Blood can be quite tricky to remove from a carpet. There are several ways to do it, but the best cleaning advice is to act as quickly as possible.
If you are present at the time of the spill, get started immediately. Start to blot the stain with cold water and a clean paper towel or rag. Never use warm or hot water,as they will set in the stain. Never scrub the stain; that will only grind the blood into the carpet fibers, or even worse, into the carpet pad. Blot with a light touch, until you’ve gotten all the blood off as possible. Never use a soap or solution that contains bleach, or you’ll have a very noticeable lighter patch on your carpet.
With any carpet cleaning supplies you haven’t tried on your carpet before, it’s always wise to test it on a bit of your carpet in an inconspicuous place such as behind furniture or in a closet. If the color of the rug is unchanged with that cleaner, go ahead and use it on the stain.
There are some more natural carpet cleaning supplies that are probably in your home right now. Postpone that mad dash to the store to buy carpet cleaner, and try them out; they’re worth the time.
Hydrogen peroxide cuts blood quite effectively, on carpets and on clothes. Many health care professionals keep bottles handy for stain removal. Pour a little on the stain and it will start to bubble and fizz, and you’ll see that the blood begins to loosen. After the bubbling has stopped, dab it up. Some folks like to use paper towels, but an old towel or an absorbent rag will work as well.
If, after dabbing the stain, there is still blood present, pour on a bit more. Dab, and then start to blot with rags wet with water. Keep blotting until clean. Hydrogen peroxide is also known to work on older blood stains as well.
People swear by club soda for removing blood stains from carpet. It’s bubbling action, much like the hydrogen peroxide, helps to loosen the stain. Treat the stain the same.
A newer idea on the Internet is to blot the bloodstain with baby wipes. Blot, and then use water to remove the baby wipe solution. This is said to be an effective solution without having to spend a lot of money on expensive cleaning supplies.
Another way is to make up a solution of one teaspoon clear ammonia to 1/2 cup cold water, spray and blot. Then, spray a solution of 1/4 teaspoon of non-lanolin, non-bleach dish detergent and then work in gently. Spray with water and blot until stain is gone. If the stain is stubborn, put a little hydrogen peroxide on the ends of the carpet fibers.
To dry the cleaned area, make a thick pad of white paper towels or absorbent rags and place on top of carpet. Use something heavy, like a book, on top of that for more absorption. Replace dry towels as needed until carpet is dry. If you need to dry the stain quickly, use your blow dryer on the coolest possible setting.
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