Never reach for hot water. That is the one move that locks the stain in.
Waking up to a red spot on your sheets is never a great start to the day, but it is a common one. A nosebleed, a scratch, a healing cut, or an overnight period leak can all leave their mark on the bedding before you even notice.
The rule that decides everything is temperature. Blood is a protein, and heat cooks that protein into the fibers for good, so cold water is your only friend until the stain is gone. The faster you act, the easier the removal.
Below are the sheet and mattress methods that actually work, using items you already have. The same cold-water science applies to a stain on your pajamas, which we cover in our guide to getting blood out of clothes.
Key Takeaways
Rinse and treat blood with cold water only. Hot water cooks the protein into the fibers and sets the stain permanently.
Hydrogen peroxide, an enzyme (protease) detergent, and household staples like baking soda, salt, and white vinegar all break blood down on sheets.
For a mattress, blot with a cornstarch-and-peroxide paste or a diluted ammonia solution instead of soaking the foam, which invites mold.
Never put sheets in the dryer until the stain is fully gone, because dryer heat sets any blood that is left behind.
You usually do not need a fancy stain remover to save your bedding. Most effective solutions are already in your bathroom or kitchen pantry.
Blood is a protein stain, which is why it behaves the way it does. Cold water keeps the protein soluble so it rinses away, oxygen cleaners like hydrogen peroxide bubble apart the iron-rich pigment, and protease enzymes in stain detergents digest the protein into fragments small enough to wash out. Heat does the opposite and locks the stain in.
Golden Rule
Always use cold water. Hot water binds the blood proteins to the fabric fibers, which makes the stain nearly impossible to remove.
Hydrogen Peroxide
This is the first pick for white and light-colored sheets. Hydrogen peroxide can have a mild bleaching effect, so test it on a hidden corner of darker fabrics first. University of Georgia Extension uses 3 percent hydrogen peroxide, the strength sold in drugstore brown bottles, left on the stain for 1 to 3 minutes before a thorough rinse (1).
Soak the stained area in cold water to loosen the dried blood.
Pour a small amount of hydrogen peroxide directly onto the spot.
Watch for the fizzing action; this means it is breaking down the proteins.
Blot the foam away with a clean cloth.
Scrub gently with a soft-bristled brush if the stain is stubborn.
Rinse with cold water and repeat if needed.
Baking Soda
Baking soda is a mild abrasive and absorbent that lifts organic stains like blood.
Mix one part baking soda with two parts cold water to form a paste.
Dampen the blood stain with clear water.
Apply the paste generously to the fabric.
Let the mixture sit for at least 30 minutes, or place it in the sun until dry.
Brush off the crusty residue.
Rinse thoroughly and launder as usual.
Toothpaste
If you are traveling or caught without supplies, plain white toothpaste can help on a small spot. Avoid gel varieties, as they are less effective.
Apply a generous dab of toothpaste to the spot.
Let it dry completely.
Rinse the crust away with cold water.
Wash the area with soap to remove any sticky residue.
White Vinegar
White distilled vinegar is a mild acid that can loosen blood without damaging the fabric fibers.
Pour full-strength white vinegar directly onto the stain.
Let it soak for 10 to 15 minutes.
Blot the area with a damp towel.
Rinse with cold water and check the progress.
Repeat as necessary before throwing the sheet in the wash.
Shampoo or Dish Soap
Shampoos and dish soaps are built to break down oils and organic matter, which makes them surprisingly effective on blood.
Dampen the fabric with cold water.
Rub a drop of shampoo or dish soap into the fabric until it lathers.
Scrub the fabric against itself vigorously.
Rinse until the water runs clear.
Caution
This method is best for cotton sheets. Avoid vigorous scrubbing on delicate fabrics like silk or bamboo.
Ammonia
For old or dried blood, a diluted ammonia soak is one of the strongest household options. University of Georgia Extension soaks the fabric for 15 minutes in a quart of lukewarm water with half a teaspoon of liquid dish detergent and a tablespoon of household ammonia.
