COIT’s Guide to Removing Blood Stains from Upholstery
The day-to-day hustle and bustle in your home can leave your furniture’s upholstery vulnerable to all kinds of wear and tear. From dirt to food, to dust, we carry in all kinds of stain-causing substances without knowing it.
And the last thing you want to carry onto your couch or chair’s upholstery is a bloodstain, right?
Remember to always do a spot removal test on a portion of carpet or upholstery that is normally not visible.
Trouble removing your stain? Find discounts in your area - Limited time only!
Types of Upholstery
Before you try and remove a blood stain from upholstery, it’s important to know what kind of material you’re working with.
There are 8 different types of fibers in upholstery that contain different properties:
- Wool
- Cotton
- Nylon
- Leather
- Polyester
- Rayon
- Acrylic
- Olefin
In the 1800s, upholstery looked a bit different. Back then, upholstery was actually made of horse, hog, and cow hair, along with hay and straw. The industry has since turned to using more synthetic materials, like the ones listed above. Cushions, for example, are made of a high-density foam core, which helps them keep their shape.
How to get blood out of Upholstery?
To maintain the shape and quality of all of your upholstery, it’s important to remove any kind of stain using recommended techniques.
See COIT’s guide on how to get blood out of upholstery below. It gives you the 411 on do-it-yourself techniques.
- Take a cool, damp sponge or cloth and gently blot the bloodstain. Try to avoid scrubbing, as that can push the blood further into the upholstery. Begin on the outside of the stain, and gradually work inward (if the blood stain is dry, use a toothbrush to scrape off any residue before you begin blotting.)
- Mix a cup of cold water with a bit of club soda, and pour it onto the affected area. Using a sponge, continue to gently blot the stain.
- Repeat step 2 as the stain lightens. You can stop blotting with the sponge when it stops pulling blood from the affected surface.
- Mix 80% water, 10% glycerin, and 10% laundry detergent in a cup or bowl. Pour this mixture into a spray bottle and shake well until it’s blended.
- Spray two to three times directly onto the bloodstain. Scrub with a sponge in a circular motion to gradually lighten the stain.
- Once the stain is removed, pour cold water onto the area, and pat dry with a towel. You can keep the mixture of glycerin, water, and detergent and store it for future blood stain removal.
Do you have a bloodstain on your upholstery that you can’t seem to remove on your own? For more advanced bloodstain removal that requires specialized, professional care, consider COIT Cleaning services. Don't forget to check out our coupons!
Remember to always do a spot removal test on a portion of carpet or upholstery that is normally not visible.
These are suggested treatments only and COIT can't be held accountable for any damage sustained by the use of the treatments in this spot removal guide.
