We acknowledge the fact that your carpet and upholstery form an imperative domain of your home décor. From providing a comfortable playing area for your kids, to insulating your cold feet when you’re back from a stroll in the icy cold weather. Your carpet promises to enhance the overall appeal of your abode and provide a cozy atmosphere.
While your carpets and upholstery become your ultimate solace, they’re prone to all sorts of mishaps. From dust and dirt layers forming over the carpet surface to the inevitable wear and tear from prolonged usage. From accidental coffee spills to the unfortunate blood stains ruining the fabric and its aesthetics. All such undesirable events call for carpet cleaning or upholstery cleaning actions.
Although each of the disasters mentioned above can become havoc, regular cleaning can help remove the layers of dust and dirt. Among the various sets of fluids spilling over your furniture, bloodstains become a real challenge to remove effectively. Your misery doesn’t just end after you’ve accidentally cut your finger, the bloodstains on your carpet would further ruin your day.
That is why our experts at Forward Green Carpet and Tile Cleaning have tirelessly worked to provide you with the following in-depth guide. To help you remove blood stains that otherwise can become an unpleasant sight.
We take pride in being one of San Mateo’s best, environment-friendly, carpet cleaning service providers. Our methods have aimed at providing excellence in cleaning service since 2008 while incorporating modern technologies, including steam carpet cleaning.
Our competitive advantage lies in the elite customer service. We are focusing on the following list of services including Carpet cleaning, Stone Floor Cleaning, Tile & Grout Cleaning, Upholstery Cleaning and Pet Odor Elimination.
So, here’s the step-by-step guide to remove blood stains. In case you’re finding it difficult to do it on your own, our doors are always open for you!
Why Blood Stains are Difficult to Remove
You might’ve wondered why removing blood stains becomes an ordeal. Blood contains proteins, specifically hemoglobin, which, for us, is a vital component. However, when left open in the atmosphere, it starts clotting i.e., it tends to bind to any potential surface over which it spills. This binding makes it almost impossible to remove the stain.
Carpet Cleaning
Plan A – Non-Toxic Solutions
Cold Water Treatment on Carpets to Remove Blood Stains
A common misconception in removing the bloodstain is the use of warm water. Unlike conventional fluid spills from beverages and foods, this carpet cleaning requires you to work smartly. Warm water enhances the settling rate of the bloodstain, so instead, cold water should be used as a carpet cleaner.
It is recommended to take action as soon as such incidents happen, as a fresh stain is more convenient to remove due to the lesser binding rate. However, in case this wasn’t feasible, no worries, here’s how to get blood out of carpet using cold water.
- Fill up any available spray bottle with cold water. In case of unavailability of a spray bottle, improvise by filling up any container and sprinkle the water using your hands.
- Concentrate dispensing the water droplets on the bloodstain.
- Use a clean, white, piece of cloth or paper, preferably one which has commendable absorbing properties such as a towel or a napkin to soak the water and the stain remnants from the surface of the carpet.
- Do not attempt to rub the cloth/paper as this would instead spread the stain further or rip the paper apart. Simply press the cloth or paper to ensure that the maximum amount of the stain and water are soaked up.
- Now allow time for drying by leaving your carpet under a ceiling fan, or even better, use any portable fan and adjust it to aim for the target area.
- Once the carpet is dry, use your vacuum cleaner to hover up all the remains from the carpet surface.
- In case there’s still some further work required; you can repeat the steps until the stain is removed.
Plan B – Carpet Cleaning using Household Items
Water & Detergent Treatment on Carpets to Remove Blood Stains
Incase Plan A didn’t yield your preferred results, let’s begin with Plan B. All you’ll require is an additional usage of your kitchen based, liquid dishwashing detergent. Here’s how to get blood out of carpets using a detergent as a carpet cleaner.
- Use a clean, dry bottle and fill about 2 cups of cold water in it.
- Then add a small amount of liquid detergent, preferably a tablespoon volume.
- Mix the solution well.
- Pick a clean piece of cloth, preferably one which has commendable absorbing properties such as a towel or a napkin. Immerse it in the solution.
- Use this cloth to treat the stain for carpet cleaning. Lightly press the fabric over the stain for it to absorb the solution.
- Use a spare toothbrush for gently removing bloodstains. Don’t go on stroking the brush since this would instead spread the stain further.
- Using another piece of cloth, dip it in cold water and blot the area.
- Now allow time for drying by leaving your carpet under a ceiling fan, or even better, use any portable fan and adjust it to aim for the target area.
- Redo the exercise as mentioned above a few times. You can repeat this process several times until you altogether remove the bloodstains.
Water & Ammonia Treatment on Carpets to Remove Blood Stains
If the detergent didn’t work out that well, this means that the treatment requires a little stepping up. Before you begin, there are some precautions you’ll need to make sure you’re aware.
Attention: Do not combine Ammonia with Chlorine based bleach. It results in the formation of chloramine vapors and dangerous chlorine gas, both of which are extremely hazardous.
Attention: If you have a woolen carpet, do NOT use this method. Since Ammonia is alkaline, it will cause irreversible damage to your expensive carpets.