Mix equal parts ammonia and cold water for a quick treatment.
Dab the solution onto the stain using a clean cloth.
Let it sit for about 10 minutes.
Rinse completely with cold water.
Top Tip
Use this method in a well-ventilated area, as ammonia fumes can be strong. Keep ammonia away from wool and silk, and never mix it with bleach.
Meat Tenderizer
Unseasoned meat tenderizer powder contains enzymes like bromelain or papain that break down the proteins in blood, the same principle behind an enzyme detergent.
Soak the fabric in cold water.
Sprinkle tenderizer powder over the damp stain.
Mix with a few drops of water to create a paste.
Allow it to sit for 30 minutes so the enzymes can work.
Rinse thoroughly and wash.
Watch Out
Use unseasoned tenderizer only, otherwise the spices might leave a new stain.
Enzymatic Laundry Detergent
Standard laundry detergent is fine, but an enzyme detergent works better on blood. Its protease enzymes cut the blood protein into small fragments that rinse away, so look for a detergent labeled for stain removal. For a stain that has already set, University of Georgia Extension soaks the fabric in cool water for 30 minutes or longer, then another 30 minutes in lukewarm water with an enzyme pre-soak.
Rinse the spot with cold water first to flush out surface blood.
Pour liquid detergent directly onto the stain.
Use a soft toothbrush to work the detergent into the fibers.
Let it sit for 15 minutes. Enzymes work fastest in lukewarm water, so a warm (never hot) presoak is fine once the cold rinse has done its job.
Wash on a cold or warm cycle, but never hot.
Inspect the sheet before drying. If the stain remains, repeat the process.
How to Get Blood Out of Sheets Without Washing
Sometimes you spot a stain right after you have made the bed. If you cannot run a full load, you can spot-treat the area in place. Here is the best approach:
Pull the sheet away from the mattress so the cleaning solution does not soak through.
Place a dry towel underneath the stained layer.
Use the Hydrogen Peroxide method or the Ammonia method listed above.
Blot repeatedly with a damp cloth to rinse the area without saturating it.
Allow the spot to air dry completely before making the bed again.
Hygiene Note
If the blood is not your own, wear gloves. Blood can carry pathogens like hepatitis B, hepatitis C, and HIV, so treat someone else’s blood carefully and wash your hands with soap and water afterward. A dried spot is not automatically a safe one: the CDC reports that hepatitis B stays viable on an environmental surface for at least 7 days (2).
How to Get Blood Out of a Mattress
If blood has seeped through the sheets, you need to clean the mattress carefully to avoid mold or mildew growing inside the foam. The paste method below lifts the stain without soaking the core.
Mix ½ cup of cornstarch with ¼ cup of hydrogen peroxide and a tablespoon of salt to make a paste.
Apply the paste directly to the stain on the mattress.
Let it dry completely (this may take a few hours).
Scrape off the dried paste and vacuum up the powder.
Check the stain. If a shadow remains, dab it with a cloth dipped in hydrogen peroxide.
Alternatively, you can use the ammonia method:
Mix equal parts ammonia and cold water.
Dip a clean white cloth into the mix and wring it out well.
Blot the stain gently; do not rub, as this pushes blood deeper.
Rinse by blotting with a clean cloth dipped in plain water.
Let the mattress air dry completely before you put the sheets back, so no moisture is trapped inside the foam.
Warning
Never mix ammonia with bleach. This combination creates chloramine gas, which is toxic and potentially fatal (3).
The easiest mattress stain is the one that never happens. A waterproof mattress protector puts a breathable, liquid-blocking layer between your sheets and the foam, so a leak stays on the washable cover instead of soaking in. It is worth noting that many mattress warranties are voided by staining, so a protector can also save your warranty.
FAQs on Getting Blood Out of Sheets
Does Salt Remove Blood Stains?
