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How To Get Blood Out Of A Mattress

Learn our top tips on getting blood out of a mattress, plus how to get blood stains out of your bed sheets.

From kids' nosebleeds to period stains, it's likely that you'll find blood on your mattress at some point or another. But even if your mattress is brand new, there's no need to panic! With a little know-how and the right ingredients, you can easily get blood out of a mattress and remove dried blood stains quickly, so you can enjoy a cleaner, fresher sleeping environment.

Gloved hands holding a cloth and spray bottle over a stain on a mattress.

How to get blood stains out of your mattress

Keep in mind that you should never use warm or hot water when attempting to get blood out of your mattress, as the heat will cause the blood stain to set into the fibres. Instead, opt for cold water - you might think that cold water can't clean as well as hot water can, but rest assured, if you mix it with the right ingredients, it's one of the best tools to use to clean a mattress at home.

Follow our step-by-step guide on how to get blood out of a mattress:

1. Start with the vacuum cleaner

Start by using your Hoover to get any loose dust and dirt that might intervene with the process of removing the blood stain. This can also help to loosen bits of dried blood. However, make sure not to rub your hoover over the stain too hard, as this can push it further into the mattress.

2. Mix up a stain-busting paste

The key ingredients for getting blood out of a mattress are hydrogen peroxide, salt, and cornflour. You can find hydrogen peroxide in most supermarkets and pharmacies, as it's just a type of bleach. However, not all bleach products contain hydrogen peroxide, so make sure you get the right stuff!

You'll need 60g of cornflour, 60ml of hydrogen peroxide, and just a tablespoon of salt. Mix this together to form a thick paste that will sit on the surface of your mattress without spreading beyond the stain.

Make sure you wear protective gloves while you mix this paste to prevent any skin irritation!

3. Apply your paste to the stain

Keeping your gloves securely on, use a plastic spatula or spoon to apply a generous layer of this paste to the blood stain on your mattress. The ingredients within the paste will break down the stain, but you must leave it to dry completely to allow them to take full effect.

4. Scrape the paste off

Once this paste is completely dry, scrape it off as best you can. Don't use a knife or anything that might damage the surface of your mattress - instead, opt for a robust but smooth-edged tool like a clean spoon or spatula.

Then, use your vacuum cleaner again to remove any leftover dried paste powder. For really stubborn blood stains, you might have to repeat this process a few times. Try leaving the paste on for as long as possible, even sleeping in the spare room overnight, if you can, to let it really do its work before you scrape it off!

5. Wipe over and leave to air out

Once you're happy that all of the blood is out of your mattress, you can wipe over where you laid the paste with a damp cloth. Make sure you dampen the cloth with cold water - not hot - and gently wipe away any excess paste. Leave to air for a couple of hours, and hey-presto, you've got a clean mattress!

When you remake your bed, add a mattress protector to prevent future staining and keep your mattress properly protected against stains, spills, and blood.

How to get blood out of a memory foam mattress

Just like a regular mattress, you can also remove blood stains from a foam mattress. Cleaning your memory foam mattress doesn't need to be as difficult as you might think - simply follow our tips below for getting blood out of this type of mattress. You can also use these tips for getting fresh blood out of a mattress.

1. Start with blotting

If the blood is still fresh on your foam mattress, start by gently blotting as much as you can with a damp tissue or cloth. Avoid oversoaking the mattress, and only use cold water on your cloth.

2. Switch to a dry cloth

Taking a new, dry cloth or tissue, keep gently blotting the blood stain until you notice it starts to disappear. Allow the mattress to fully dry before putting your bed sheets back on.

3. Reach for the baking cupboard

If blotting doesn't work, and the blood has started to set into the mattress, head to the kitchen and grab some baking soda. Sprinkle over a generous amount and leave for at least 30 minutes. Baking soda has excellent absorption properties and can help to remove blood from your mattress.

