Blood on the sofa: how and with what to remove it so that no traces remain

It is easy to wash blood from the sofa if it is fresh and not dried - it is scarlet in color. The stain is removed with clean cold water. If you realize it right away, the advice helps in 99% of cases. With dried and dried brown blood the situation is more serious.

Rules and important nuances

Dried blood stains on furniture upholstery are among the most difficult types of stains. Even dry cleaning does not give a 100% guarantee of their removal. You need to be prepared for the stains to fade, but not disappear completely.

There are 5 most important rules that must be followed when cleaning a sofa from blood:

1. Fresh stains are washed off exclusively with cold water. The heat causes the blood to coagulate and become firmly embedded in the material.
2. Any cleaning solution is applied with a slightly damp cotton pad or cloth. Excessive wetting can lead to deformation of upholstered furniture.In addition, blood along with fluid can penetrate deeper.
3. Blood stains are cleaned off slowly, from the edges to the center. If they are small, it is convenient to use an ear stick. Thoughtless erasure will lead to an increase in the size of the disaster.
4. First test, then cleaning. The product, diluted according to the instructions, is applied to a small, inconspicuous area on the back wall or between the armrest and the seat. It is important. Many compounds corrode upholstery paint and can destroy fabric.
5. One cleaning - one product. In an effort to quickly wash blood off a sofa, many people use household chemicals, soda and vinegar, and something else in one sitting. Different cleaning components may react with each other. The result will be unpredictable. The stain may become even more ingrained.

It is correct to first try to wash off the blood stain with cold water, and only then use one of the cleaning products.

Using household chemicals

If the sofa upholstery is contaminated with blood, experts advise not to experiment with folk remedies, but to use household chemicals. Such products are tested and have clearly defined instructions for use and dosage.

Special cleaning foams and stain removers are produced for cleaning sofas. They allow you to effectively wash the surface without wetting the filler. TOP 5 store-bought products that can easily remove blood from upholstery:

• “Vanish for carpets and upholstery” (RUB 350);
• Spray “Unicum for carpets and upholstered furniture” (RUB 160);
• Concentrated cleaner “Ekokemika Textil Interior” (RUB 180);
• Stain remover “Magic Pencil” (50 RUR);
• “Grass for cleaning carpets and upholstered furniture” (180 rubles).

In addition to the above products, you can treat the sofa with a clothing stain remover with active oxygen.

Chlorine-containing household chemicals should be avoided. Chlorine will remove blood stains, but it will also ruin the upholstery.

How to clean blood from fabric upholstery?

The most common upholstery for sofas is fabric. It easily absorbs liquids, so you can’t hesitate.

Fresh blood should be blotted with a dry cloth before it has time to penetrate into the deep layers of the upholstery.

There is no need to try to remove all the blood at once. Dry wipes are applied to the stain, and when they are soaked, they are replaced with new ones. The remaining mark is removed based on the type of fabric.

• Jacquard and silk are finicky, easily torn and discolored. Stains are removed with specialized products for cleaning carpets and upholstered furniture. Folk remedies you can use are lemon juice, salt, and flour.
• Linen, tapestry, and cotton quickly absorb moisture, are destroyed by aggressive chemicals, and fade. They are cleaned mainly using a dry method or cleaning foam. Vinegar and salt may be used.
• Pile upholstery: velor, suede, velvet. When cleaning yourself, there is a high probability of bald spots and discolored areas. Dry cleaning recommended. If you decide to remove blood stains at home, you need to use the most gentle means and reduce the concentration by half.
• Flock, chenille and other modern fabrics. They are distinguished by high strength, wear resistance, and ease of maintenance. Due to their synthetic origin, they quickly evaporate moisture, “hold” color, and easily part with dirt. Blood stains can be removed with all of the above means.

Laundry soap

A bar of laundry soap is as effective as many new-fangled cleaners. How to remove blood from the upholstery of a sofa:

1. Soap is moistened with water.
2. Moisten the kitchen sponge well and rub the bar.
3. Squeeze the sponge to form a thick foam.
4. Apply foam to the blood trail with a dry cloth.
5. Leave for 10-15 minutes.
6. Collect the foam with a clean damp sponge.

