Accidents can happen every night, especially if it's the time of the month. So, how can you protect your mattress and sheets from blood stains or period blood and save you from harmful bacteria that can grow if you just shrug it off? How about a fresh blood stain? Surely, we can't just soak our mattresses overnight like linens to remove blood stains, especially if our mattress type is memory foam, because they're not supposed to get wet.
Worry not, because this article will provide you with a complete cleaning method to get rid of blood stains from a mattress.
Gather All the Cleaning Materials You Need
Before you proceed to the actual cleaning methods, gather all the necessary cleaning materials to start your cleaning process.
- Cold water and not hot water because hot water can set the blood stains from a mattress.
- Hydrogen peroxide as an effective blood stain removal
- Liquid or mild liquid dish soap to help break down the blood stains.
- Clean cloth or paper towel for blotting.
- Baking soda to neutralise odours.
- White vinegar (if needed)
- Vacuum cleaner with upholstery attachment
- Enzyme cleaner
- Rubber gloves to protect your hands
- Fresh Lemon or Bottled Lemon juice
Why Do I Need Lemon Juice as one of my Cleaning Supplies?
Before we proceed to our cleaning methods, you might be wondering why you would need lemon juice as one of your cleaning supplies. Is it for drinking in case you get thirsty while cleaning blood stains? Well, the answer is no. Believe it or not, lemon juice (bottled or fresh) is one of the most effective stain removers, especially for cleaning blood stains from a mattress, because of its acidic nature, which can be beneficial in the stain removal process.
For instance, lemon juice has acidic properties because it contains citric acid, which acts as a mild natural bleach that can help break down the bonds that hold the blood stain to the mattress fibres, making it easier to remove. Additionally, it has a stain-lifting action because when lemon juice comes into contact with blood stains (fresh or dried blood stains), it can help loosen and lift the stain particles.
For the Mattress:
Blot the stain
Get a clean cloth or paper towel to soak up as much blood as possible if it's a fresh blood stain. For dried blood stain, you may need an enzyme cleaner for blotting because these are designed as a biological stain remover perfect for blood stains. After using the enzyme cleaner, blot the stains again with a clean cloth and rinse the stained area with cold water to remove any residual cleaner and loosen stain particles.
Mix a Cleaning Solution
For the cleaning solution, you will need cold water, hydrogen peroxide, liquid dish soap, or white vinegar. These cleaning solutions are not meant to mix altogether, but an alternative solution if one doesn't work. For example, if hydrogen peroxide mixed with cold water is not enough to remove blood or period stains, you can use liquid dish soap with water.
Moving on, to mix a cleaning solution for removing blood stains from a mattress, you'll need to combine equal parts of cold water and hydrogen peroxide in a bowl. For this, you can create a cleaning paste, add a small amount of mild liquid dish soap to the mixture, and stir the ingredients gently to ensure they are thoroughly mixed, but be cautious not to create excessive foam.
Test on a Hidden Area
Do not apply the cleaning solution yet, we don't want to saturate our precious mattress, don't we? So, before applying the cleaning solution to the stained area, test if first on a less visible part of the mattress. Let it sit and wait for a few minutes to ensure it doesn't cause any adverse reactions like colour fading or fabric damage.
Apply the Solution to the Stained Area
Once the solution is confirmed safe, use a clean cloth dipped in your mixture and lightly dab the blood stains or period blood from your mattress. Keep in mind that blotting must be done lightly or gently rub the blood-stained area to avoid saturating the mattress. Wring the dipped cloth out to remove excess liquid and ensure that the stained area on your mattress is damped and blotted, not soaking wet.
Blot and Repeat
Blood stains are not easy to remove, especially if it's dried stains, but don't worry because all you have to do is blot and repeat. Gently blot the stain with a dry cloth and repeat the process until the stain lightens and disappears. Continue blotting and checking the stains, and repeat the process to remove dried blood stains if needed. Also, use a new cloth or paper towel to avoid spreading the stain.