Yes, salt removes fresh blood stains by acting as a mild abrasive that also pulls moisture out of the fibers. Soak the stained sheet in cold water, mix salt with a little water into a thick paste, and rub it into the stain for about 20 minutes to lift the pigment. Rinse with cold water and wash as normal.
Are Blood Stains Permanent?
Blood stains only become permanent when heat sets them. Hot wash water or high dryer heat cooks the protein and bonds it to the fabric for good, the same way heat cooks an egg white solid. Treat the stain right away with cold water and keep it away from heat until the spot is gone, and you can almost always remove it.
Does Cold Water Get Blood Stains Out?
Cold water is the essential first step, but it rarely finishes the job alone. It keeps the blood from setting and flushes away the loose surface blood, yet the pigment left deep in the fibers usually needs a surfactant like soap or detergent, or a chemical reaction from hydrogen peroxide, to lift out fully.
Does OxiClean Get Blood Out?
Yes, OxiClean removes blood well because it is an oxygen-based cleaner that breaks down organic stains. Rinse the stain in cold water first, then soak the sheets before washing.
Rinse the stain with cold water first.
Fill a basin with water and add OxiClean according to the package instructions (usually to line 4 on the scoop per gallon).
Submerge the sheets and let them soak for one to six hours depending on the severity of the stain.
Avoid using OxiClean on protein-based fabrics like wool, silk, or leather.
Does Toothpaste Get Rid of Blood Stains?
Toothpaste works on small, fresh blood stains because it contains baking soda and mild abrasives that scrub the blood loose. Apply a plain white paste, let it dry, and rinse it off with cold water. It is not efficient for large stains or delicate fabrics, and colored toothpaste can leave its own dye behind.
Does Hydrogen Peroxide Remove Dried Blood?
Hydrogen peroxide is one of the best tools for dried blood, because it rehydrates and oxidizes the old proteins so they lift away. Use it over a towel to protect the mattress underneath.
Place a towel under the stained layer.
Pour hydrogen peroxide directly onto the dried spot.
Yes, rubbing alcohol (isopropyl alcohol) works as a solvent for blood stains and is useful on delicate items where you want to avoid heavy scrubbing. Dab it onto the stain with a cotton ball, let it sit for a few minutes, and blot with a clean, damp cloth.
Can Lemon Juice Remove Blood?
Lemon juice removes blood from light-colored sheets by acting as a natural bleaching agent, much like hydrogen peroxide. Soak the stain in lemon juice for a few minutes, sprinkle salt for abrasion, and rub gently. Rinse thoroughly to remove the sticky residue, and skip it on dark fabrics that could lighten.
How Do You Get Period Blood Out of Sheets?
Get period blood out of sheets the same way you treat any blood: rinse the fabric under cold running water from the back of the stain to push it out, then pretreat with hydrogen peroxide or an enzyme detergent before a cold wash. Period blood is menstrual fluid mixed with blood, so it is still a protein stain, which means cold water and no dryer heat until the spot is gone. Fresh stains lift far more easily than ones left overnight. The NHS counts a period as heavy when you soak through a pad or tampon every 1 to 2 hours or bleed through to your clothes or bedding, so recurring sheet stains are worth raising with a doctor (4).
Speed Is Success
The secret to clean sheets is speed. Treat the stain the moment you see it, and keep everything cold until it is gone.
Even away from home, simple items like salt, shampoo, or toothpaste can stop a permanent mark. At home, keep hydrogen peroxide and an enzyme detergent within reach for the stubborn ones, and consider a waterproof protector so the next leak never reaches the mattress.
Remember the golden rule: keep it cold, keep it quick, and your bedding will look like new.
Beth McCallum is a freelance writer & book blogger with a degree in creative writing, journalism, and English literature.
Beth firmly believes that a tidy house is a tidy mind. She is always looking for new ways to sustainably clean and tidy her house, that's kind on the environment but effective in the house, too!