Important! Laundry soap should not contain bleaches or other additives.

Dishwashing liquid

Dishwashing gels wash well not only grease, but also blood. Most of them work in cold water.

1. Lightly moisten the sofa upholstery with a cloth.
2. Squeeze dish soap onto the blood stain.
3. Distribute in a thin layer, avoiding the formation of foam.
4. Wait 10 minutes.
5. Rub the treated area with a damp brush and collect the foam with a sponge.

Note. The method is suitable for upholstery that does not absorb moisture well (leather and others).

Aspirin

Aspirin tablets effectively remove traces of fruit, grass, tea, coffee and blood from natural fabrics. Need to:

• If the spots appeared recently (2-3 days ago). Crush 1 Aspirin tablet. Pour the powder into 200 ml of cold water. Wait until it dissolves and lightly moisten the upholstery. Leave for 1 hour. Rinse the fabric with water.
• If the stains are old. Crush 2 Aspirin tablets. Add 1 teaspoon of water. Rub the pulp onto the area stained with blood. Let the powder dry. Clean the sofa with a vacuum cleaner.

You should use regular aspirin, not effervescent.

Ammonia

It is permissible to use ammonia only on high-strength synthetic upholstery (flock, chenille).

Blood is removed like this:

1. A cotton pad is soaked in ammonia.
2. Gently wipe the stain.
3. After 30-40 minutes, wash the upholstery with water.

Cleaning should be done with the windows open.

Hydrogen peroxide

Pharmacy 3% hydrogen peroxide is considered one of the most effective remedies against blood stains. Once on a fresh stain, it begins to foam and hiss.Foam helps remove dirt from the upholstery. In addition, peroxide discolors the blood, making it invisible on the fabric.

How to use the product correctly:

1. Apply hydrogen peroxide to the stain with a cotton pad.
2. If foam begins to form, blot it with a clean, dry cloth and repeat the treatment 2-3 times.
3. If there is no foam, leave the peroxide to act for 10 minutes.
4. Wipe the treated area with a damp cloth.

Attention! Peroxide can corrode paint. Before using it, a test is required in an inconspicuous place.

Salt

Coarse rock salt absorbs dirt well. It is scattered onto a fresh stain, waited for 5-7 minutes and collected with a vacuum cleaner. If the blood has dried, salt is used as follows:

1. Dissolve 2 teaspoons of salt in a glass of water.
2. Apply the solution to the stain with a cotton sponge and wait until it gets wet (10 minutes).
3. Collect salt water with a washcloth.
4. Wipe the area with a damp cloth.

Soda

Baking soda helps break down the blood. It is mixed half and half with water. You should get a liquid paste. The product is spread in a thick layer onto the stain and left to act for half an hour. After 30 minutes, brush off the dried paste and wipe the upholstery with a slightly damp cloth.

Flour, starch and talc

Various bulk products are used for so-called “dry cleaning”. Flour, starch and talc are harmless to most fabric upholstery.

1. A small amount of dry matter is poured onto the stain.
2. Lightly rub into the fabric with a damp cloth.
3. Leave to dry for 1 hour.
4. Collect flour (talc, starch) with a vacuum cleaner.

Vinegar and lemon juice

The acid helps soften dried blood. Soak a cotton pad in vinegar (lemon juice) and apply it to the stain for half an hour.After this, the upholstery is washed with cold water and cleaned with laundry soap or another product.

How to wipe blood off a leatherette sofa?

Leather and faux leather upholstery are less susceptible to stains. You can wipe off blood from the sofa with a regular damp cloth or cloth.

1. You need to blot the fresh blood with a cotton swab.
2. Wipe the surface with a cloth (napkin) soaked in cold water.
3. Wash the area with soapy water and rinse.

If there is still a visible mark on the sofa after cleaning, most likely blood has penetrated into the pores of the material. It will be more difficult to remove it.

Leatherette

Unlike leather, leatherette does not contain pores. This makes it easier to remove blood from the upholstery. If regular soap doesn't help, you can use:

• Shaving foam. The foam is left on the upholstery for 15 minutes. Wipe it with a dry cloth.
• VD-40. Spray the product and rub the area of ​​contamination with a soft brush. Wipe the upholstery with a dry cloth.

