How To Remove Blood Stains From A Mattress Protector

blood stain on fabric

Blood is one of the hardest stains to get out. We reveal how to banish blood from your mattress protector in a jiffy.

A mattress protector with a bloodstain needs to go through three stages. The bloodstain first needs to be treated with a clean-up as soon as it happens, the stain itself needs to be treated, and finally, the protector needs to be thoroughly washed in the washing machine. 

Leave a bloodstain for too long and it might never leave. But we show you how to get rid of the fresh and hours-old bloodstains with ingredients that are probably already in your pantry.


How To Get Rid Of Bloodstains On A Mattress Protector

However you got blood on your mattress protector, our article can help you to remove the stain. Just remember that blood is one of the hardest things to remove from fabric, so you might have to repeat the process a few times – that is totally normal. 

Here are the basic steps which we will discuss more fully in a moment.

  1. Clean up the excess blood.
  2. Saturate the stain.
  3. Blot with a dry cloth.
  4. Apply a cleaning paste.
  5. Wash and dry the protector.

Clean Up The Excess Blood

When it comes to getting rid of a bloodstain, acting quickly is essential. The longer the blood is left on the mattress protector, the harder it will be to remove it entirely. Nobody likes seeing the remnants of a bloodstain on their bedding! So if you notice the bloodstain but is in a rush (like you have to get to work), here’s a quick tip – throw the protector in a tub of water and deal with it later. 

If you have the time to deal with it now, the first step is to remove the excess blood. Fresh blood will always goop a bit and you need to gently dab at the stain to remove as much of it as possible. Use something that is absorbent. Tissue paper or paper towels are perfect for the job. To make it easier, place the mattress protector on a surface that is waterproof, like a countertop or a plastic garden table. 

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Saturate The Stain With Water

Next, take a cloth and dip it in water. Wring out the excess water until the cloth is damp. With the mattress protector still on the table or countertop, dab at the stain until the fabric is saturated with water. A word of caution, though, do not rub or scrub at this point. The idea is to dab at the stain. If the cloth comes away with blood, that’s great – just wash it and squeeze out the extra water and repeat. Rubbing the stain now will make it harder to remove so resist the urge!

The chances are that the bloodstain also made it to the mattress. If you want to treat your bed too, then grab your free copy of our guide on how to clean a mattress.

Blot The Stain With A Dry Cloth

clean cloths for cleaning

This step is a part of the previous one. As soon as the stain is saturated with the damp cloth, take a dry cloth and dab at the stain. More blood should come away on your dry cloth. Alternate blotting at your bloodstain with the damp cloth and then the dry cloth. Eventually, this should remove most of the blemish. If it only removes some of it, do not worry. We have a solution to help.

Apply A Cleaning Paste To The Bloodstain

Do not use bleach or chlorine to clean your mattress protector. These bedding items are particularly sensitive to harsh chemicals and high heat. Instead, let’s rely on things that are probably already hidden away in your pantry! A simple but highly effective remedy is baking soda. Not only does it work miracles with stains but baking soda is also a fantastic deodorant. That is right, it will remove the odour of blood, sweat, and basically anything else. 

Step 1: Gather a box of baking soda, some water, a saucer, and a teaspoon. 

Step 2: You’ll have to use your eyes as a guide here. But take some baking soda and add a little water at a time to create a baking soda paste. 

Step 3: Scoop the paste with the teaspoon and dunk it on the stain. 

Step 4: Use the backside of the teaspoon to smear the baking soda paste over the stained area. 

Step 5: Leave the baking soda paste on the mattress protector for about half an hour to an hour.

Step 6: Take a damp cloth and carefully remove the excess baking soda.

Step 7: Dab at the area with a clean, dry towel.

Wash And Dry The Mattress Protector

As we mentioned a little earlier, most mattress protectors are heat sensitive and also respond badly to harsh chemicals and even strong laundry detergents. For these reasons, they need to be washed and dried a little differently than most other bedding. That being said, always read the care instructions on the label of your mattress protector first. 

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drying mattress protector

How To Wash Your Mattress Protector

Once you have chosen a mild but effective laundry detergent, set your washing machine’s temperature. Cold water is preferable because hot water makes blood more difficult to get out of fabric. Also, do not place other pieces of laundry with your mattress protector especially if the protector has a zippered edge. 

How To Dry Your Mattress Protector

When everything is said and done, your mattress protector is now rid of that bloodstain! The final thing to do now is to dry the protector. There are two ways to go about this. A mattress protector is better off being air-dried but you can also toss it into the tumble dryer. 

If you want to use a tumble dryer, keep the following in mind. The heat-sensitive fabric cannot take high temperatures and if your protector has a plastic or waterproof parts, it can actually melt if it rests against the hot metal drum when the cycle is over. You need to keep the tumble dryer on the lowest heat setting and be there when the cycle ends to remove the mattress protector immediately. 

A safer way is to hang your protector on the washing line and allow the sunny and windy day to do all the work for you! If the weather is rainy, place the protector on a waterproof surface and turn a few fans in its direction. Check on them now and again to turn the fans on the areas that are still moist. 

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A Quick Summary On How To Get Rid Of Bloodstains On A Mattress Protector

  • Bloodstains are some of the most difficult stains to remove from the bedding. 
  • Never use hot water as it sets the blood and makes it harder to remove.
  • Bloodstains need a little basic pre-treatment to remove.
  • A cleaning paste or product is the mains step.
  • You can finish the process by adding the protector to the washing machine and leaving it to dry.

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About the Author Tom

My journey into the world of sleep came about through living in several properties over my lifetime and always seeming to have the worst luck with neighbors. All but one have been extremely noisy and very inconsiderate. What this made me realize early on, was that the little sleep my neighbors allowed me to get needed to be of great quality. So I started to learn all about sleep, and what helps people get the best quality sleep possible.