Rinse Using a Clean Cloth
Of course, the solution or mixture that you applied needs to be cleaned as well. However, mattresses are not supposed to get wet, so you can't just get your mattress hosed down, or soak it in the water like a normal sheet. What you need to do is to get another clean cloth and cold water to rinse and to remove any residue from the mattress.
Pat Dry the Mattress
To dry the mattress, pat the treated area with a dry cloth. Continue patting until you've removed as much moisture as possible from the mattress.
Sprinkle with Baking Soda
Our cleaning methods are not complete without baking soda. Baking soda helps absorb any remaining odours and can assist in further stain removal that is why it is one of the essential cleaning solution and materials. So, after the mattress is completely dry, get a spray bottle, mix cold water with baking soda, and sprinkle it generously over the treated area. After that, let it sit on the mattress for several hours or overnight for it to take effect.
Vacuum the Mattress
For the finishing touch, get a vacuum cleaner with an upholstered attachment and carefully vacuum up the baking soda you sprinkled on the surface of your mattress. Ensure to thoroughly vacuum the entire treated area, and make sure no residue is left behind.
For Sheets:
Act Quickly
Remember, the faster you address the blood stain, the easier it will be to remove. So, it is important to act quickly and promptly to address a blood stain because fresh blood stains are easier to remove than dried ones. When blood comes into contact with fabric or mattress, it bonds with the fibres and creates a stain. The longer it sits, the harder it is to remove, so acting quickly can enhance the chances of completely covered and complete stain removal.
Rinse with Cold Water
Did you know that cold water is one of the secrets to removing blood stains? Cold water helps prevent the proteins in blood from binding to the fabric or mattress, and when blood stain is exposed to heat, such as warm or hot water, these proteins will set the stain to the mattress or fabrics. So always use cold water when rinsing and washing the stained area to remove blood stains easier, and always wash any stain with cold water.
Pre-Treating Blood Stains
Hydrogen peroxide is a mild bleach that's effective at breaking down the organic matter found in blood stains. When in contact with blood, it undergoes a chemical reaction that produces oxygen bubbles. These bubbles help to lift the blood particles from your sheets or fabrics, thus cleaning and removing the blood stains. However, using only a small amount of hydrogen peroxide is important to avoid damaging the fabrics.
Blot Gently
Here we are again with the blotting, but really, blotting is important to absorb the diluted blood and hydrogen peroxide mixture. However, remember to use a gentle blotting motion rather than rubbing, because rubbing can push the stain deeper into the fabric or sheets.
And, of course, repeat the process until no blood stain remains.
Wash the Sheets
After successfully treating the blood stain, it is time to launder the sheets. However, keep in mind to avoid using hot water in this washing step because hot water can cause any remaining blood particles to set, which makes them more challenging to remove, so always use cold water when washing the sheets.
Check Before Drying
Before placing the sheets in the dryer, take a moment to inspect them thoroughly and ensure that the blood stain is entirely gone, because drying the sheets with an existing stain can cause the stain to set permanently. So, if you notice any remnants of the stain, consider repeating the pre-treatment and washing steps until the stain is completely removed.
Takeaway
You can effectively remove blood stains from your mattress by following these simple steps to minimise the risk of damaging the fabric or your sheets and causing discolouration to your mattress. Removing the stains completely may take multiple rounds of cleaning, and eventually, your mattress will be free from blood stains.
Additionally, consider adding a mattress protector to your bedding. Because a mattress cover is sometimes not enough? You may need a mattress protector or a waterproof mattress protector for your bedding to keep your mattress safe from nightly accidents. However, if the blood stain still cannot be prevented, follow these simple cleaning methods to protect and prevent mattress stains or any kinds of future stains to ensure your comfortable nightly rest and maintain the cleanliness of your mattress with a promising rejuvenation every night.