It’s always the mosquito bites in our house. Somebody was playing in the yard, got a mosquito bite, and then sat on the couch to itch it. With a light-colored couch, I’ll admit I was less than thrilled the first time I saw a blood stain on the couch. Luckily, I have a method for how to get blood out of couch that works incredibly well. Don’t stress about this; your couch will be back to normal in just a minute.
Before You Begin: Important Tips To Keep In Mind
Sometimes, when it comes to getting blood stains out of a couch, your first instinct is to scrub it quickly. This is a bad instinct; in addition to avoiding scrubbing or rubbing the blood stain, here are a few other tips to keep in mind.
- Hot water can set the stain; stick with cold water
- Check the care label on your couch; it has a code (I’ll explain below)
- Test an inconspicuous area with any cleaner you decide to use
- You may have to repeat the cleaning process 2-3 times
Couch Care Labels
Your couch will have a care label on it showing you exactly what is acceptable to use to clean your couch.
W: water based cleaning, mild detergent, or couch cleaner with water is acceptable
S: solvent based cleaning, a cleaning solvent that does not contain water
WS: water based or solvent based cleaning, the most flexible type
X: vacuum only; too sensitive or delicate to use cleaning agents
O: professional cleaning only
How To Get Blood Stains Out of Couch
To remove stains from a couch with an S or WS care label, you will need mild dish soap, water, a microfiber cleaning cloth, and hydrogen peroxide. Blot the area of the blood stain to ensure all excess blood is removed. Take a wet microfiber cloth and add a drop of mild dish soap to the cloth. Blot the blood stain with the wet cloth until it starts to come up. If the blood remains, test an inconspicuous couch area with a little spray of hydrogen peroxide (3%). Spray the blood stain and continue to blot the area with the wet cloth until all the blood is removed.
If your couch has an S, X, or O on the care label, do not use this method. I have provided additional methods below to help with the more difficult to take care of couch materials.
Alternative Method for Removing Blood Stain From Couch
If the soap and hydrogen peroxide stain removal method is not successful, you can try another one I’ve had luck with, salt and water. My one word of caution here is to ensure you don’t scrub with a salt-based cleaning solution; it’s a bit too abrasive and can damage couch fibers. For this method, all you need is salt and water.
Step 1: Create a Salt Cleaning Solution
Create a paste using about a teaspoon of salt and a few drops of cold water; the paste should have a thicker consistency to it and not be overly watered down.
Step 2: Apply Salt Paste
Apply the paste directly to the stain, there is no need to scrub the stain with the salt.
Step 3: Allow Paste To Work
Wait for about 15 minutes while the salt paste works to break down the blood stains.
Step 4: Remove the Paste
Use a spoon to remove the salt paste and excess water.
Step 5: Check for Effectiveness
See if the blood stains have been removed and repeat the process if necessary. Then, blot the couch with a clean cloth and let it air dry.
Can You Get Blood Stains Out of a Couch
Blood stains can come out of the couch with a mixture of soap and water. If the blood stain does not come out with soap and water, it is possible to use hydrogen peroxide on the blood stain to lift it right out of the fabric. However, blood stains on your couch should not be permanent, especially with couches with a W or WS care label.
How Do You Get Dried Blood Out of Fabric
If the blood on your couch is dried or old, it can still be removed. The best method here is to use an enzymatic commercial cleaner. The enzymatic cleaners can break down organic materials and solutions like blood and effectively make them disappear. I use the Simple Solution Pet Stain and Odor Remover. Don’t worry; you don’t need to have a pet for this to be an effective solution for removing blood.
Step 1: Test the Cleaning Solution
Test a small area of the couch that is less visible to ensure the cleaning product does not cause any discoloration.
Step 2: Spray the Stain
Spray the Simple Solution Pet Stain and Odor Remover directly on the dried blood and let it sit for about 5 to 10 minutes.
Step 3: Blot
Blot the area with a clean cloth until any excess cleaning solution has been soaked up.
Step 4: Repeat and Dry
Repeat the entire process if necessary, and then let the couch air dry; there is no need to rinse the couch fabric as the enzymes in the cleaner will continue to work until the blood is completely removed.
Tips for Removing Blood Stains From S, X, O-Labeled Materials
Finding that W or WS on the couch label is a win. If you didn’t get so lucky when you looked at the label on your couch, here are a few of my best tips for dealing with the stain.
- You can always start with a dry color free cloth and blot the stain to see if it can be removed
- For care label S, contact your local furniture store or carpet cleaners and see if they have any commercial-based products in stock that could work on your couch
- With care label X, you can use a soft vacuum brush attachment to lightly work the area around the stain and try to remove some of the dried blood
- If your couch has care label O, call in a professional, and they will help with the stain removal process using professional equipment and solutions
- This process may take more time than it does with care label W or WS; be prepared for that and be patient
How To Prevent Blood Stains on the Couch
To prevent blood stains on the couch, you must be more mindful about who is using the couch and when. Sometimes, putting a couch cover on something that is washable and easy to maintain is a good method. Other times, you may lay a towel or blanket down on the areas that are used the most.
A company can come in and use a commercial treatment like a Scotchguard to protect your couch from stains. I’ve had this process done in the past, but it’s not 100% effective; you will still have to go through the stain-removal process.
This is just one of those things that everyone in the house must be aware of, and make sure you treat the stain as quickly as possible.
How Do You Remove Blood From a Couch With Vinegar
Vinegar can be an effective method to remove blood from a couch (care label W or WS); just make sure you test the vinegar solution in an inconspicuous area before you begin. The acidity in the vinegar can alter the coloring of your couch if you are not careful. Put a mixture of half vinegar and half water on a cleaning cloth and blot the blood stain. Continue for about three to five minutes to ensure it has completely dissolved the blood. Blot the area with cold water when finished to remove any of the excess vinegar.
How Do I Get Rid of Blood on Pillow for Couch
If your couch pillows have blood, check to see if the cover is removable. If the cover is removable, it will have washing instructions that you can follow regarding detergents to use and washing machine settings.
If the cover on the pillow is not removable, spot-test a small area with a spray of hydrogen peroxide (3%). If you notice no issues with discoloration, use this spray on the blood stain and blot with a damp cloth. When finished, continue to blot the stain to ensure all of the blood and peroxide are removed.