Leather

Blood can seep into the pores of leather upholstery. To clean them, hydrogen peroxide is usually used.

Peroxide is diluted with water 1 to 1, the contaminated area is treated and left for 10-15 minutes.

Foam should form, which will push the blood particles out. After this, the skin is wiped with a damp cloth.

How to remove blood from a suede or velor sofa?

On suede and velor upholstery, you can try to remove a blood stain using the dry method. Use:

• salt;
• flour;
• starch;
• talc;
• soda

Choose one of the products and sprinkle on top of the stain. Now you need to moisten it. Add a few drops of water and rub the mixture with your finger. Leave to dry for 1-2 hours. Vacuum up. Brush the suede (velor) with a soft brush to raise the pile.

Ammonia

Use ammonia solution on velor and suede upholstery with great care.Pharmacy ammonia (10%) is diluted with water. 150 ml of water is poured into a glass and 1 teaspoon of ammonia is added. The solution is stirred and lubricated onto the stain. Exposure time – 40 minutes. After this, the upholstery is washed, dried and combed.

9% vinegar

To clean velor or suede from dried blood, 9% vinegar is diluted with water 1 to 4. The solution is applied to the contaminated area for 15 minutes. Wash off the blood with soap foam.

Soaking in vinegar helps to better remove dry blood particles from the lint.

Cleaned upholstery is wiped several times with a damp cloth and dried naturally.

How to remove dried old stains?

Stains that are more than 7 days old are considered old and difficult to remove. Only very strong means can remove blood from the sofa. It is better to use special cleaners or seek help from a dry cleaner.

Among folk remedies for such cases there is its own “heavy artillery”. The recipes are effective, but can damage delicate upholstery. Remember to test in an inconspicuous place first!

Ammonia with borax

The product is used for very old stains. Mix 2 tbsp in a glass glass. spoons of filtered water, 1 teaspoon of borax and 1 teaspoon of ammonia. The liquid is applied with a sponge. After 5-7 minutes, thoroughly wash the upholstery.

Salt and lemon juice

The following recipe works well on synthetic upholstery. To remove dried traces of blood, mix 1 teaspoon of coarse salt and 2 teaspoons of lemon juice. Rub the resulting paste into the stain and leave for 5-7 minutes. Then collect grains of salt with a napkin and wash the treated area with clean water.

Cream of tartar and lemon juice paste

Cream of tartar is an additive used in confectionery.In addition to its direct purpose, white crystalline powder is used against old blood stains on leather products. You need to mix 1 part of the powder with 2 parts of fresh lemon juice. Apply the paste to the stain for 5-10 minutes. Then the skin is washed with water, wiped dry, and moisturized with cream.

Meat baking powder

Meat tenderizer is a seasoning made from salt and papaya extract. Papaya contains papain, an enzyme that breaks down protein. The meat becomes very tender. And if you spread a mixture of seasoning and water on a blood stain, it will soon disappear. The fabric will not be damaged. Recipe:

1. Mix 1 tbsp. a spoonful of meat baking powder and 2 tbsp. spoons of water.
2. Apply the blood trail thickly.
3. Leave for 2 hours.
4. Wash off the composition with a damp cloth.

Questions and answers

How to remove a blood stain without leaving a trace?

Blood on the upholstery leaves marks forever. They may be discolored or well washed out. In appearance, it seems that the spots have disappeared without a trace. But forensic research will easily identify them. Experts use luminol. After treatment with powder, the washed-out blood glows yellow.

When is it prohibited to wash off blood stains yourself?

If you are considering the option of professional dry cleaning, stains cannot be washed, much less removed with household chemicals. Otherwise, you will not be given a cleaning guarantee.

There are many remedies for blood stains on the sofa. These include specialized household chemicals and simple recipes from the people. In most cases they really help. But not always. Old and dried marks on “complex” materials can behave unpredictably. If the sofa is expensive, it is better not to resort to experiments, and immediately contact the dry cleaners.Our specialists have experience working with different types of upholstery. They use modern equipment and select medications individually. And if there is a possibility of damage to the sofa, they warn about it.