How to Get Dried Blood Out of Carpet? Methods and Mistakes

How Do You Get Dried Blood Out of Carpet?

To remove dried blood from a carpet, rehydrate the stain with cold water, then blot with a mild dish soap solution. If any stain remains, treat it with 3% hydrogen peroxide or enzyme cleaner. Always use cold water, never hot. Heat sets blood to carpets. Always blot, never rub and always test a carpet cleaning product on a hidden patch.

Time needed: 20 to 40 minutes, plus the drying time

Difficulty: Easy to medium

Effective on: Nylon, polyester, olefin and most synthetic carpets (not as effective on wool)

Why Is Dried Blood So Hard to Remove from Carpet?

Blood is rich in proteins, like hemoglobin and fibrin. As blood dries, these proteins bind to the carpet fibers. The more you try to clean them with hot water, steam, and heat, the more these proteins glue themselves to the fibers. To effectively remove blood from carpet you need two things:

1. Cold liquid to rehydrate the dried blood
2. Something to break down the proteins in the blood, like dish soap, hydrogen peroxide or an enzyme cleaner.

What You’ll Need

• A dull knife or spoon,
• a vacuum, c
• lean white cloths or paper towels (white so no dye transfers),
• cold water in a spray bottle,
• a mild liquid dish soap,
• 3% hydrogen peroxide,
• baking soda,
• white vinegar,
• an enzyme cleaner (optional but best for old blood stains)
• and a soft-bristled brush.

How to Remove Dried Blood from Carpet: Step by Step

Step 1: Remove the Dried Crust

Gently scrape off any flaky blood with a dull knife or spoon, then vacuum up the pieces. Avoid pushing the blood deeper into the carpet.

Step 2: Rehydrate the Stain with Cold Water

Spritz or dab the stain with cold water until it is damp, then let it sit for 5 to 10 minutes. This softens the dried blood.

Step 3: Blot with Dish Soap Solution

In a clean bowl, mix 1 teaspoon of liquid dish soap with 1 cup of cold water. Use a clean white cloth to blot the damp stain from the outside edges towards the center so the blood doesn’t get smeared around. Keep using a clean patch of the cloth until it’s stained from the blood, then blot with cold water to rinse.

Step 4: Treat Any Remaining Stains With Hydrogen Peroxide

If any stain remains, try treating it with 3% hydrogen peroxide.

1. Always test hydrogen peroxide on a hidden patch of carpet first. It can bleach dark or dyed carpets.
2. Dab a small amount of hydrogen peroxide directly onto the blood stain.
3. Let it sit for 5 to 10 minutes.
4. Blot the liquid away with a clean cloth, then rinse by blotting with cold water.
5. Repeat until the stain is gone.

Step 5: Use an Enzyme Cleaner to Remove Old Stains

Enzyme cleaner contains naturally-occurring enzymes that break down blood at a protein level. Follow the manufacturer’s instructions to clean the blood stain with an enzyme cleaner. Usually, you’ll blot on the cleaner, leave it for 10 to 30 minutes, then blot and rinse with cold water.

Step 6: Dry the Carpet

Use a dry towel to blot the carpet, removing as much water as possible. Let it dry completely, using a fan or opening windows to help speed the process. When dry, vacuum to lift any remaining blood residue from the carpet. Don’t leave the carpet damp for longer than 24 to 48 hours as this can cause mildew.

Which Method Should You Use? (By Carpet Type)

Other Home Remedies for Dried Blood on Carpet

Baking Soda Paste

Mix 2 tablespoons of baking soda with 1 tablespoon of cold water to make a thick paste. Spread this over the blood stain and let it dry, then vacuum.

White Vinegar Solution

Mix together equal parts of white vinegar and cold water. Blot the solution onto the stain, let it sit for 5 to 10 minutes, then blot the stained area and rinse with cold water.

Meat Tenderizer Paste (For Stubborn Stains)

Unseasoned meat tenderizer contains the enzyme papain, which can help to break down blood. Mix 1 teaspoon of meat tenderizer with 2 teaspoons of cold water to make a paste. Leave it on the blood stain for 30 minutes, then blot and rinse with cold water. Don’t use meat tenderizer on wool or silk.

Diluted Ammonia (Last Resort, Only Synthetic Carpets)

Mix 1 tablespoon of household ammonia with ½ cup of cold water. Blot the mixture onto the blood stain and let it sit for a few minutes before rinsing. Always dilute ammonia with cold water and never use it on wool carpets. Work in a well-ventilated room and don’t mix ammonia with any other cleaning products.

What Not To Do When Cleaning Dried Blood

Avoid using hot water or a steam cleaner as this will set blood to the carpet. Don’t rub or scrub the blood as this can push it further into the carpet fibers. Never use chlorine bleach as this can both permanently discolour your carpets and produce toxic fumes with ammonia. When removing blood from carpets, don’t over-wet the carpet. If the carpet becomes too wet, the moisture can penetrate into the padding underneath, causing unpleasant odours and mildew. Always do a patch test with any carpet cleaning product before using it on your blood stain as different carpets can react differently to the same cleaning agent.

How to Remove Old Blood Stains That Won’t Come Off

If the blood has been on your carpet for days or even weeks, you might need to:

1. Rehydrate the stain with cold water for 10 to 15 minutes
2. Blot on some enzyme cleaner and leave it for the recommended time
3. Follow this up with some hydrogen peroxide if your carpet is colourfast
4. Repeat the whole process 2 or 3 times to effectively remove old blood stains.

If the blood still won’t come out, you might need to call in a professional carpet cleaner.

When Should You Call a Professional Carpet Cleaner?

You should think about calling a professional carpet cleaner if:

• The blood stain is large or has soaked through into the padding
• You have a wool or silk carpet
• The homemade blood cleaning treatments have lightened the stain but not removed it
• You can still smell the blood after cleaning.

Read More>> How to Remove Rust Stains out of Carpet?

FAQs