expensive carpet jobs.

How to clean carpet using water only?

If a child has skinned a knee or someone cut themselves, and blood droplets just landed on your carpet, a prompt response may mitigate the need for chemicals. Typically, cold water proves effective when following this process.

1. Gather a clean spray bottle, dry towel, and wet vac (if available)
2. Spay water directly on blood droplets
3. Place the towel on stain and press to soak up.
4. Repeat above
5. Use a wet/dry vac (if you have one) to pull out excess liquid residue.
6. Repeat the process until carpet is free of blood stains

This simple and natural cleaning process can be particularly healthy when chemical agents significantly impact you or members of your household. Cold water is a useful first aid for removing blood stains as it prevents blood from penetrating carpet fibers. Avoid using hot or warm water is it has the opposite effect, and heat will make blood stick on the threads.

Method 1: Using Vinegar & Water

Like the water-only method, adding vinegar is widely regarded as a “green” cleaning process that also minimizes health conditions associated with chemical disinfectants. Reports from the Lung Institute indicate that bleach and other harsh cleaning products may increase the risk of COPD by as much as 32 percent. If you or a loved one already struggle with a lung condition, vinegar may rank among your better solutions.

What you need:

1. Spray bottle
2. White vinegar
3. White towel (paper towel might be a better option)

Steps to take:

1. Mix 50-50 water-vinegar solution in a spray bottle.
2. Lay towel over the stain.
3. Press gently to absorb as much as possible.
4. Shift towel to a clean area and repeat
5. Spray solution on remaining blood stain.
6. Let the natural cleaner soak in.
7. Press a clean towel and soak up the liquid.
8. Repeat.

The good news is that you have not inserted any unnatural chemical agents into your living space.

Method 2: Using Salt Paste

Here’s a little-known fact, table salt has more uses than enhancing food flavors. Salt tends to have enough gentle scouring ability to reduce grease buildup in kitchen sink plumbing, restore enamel, and supports countertop cleanup, among others. The element can also increase the effectiveness of other natural cleaners. This is how to apply it as a carpet cleaning agent.

What you need:

1. Coldwater
2. Salt
3. Bowl

Steps to take:

1. Add salt and water into a bowl.
2. Mix until you have a thin salt paste.
3. Place the towel on the stain and soak up the blood.
4. Apply the salt paste to impacted carpet
5. Let stand for 5 minutes.
6. Blot area until the stain is removed.
7. Vacuum any salt residue as it can damage the fibers.

It may be worthwhile to vacuum up any salt residue after the carpet is fully dry.

Method 3: Using Water & Ammonia

A water and ammonia solution can be an effective way to remove blood stains from a wide range of residential carpets.

It’s important to note that ammonia is not necessarily a natural product, and its use introduces an agent that could impact those with health vulnerabilities.

What you need:

1. Spray bottle
2. Household-grade ammonia
3. White towel

Steps to take:

1. Mix two tablespoons of ammonia with 8 ounces of water.
2. Place the towel over stain and press to absorb blood.
3. Spray water-ammonia solution directly on the impacted carpet.
4. Let the solution soak for 5 minutes.
5. Blot with towel.
6. Repeat the process until the stained area thoroughly clean.
7. Apply water-only to minimize ammonia smell after clean.

One of the insider tricks to using ammonia versus vinegar or just water is that it’s in your best interest not to rub hard. This can result in you swapping out a blood stain for a prevalent ammonia smell.

Method 4: Using Dishwashing Detergent

If you have ever swapped dishwashing soaps for laundry of dishwasher detergents, you may have experienced a room full of suds.

I find that amusing in the movies. In my home, not so much. Fortunately, a dab of hand dishwashing detergent can help clean a blood stain without a comical ending.

What you need:

1. Hand dishwashing detergent
2. White sponge
3. White towel

Steps to take:

1. Mix one tablespoon of detergent with two cups of water.
2. Apply a sheet to stain and press gently to soak up.
3. Wet sponge & apply the solution to stain.
4. Use the cloth (or paper towel) to absorb liquid.
5. Repeat the process until clean.

Consider following the cleaning process with a water-only application to remove any soap residue.

How to clean blood from wool carpet?

Home and business owners need to keep in mind that the use of a harsh, unapproved cleaning agent on a wool carpet can cause irreparable damage.

High-quality wool carpets may also come with warranties that are rendered void if you proceed with DIY cleaning.

If you feel compelled to remove a blood stain, it’s crucial to work with a wool-approved carpet cleaner and follow the manufacturer-recommended procedures.

How to remove dried blood stains from carpet?

The fact that blood droplets have hardened on your carpet does not necessarily mean your task cannot be successful. There will be variations for cleaning dried blood. Start by selecting one of the wet cleaning solutions listed above.

What you need:

1. A blunt instrument for scraping
2. Vacuum
3. Clean cloth
4. Carpet cleaning solution for stains

Steps to take:

There are several cleaning solution options for removing dried blood.

1. Use a blunt instrument for scraping dried blood until it flakes.
2. Vacuum dried blood.
3. Repeat the process until maximum dried blood possibly removed.
4. Apply the cleaning solution you chose to the impacted area.
5. Apply the towel to soak up the solution & stain.
6. Follow steps consistent with wet solution blood stain removal.

Discovering dried blood on your lush carpet does not mean all hope is lost. It generally just requires a little more work on your part.

Other solutions for tackling dried blood:

1. Meat tenderizer: It’s an ideal agent because it can breakdown the proteins of the blood, making the process easier. Not suitable for wool or silk carpet as it can breakdown its fibers.
2. Hydrogen peroxide (3%): Mist stain with 3% hydrogen peroxide solution and air dry. Try on a small area, as it can discolor the carpet.
3. Ammonia and dishwashing detergent: This one-two punch can expel bloodstains. Start by mixing 10 ml of dishwashing soap and a cup of water. Spray the solution on the stain and leave for 5 minutes. While waiting, prepare the ammonia solution by mixing it with water (15 ml ammonia and 240 ml water). Soak the carpet with the ammonia solution then blot dry.
4. Enzyme cleaner: This product works similarly as a meat tenderizer as it breaks down the chemicals found in organic stains like blood. Spray on the stain then blot dry. Read the instruction on the proper waiting time.

You can also use 3% hydrogen peroxide or ammonia. But practice caution as these items can discolor the carpet.

Will Oxyclean remove blood stains from carpet?

Oxyclean is a non-bleaching cleaning agent that has oxygen, which helps in removing blood stains.

Start the process by soaking the stain with cold water then spray with Oxyclean. Don’t oversaturate as it can trickle into the padding.

The waiting time will vary from one to five minutes. Blot the wet spot afterward with a clean towel. Check for any visible stains and repeat the process for the remaining blemishes.

Don’t use Oxyclean carpet with wool, leather, and silk fibers as it can damage the fibers.

Does vinegar remove blood from carpet?

Yes, using vinegar can assist in removing blood stains on the carpet. The first step is to soak the spot with cold water, just enough water to make it damp but not soaking wet.

Place a stack of paper towel on the wet spot then put an object above it to weigh it down. This technique will speed up the absorption process. If the stain turns brown, then spritz a mixture that includes one part vinegar and two parts water. After blotting, then check is the stain is visible. If it is, repeat the process.