It’s not much fun when you draw blood, whether you cut your finger chopping veggies or doing handicrafts, or a new kitten accidentally scratches you. Worse still, it can be a double blow if this blood ends up on a carpet. Blood spots can cause stains in a carpet, so it’s important to know how to safely remove them yourself, or have the number of a reputable stain removal carpet cleaning in London business that can help you.
1. Why is blood tricky to remove?
Blood is hard to get rid of from a carpet because of its composition. It contains red and white cells that combine with ionized plasma proteins which effectively bind to the fabrics in a carpet.
Blood also contains haemoglobin, which helps it to bind into the carpet as it’s exposed to oxygen, so the longer you leave the blood stain, the harder it will be to remove as it sets into the carpet. Therefore, to achieve the best results when removing blood stains, it’s important to work on them whilst they’re fresh rather than when they’ve dried into the carpet.
2. DIY methods
Fortunately, you don’t have to buy any expensive solutions to get rid of blood stains in your carpet. Most of the remedies you can use, you’ll probably already have at home. Whatever cleaning option you go for, remember to always put on a pair of gloves when cleaning up any blood stains.
Before you try to remove blood stains yourself, consider what type of carpet you have. If it’s made from very delicate materials or it’s an antique pile, it’s better to be on the safe side and let a stain removal carpet cleaning in London expert sort it out instead.
3. Blot the stain
First of all, try to soak up as much of the blood as possible by blotting it with a clean, dry cloth. Never rub or scrub at the stain, as it might set it deeper into the carpet. Similarly, work from the edges of the blood mark inwards when blotting it, to prevent the stain from getting any bigger.
4. Spray with water
Next, take a clean, empty spray bottle and fill it with cold water, and spray onto the stained area. If you don’t have a bottle, you could apply cold water directly to the blood, but be careful not to soak the carpet.
Blot with a clean cloth or absorbent towel, and keep wetting and blotting until the blood has disappeared.
Don’t be tempted to use warm or hot water, as this may damage the carpet, and could cause the stain to set into fibres.
If your carpet has had a premium stain protection coating applied to it, dabbing with water may be all that’s needed to remove the blood mark.
5. Soap and water
As well as just using water on its own, you could try adding a teaspoon of washing up liquid to two cups of cold water, and applying to the stain. Next, add a small amount of water to the stain to remove the soap. Keep dabbing at the stain until the blood has been lifted from the carpet, and use a dry cloth to blot at it to remove the excess liquid.
6. Salt, cornstarch or baking soda
Most of us have salt, cornstarch or baking soda in the kitchen cupboard, and any of these can be called upon to assist when blood spills end up in the carpet.
Mix either a bit of salt, cornstarch or baking soda to some cold water to make a thick paste, and apply to the blood stain. Let it sit for at least an hour, or preferably longer if you have time. The paste will absorb the blood and lift it from the carpet. Blot the stain until the mixture and blood have been removed, and use a clean cloth to aid the drying process.
Once the carpet is dry, vacuum it to remove any remaining salt, cornstarch or baking soda residues.
7. Vinegar
If the blood stains in your carpet are stubborn and don’t respond to the above methods, or they’ve dried into the carpet, you might need to consider cleaning methods that are more powerful.
Vinegar is one such remedy that can come to your rescue! Simply mix one part vinegar to one part water, and apply to the blood stain. For really tough stains, you could also add four tablespoons of baking soda to the mix. Leave the mixture to work for at least half an hour, before blotting with a clean cloth to rinse and dry.
8. Hydrogen peroxide
Another way to eliminate stubborn or dried blood stains from a carpet is by using hydrogen peroxide. Apply a small amount of weakened solution to the stain using a cotton bud, and leave it to sit for up to an hour. Dab at the stain to remove the excess liquid and then gently scrub with a soft toothbrush. Rinse the area with a wet cloth and dab with a dry cloth to dry it. Once dry, vacuum the carpet.
Hydrogen peroxide can cause dye transfer, so it’s not advisable to use on coloured carpets. Do a small test patch first on a part of the carpet that’s usually hidden under furniture to check that it’s safe to use on your carpet.
9. Ammonia
Some carpet owners swear by mixing a tablespoon of ammonia with a cup of water and applying to the blood stain for effective elimination. However, this is only suitable for synthetic carpets as it can damage carpets made from natural fibres.
10. Unflavoured meat tenderiser
If you have any unflavoured meat tenderiser in the cupboard, this could prove to be your saviour for getting rid of dried blood stains from a carpet. The tenderiser contains chemicals that can break down the dried blood.
Simply add one part meat tenderiser to one part water, and apply to the blood stain. Leave for around half an hour, and then dab with a clean towel or cloth. Finally, use a mix of soap and water to wash the blood spot, before rinsing with cold water. Once the carpet is dry, vacuum it.
11. Professional assistance
If you don’t feel confident removing blood stains from a carpet yourself, or you want to be certain of the best results possible, achieved in the safest way, it’s preferable to contact a carpet cleaning company with specialist stain removal knowledge.
At Carpet Bright UK, we provide really effective stain removal carpet cleaning in London and throughout the South East, so we’re the experts to call when blood spots need safely removing from your carpets, rugs and upholstery. We also offer premium stain protection for your carpets, to help prevent new blood spots or other stains from becoming hard to remove in the future.
