Blood stain gets harder to shift the longer it sits. Cold water only — heat coagulates the protein and sets it permanently.
Blood is a protein stain, and protein coagulates with heat and grips the fibre — so temperature decides the outcome. Cold water, always: that one rule alone removes most fresh blood. For dried blood, hydrogen peroxide works well, but test it first because it can lift colour from dyed fabric.
Method by fabric
Cotton and blends
What you need
- Cold water
- Salt
- Laundry detergent
Steps
- 1Soak in cold water immediately, or flush from the back.
- 2Soak thirty minutes in a litre of cold water with a tablespoon of salt.
- 3Apply detergent and press it in gently.
- 4Rinse cold and machine wash on a cold cycle.
- 5Confirm it is gone before drying.
White cotton
What you need
- Cold water
- 3% hydrogen peroxide
- Laundry detergent
Steps
- 1Rinse thoroughly in cold water.
- 2Pour hydrogen peroxide directly on the stain and let it fizz.
- 3Rinse cold after five minutes and repeat if needed.
- 4Apply detergent and wash on cold.
- 5Check before drying.
Caution
Hydrogen peroxide bleaches dyed fabric — keep it to whites.
Silk and wool
What you need
- Cold water
- Wool-safe detergent
- Dry towel
Steps
- 1Blot as much as possible with a dry towel.
- 2Dab inward with a cloth dampened in cold water.
- 3Repeat with very dilute wool-safe detergent.
- 4Lift the detergent with cold water and dry flat.
Never do this
- Using hot water — the protein sets permanently
- Scrubbing hard — it drives the stain deeper into the weave
- Ironing or tumble drying before it is gone