How To Remove Blood Stains

• The dangers of blood
• Why professionals should clean up significant amounts of blood
• How professionals clean up a blood spill
• How to remove dried blood stains
• Frequently asked questions
• Contact our team today

Blood stains are not just dark and unsightly - they are notoriously difficult to remove from fabric and other surfaces. Fortunately, there are ways to clean up small stains from small cuts and injuries, nosebleeds, and other minor incidents. However, should a major incident that results in a large amount of blood being spilled occur, such as a crime or someone dying, you must bring in professional trauma cleaners to deal with the situation. 

Here at ICE Cleaning, we offer our trauma cleaning services nationwide. We are experts in the clean up and disposal of biohazards, and are accredited by the National Association of Crime Scene Cleaners. 

Keep reading to learn how to remove small blood stains safely. 

The dangers of blood

Blood is a biohazard and exposure can put your health at risk. Blood can carry numerous pathogens such as HIV and Hepatitis B and C, which are infectious, harmful diseases. 

Apart from direct transmission of the pathogens through an open wound or mucous membranes (such as the eyes or nose), you might get infected indirectly, too. For instance, dried blood on surfaces still poses a risk because some viruses survive outside the body for weeks. You can learn more about the dangers of trauma cleaning in this blog. 

Why professionals should clean up significant amounts of blood

Professionals have access to the appropriate personal protective equipment (PPE) such as full-body suits, gloves, respirators, and eye protection to safely deal with biohazardous materials at trauma scenes. They are also trained in identifying potential risks that may not be immediately apparent for a thorough clean.

They will follow strict protocols and standards set by bodies like the British Institute of Cleaning Science, and can remove all traces of the blood as well as any lingering stubborn stains. 

If non-professionals attempt this task without adequate knowledge or resources, they are putting themselves at unnecessary risk and will not have the specialist equipment or techniques to eliminate all the blood. Any left behind may harm people's health. 

How professionals clean up a blood spill

Firstly, the professionals put on protective gear to shield themselves from any possible pathogens that might be present in the blood.

Next comes the task of removing visible traces of blood which involves using specialist cleaning agents designed for biohazard clean up. The area is then sanitised thoroughly to kill any lingering pathogens and ensure no residual biological matter remains on surfaces.

To complete the process, professionals dry out the areas they cleaned and conduct tests to confirm that all hazardous materials were successfully removed or neutralised.

This careful approach guarantees both physical safety and can give you peace of mind that your property is free from harmful substances. You can find out more about what happens during trauma cleaning here. 

How to remove dried blood stains

Professional cleaners can quickly remove blood stains from your property and possessions. But it is possible to clean up small blood stains yourself. 

Rinse with cold water

Hot water sets blood stains by causing the proteins on blood stains to clump, making it hard for water to wash it out. Rinse the surface with cold water as soon as possible after noticing the stain to prevent it from drying and setting into your fabric.

Use salt and soap 

Create a paste of salt and liquid soap and apply it to the discolouration. Let it sit for five mins then rinse with cold water until no colour is coming out of the fabric.

Apply lemon juice

A natural bleaching agent like lemon juice could help get rid of the dark stains, too. Squeeze some fresh lemon juice onto the stained area and blot gently before washing normally.

It is always recommended that do a patch test first when using any method on coloured fabrics or delicate materials to avoid damaging them. For significant amounts of blood, large blood stains, or if you are dealing with a trauma scene, you must bring in professional trauma cleaners.

The benefits of professional trauma cleaning services

• They will follow a thorough clean up process that makes sure all traces of bio-hazardous materials are removed from your property.
• Strict safety measures will be put into place to reduce any risk of exposure or infection during the clean-up process.
• Trauma cleaning can be a very distressing process, particularly if someone was seriously injured or died and you knew the person affected. Professional cleaners will offer a discreet service and handle the difficult situation sensitively. 

Frequently asked questions

Can vinegar remove blood stains?

Vinegar is effective for blood stain removal. Just dab some on the spot before washing as normal.

Does salt remove blood stains?

Salt works well, too. Mix with cold water until it forms a paste, apply onto the stain, then rinse off after an hour or so.

Does bicarbonate of soda remove blood stains?

Bicarbonate of soda combined with cold water creates a potent mix that breaks down stubborn dry blood spots easily.

Contact our team today

We offer a range of trauma cleaning services including undiscovered death cleaning, crime scene cleaning, and road traffic accident cleaning. If it's an emergency, we can be on site within a matter of hours of your call. 

Get in touch on 0208 066 0360 or enquiries@icecleaning.co.uk to learn more about our trauma clean up services.