3. Use a damp cloth

Using yet another damp cloth (with cold water!), gently dab the baking soda off your mattress. Again, if the blood has started to stain and become particularly stubborn, you may have to repeat this process a couple of times, leaving the baking soda on for as long as possible.

A collection of gloves, a brush, a cloth, a spray bottle, and a small bowl of baking powder on a stained mattress surface.

How to get blood out of bed sheets

If there's blood on your mattress, it's likely there's also blood on your bedding, too. But don't worry, you don't need to throw out your duvet or pillows just yet - here are our tips for getting blood out of your bedding.

1. Cold water is a must

As we've mentioned, when dealing with blood stains on your bed, you must use cold water instead of warm water to prevent the stain from setting. If you have fresh blood on your bed sheets, you'll want to remove them straight away and put them in a cold wash in your washing machine.

If the stain has already dried, however, you'll want to soak them in a pre-wash.

2. Make use of that hydrogen peroxide

To get rid of dried blood from your bed sheets, or if you're worried about how to get blood out of white sheets, opt for a pre-soak before heading to the washing machine.

As good as hydrogen peroxide is at getting blood out of your mattress, it can also help to remove blood stains from your bedding. Fill a large bucket or your bathtub with cold water and submerge your sheets. Once they've soaked for a while, grab that hydrogen peroxide and pour around half a cup over the stain. Gently dab (don't rub!) the affected area, before submerging it again in the cold water.

For particularly stubborn stains or for white sheets, leave to soak for up to 24 hours.

3. Finally, opt for a cold wash

Once you're happy the blood is faded and almost all out of your sheets, pop them in the washing machine. Use a mild detergent and avoid fabric softener as this can create a soapy layer that keeps the stain locked in. And remember to set your machine to a cold wash!

4. Air dry your sheets

Because heat causes stains to 'fix' into your sheets, avoid using the tumble dryer. If you take your bed sheets out of the washing machine and notice there's still blood on them, you can either repeat the hydrogen peroxide process again, or consider whether it's worth looking for some cheap new bed sheets instead.

Air dry your bed sheets - we'd recommend doing this outside so you get that fresh laundry smell. If it's winter or you live in a flat with no access to a garden, use our tips for drying bed sheets indoors without a dryer.

Keep stain removal products on hand

While we'd recommend using hydrogen peroxide as it has a strong stain removal property, we understand you might not have access to it and want to get blood out of your mattress and bed sheets sooner than you can get to the shops.

It's worth always having on hand some white vinegar or stain removal product in your laundry cupboard to tackle these stains when they arise. There are a number of popular stain removal products out there that claim to get blood out of sheets, but make sure they're okay to use on the material of your sheets, such as cotton or satin, first.

White vinegar can lift blood out of fabric, and you can use this in the same way we recommend with hydrogen peroxide - as a pre-wash.

When should I replace my mattress?

If you've tried everything to get the blood out of your mattress and still find yourself with a stain, you don't necessarily have to replace it straight away. After all, as long as your mattress is still offering you support and comfort, and the stain isn't inherently unhygienic, then we wouldn't say you need to worry. You should, however, invest in a mattress protector to prevent further staining!

However, if, for example, you're struggling to get urine out of your child's mattress, you may want to consider a new one for hygiene's sake.

Heavy staining or soiling can affect your mattress' warranty, so it's best to always use a mattress protector from the very start. If you've had your mattress for nearly 8 years and it's particularly badly stained, it is probably time to consider buying a new mattress. If you're not sure, read our guide to how long a mattress lasts.

Taking care of your mattress

For more helpful tips on looking after your mattress, head to our Buying Guides section for guides on how to fix a sagging mattress, how to make a soft mattress firmer, and many more.

If you've decided your or your child's mattress is beyond repair and you need to start looking for a new one, browse our collection of high-quality, budget-friendly sleep surfaces, from pocket spring mattresses to luxury pillow top options that offer incredible support and full-body cushioning. Plus, with our free next day delivery service, you can enjoy a fresh, clean new mattress as soon as tomorrow!

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