So, once you’ve made sure you’re ready, here’s how to get blood out of carpet using Ammonia.
- Fill up any available spray bottle with one glass of lukewarm water.
- Add about 1-2 tablespoons of Ammonia.
- Mix the solution well.
- Pick a clean piece of cloth, preferably one which has commendable absorbing properties such as a towel or a napkin. Immerse it in the solution. For a more concentrated solution (in case the stain is deep or covers a larger area), use a sponge instead.
- Gently scrub over the carpet for removing bloodstains.
- After the stain is gone, place another absorbent pad over the area.
- Try placing something hefty over the pad to ensure effective soaking.
- Once the absorbent material has completely soaked the remaining solution, remove it.
- Now allow time for drying by leaving your carpet under a ceiling fan, or even better, use any portable fan and adjust it to aim for the target area.
Baking Soda Treatment on Carpets to Remove Blood Stains
If Ammonia didn’t feel like the right choice, or if it isn’t readily available at your place, it’s totally okay. Try using baking soda instead. It’s one of the natural remedies to remove stains.
- Grab a glass of room temperature water and your baking soda box. Add about 2 tablespoons of water and 1 tablespoon of baking soda.
- Mix well until a paste is formed.
- Apply this paste using any spare toothbrush over the bloodstain.
- Leave the paste over the area for about 6 hours. (You can leave it overnight too).
- Pick a clean piece of cloth, preferably one which has commendable absorbing properties such as a towel or a napkin.
- Allow it to soak the solution thoroughly until the stain vanishes.
- You can sprinkle a few more drops of water and repeat the soaking process to remove any remaining baking soda remnants altogether.
- Now allow time for drying by leaving your carpet under a ceiling fan, or even better, use any portable fan and adjust it to aim for the target area.
Hydrogen Peroxide Treatment on Carpets to Remove Blood Stains
In case all the tactics mentioned above have failed, and the bloodstain is still there. It’s probably too dried up or too deep to be easily removed, but don’t worry, it’s time to gear up. Hydrogen Peroxide, as a carpet cleaner, reacts with the enzymes in the blood. An Oxidation reaction helps convert the compounds, which make the blood stain otherwise tricky to remove.
- Use a dropper or a pipette (if available) to pour drops of Hydrogen Peroxide. If the stain is small, you could opt for a cotton swab. Apply the chemical directly over the stain. You might notice some fizzing, don’t worry, that’s expected.
- Once treated, place a clean piece of cloth or a few paper towels over the stain.
- To ensure that sufficient pressure is applied, place some weight over the towels.
- Wait for about 10 minutes.
- Once you remove the weight and the towels, the stain should vanish.
- In case it doesn’t, repeat the steps.
Upholstery Cleaning
Salt Paste Treatment for Upholstery Cleaning
For freshly stained couches, we recommend this simple yet effective method of utilizing common salt. If Plan A didn’t go so well, this plan would surely do the job, provided that you take immediate action. It’s also an eco-friendly technique that avoids the use of any harmful chemicals or detergents.
- Pick a bowl from your kitchenware and fill it with about half a glass of cold water.
- Add a 1 tablespoon of common salt until a paste is formed. (Keep this ratio in mind: 2 tablespoon salt per Liter of water).
- Carefully apply this paste on the stain using a spare toothbrush, making sure you don’t start rubbing.
- Once the paste is applied, leave it for about 20 minutes.
- Pick up a clean piece of cloth or a towel, soak up the dried paste, removing bloodstain.
- This happens because the salt particles are abrasive and have dehydrating properties.
- It is recommended to repeat the process a few times in case the stain is deep.
Potato Starch Treatment for Upholstery Cleaning
If your precious and expensive couch has become the victim of bloodstains, we’re here to help. The following set of steps are easy to follow and recommended by our experts.
- Using a clean, white piece of cloth or paper towels to wipe away the excess bloodstain gently. A common mistake is to start rubbing the cloth; this will instead worsen the situation.
- Dip a clean, absorbent material such as a sponge in warm water and slowly apply it to the stain.
- Use common potato starch paste by mixing with cold water and apply it to the stain. Allow time to dry, preferably an entire day.
- Now use your gentle vacuum over the area.
- This should do the trick.
Stain Remover Treatment for Upholstery Cleaning
If the previous exercise didn’t render useful results, treatment using Potato Starch, level up using a stain remover. There isn’t any single specific best stain remover; you could, however, opt for a universal stain remover.
- Gently apply a few drops of the stain remover over the bloodstain.
- Allow time for it to do the trick.
- Recheck and follow the instructions that come along with the stain remover.
Professional Services at Forward Green Carpet and Tile Cleaning
While the techniques described above do ensure promising results, however, some stains might leave your efforts futile.
That is where we come into play!
Our premium services will guarantee an appealing overhauling of your lovely home at the most reasonable cost. While many others might offer the same services, our core competency revolves around environmental sustainability. As a result, all our methods strictly observe Eco-friendly standards.
So ,let us worry about the ordeal, our arsenal of cleansing gear is no joke!
