While there is no replacement for a professional cleaning service, there are many treatments for blood stains until a permanent solution is available. It is inevitable that cuts and scrapes will happen, and you are likely to have a blood stain on your carpet. For the most part, it’s much simpler to spot clean blood (and takes less time) than it may seem. Blood results in one of the most unattractive stains of all, and we know how important of an investment your carpet is.
The Unavoidable Stain
Blood can be brought into a house by many agents, through children to dogs and cats. If you have children, then your run the risk of bloody noses and knee scabs. If you have pets, than you inevitably deal with a cat or dog that brings in traces of blood, dust and dirt. In a busy home, blood stains are unavoidable. For this reason it is essential to know how to spot treat a blood stain, to minimize its damage until our professional cleaning service can give it the permanent solution it deserves.
From Stubborn to Severe – Step-by-step guideline to Handle Blood Stains:
- Apply a lot of cold water to the blood stain. Many stains require the application of lukewarm water, such as vomit or dirt. Do not use this method with blood. It is extremely important to only to use cold water when cleaning blood stains. First, remove any blood clots that are embedded in your carpet’s fibers. Second, take a cleaning cloth and drench it in cold water. Third, apply the cloth to the stained area. This process requires patience, but is essential to begin to loosen up the dried blood.
- Use hydrogen peroxide to create a “bubbling effect.” Older stains may require that you repeat the cold water treatment. If the blood still won’t budge after the first treatment, apply a minor amount of hydrogen peroxide to your sponge, and dab it on the damaged area of your carpet until it produces a “bubbling effect.” Allow it to sit for a few minutes, and then soak up all of the moisture with a dry rag.
- If nothing else works, use laundry detergent. Depending on the severity of the stain, it may be necessary to spray on laundry detergent. As a last step, put some liquid laundry detergent to the blood stain. Massage the detergent into the stain with your finger. It is essential not to scrub the stain with another cleaning tool, like a sponge or rag, as it may worsen the stain. Repeat the first step by generously applying cold water to the area, and absorb the moisture with a dry towel.
If your stain still won’t leave after these steps or if you are looking for professionals to remove all traces of the stain, be sure to call us here at Southside Chem-Dry. We are highly trained, trustworthy cleaning experts who will apply a protectant solution on your carpets to help prevent further accidents, and make sure your carpet is restored to its full beauty.