There is nothing worse than getting blood on clothes, upholstered furniture, or even the carpet. Why? Because blood is one of the most stubborn stains to tackle. This is because there are so many myths on how to deal with stains. If armed with the correct knowledge and methodology, dealing with bloodstains can be a walk in the park. That is why our team of stain removal specialists have decided to help us put together this guide on how to clean bloodstains from upholstery.

how to clean bloodstains from upholstered furniture

Upholstery Types

Before we get to the method, it is important to take a look at the type of upholstery you will be treating. The reason for this is that each type of fabric requires different approaches and you do not want to be damaging your beautiful furniture.

  • Nylon – easy to clean, durable, high abrasion resistance;
  • Polyester – easy to clean, durable, low to moderate abrasion resistance;
  • Olefin – easy to clean, very durable, colourfast;
  • Acrylic – easy to clean, very durable, colourfast;
  • Rayon – low-moisture cleaning, not very durable;
  • Cotton – tricky to clean, not fade-resistant;
  • Wool – difficult to clean, not very stain-resistant;
  • Leather – easy to clean; the good thing with leather is that in most cases, you can just wipe off the stain if it has not yet dried.

Always check the label on your furniture and pay attention to the instructions. This is vital to maintaining your home interior in tip-top condition. If you have a dried bloodstain, we recommend you contact professional stain-removal technicians to give you a hand. This could help you save doing irreversible damage to your upholstery.

How to Clean Bloodstains from Upholstery

Now that you know the main qualities of the fabrics, it is time to get to the main part – how to clean bloodstains from upholstery. Here is our extensive guide, provided by vetted technicians:

  1. If the bloodstain has dried before you noticed it, it may be a good idea to get an old toothbrush. Gently brush away the dried residue without applying much pressure. You don’t want to rub it into the fabric.
  2. Now, if possible, remove the cover of your upholstered furniture. If not, you will have to be very careful with the next step not to cause damage.
  3. Rinse the area with cold water to get as much of the stain out as possible. Blood is a protein stain, so be sure to use cold water only.
  4. In the event that the previous step was not possible due to moisture-sensitive fabric, get an absorbent sponge or cloth. Plunge them in cold water and start blotting the area to lift as much of the stain as you can.
  5. Now get a bit of soda water and a cup of cold water and mix the two together. Get a clean sponge or cloth and continue blotting at the area.
  6. Repeat step 5 until it stops lifting the stain. By this point, there should only be a light residue of the blood.
  7. Mix 8 parts water with 1 part glycerine and 1 part laundry detergent with just a drop of fairy washing up liquid into a spray bottle and shake it well.
  8. Spray lightly, about 2 or 3 times onto the afflicted area.
  9. Rinse out your cloth or sponge and continue dabbing at the area using circular motions. If needed, repeat the step a few times.
  10. Once there are no traces of the stain left, get a bowl of clean, cold water and rinse out the area using a clean towel or cloth.

Check out more of our professional upholstery stain-removal tips: How to Keep Upholstery Stain and Odour-Free.