Use cold water on blood, never hot. Heat cooks the protein in blood and sets the stain permanently, so the rule for a blood stain on a mattress is cold water, blotting rather than rubbing, and an enzyme treatment that breaks the protein down. Keep moisture to a minimum, because a mattress cannot be soaked, blot, treat, and dry fully. Fresh blood usually lifts well; dried or old blood is harder but often still treatable with patience.
Why cold water, never hot
Blood is a protein. Heat causes protein to coagulate and bond to the fibres, which is exactly what you do not want, hot water sets a blood stain and can make it permanent. Cold water keeps the protein soluble so it can be lifted out. This is the same reason heat ruins other protein stains, which we cover in blood, grease and protein stains.
Removing a fresh blood stain
- Blot up the excess with a clean, dry white cloth. Lift, do not rub, rubbing pushes blood deeper and spreads it.
- Dab with cold water on a cloth, working from the outside of the stain inward, and keep blotting with a dry cloth as the colour transfers.
- Apply an enzyme treatment made for protein stains, which digests the blood proteins. Give it the time the product specifies.
- Blot again with cold water to rinse, using as little moisture as possible.
- Dry the area fully with a fan or good airflow before remaking the bed.
Removing a dried or old blood stain
Dried blood is harder because the protein has already set, but it is often still treatable. Loosen it with cold water first, then apply an enzyme treatment and give it longer to work, repeating if needed. On a white or light mattress, a little hydrogen peroxide can help break down blood, but it can lighten coloured fabric, so spot-test in a hidden area first and use it sparingly. Never reach for hot water to speed things up, it sets what is left.
The mattress-specific rules
- Do not soak it. A mattress holds water in its padding and dries slowly, so over-wetting risks a damp, musty core and mould. Use minimal moisture and blot.
- Work from the outside in to stop the stain spreading.
- Dry it completely before putting bedding back, damp is the enemy.
- Use a waterproof protector afterwards to make the next accident easier.
When to call a professional
For a large stain, an old set-in one, or a mattress you would rather not risk over-wetting, professional treatment removes the stain with controlled low moisture and the right enzyme chemistry, then dries it properly. Stain treatment is included in our mattress cleaning price, see mattress cleaning costs in Johannesburg.
Common questions
Should you use hot or cold water on blood?
Cold, always. Hot water cooks the protein in blood and sets the stain permanently. Cold water keeps it soluble so it can be lifted, paired with an enzyme treatment that breaks the protein down.
Can you remove old, dried blood from a mattress?
Often yes, with patience. Loosen it with cold water, apply an enzyme treatment and give it time, repeating if needed. On white mattresses a little spot-tested hydrogen peroxide can help. It is harder than fresh blood but frequently still treatable.
Does hydrogen peroxide remove blood from a mattress?
It can help break down blood, but it can also lighten coloured fabric, so it suits white or light mattresses and must be spot-tested in a hidden area first and used sparingly. Cold water and an enzyme treatment are the safer primary method.
For a blood stain you cannot shift, or to avoid over-wetting the mattress, contact us or request a quote. See our mattress cleaning page.