Removing blood: pick your surface
Blood is a protein-based stain, usually from a cut finger, a nosebleed or a pet scratch. The chemistry stays the same wherever it lands — but the safe way to treat it changes completely with the surface, which is why each pairing below has its own guide.
Water-soluble
Water-based cleaning can dissolve this stain — method and temperature are what matter.
Heat sets it
Keep hot water, steam and dryers away until the blood is fully out — heat fixes it permanently.
Fresh vs dried-in
Fresh blood dissolves in plain cold water and often needs nothing stronger. Dried blood has coagulated: the haemoglobin has bonded to the fibre and needs an enzyme cleaner and patience rather than harder scrubbing.
Blood removal guides by surface
Blood on a wool carpet
hard to remove · pro sometimes needed
Cold water and mild detergent, then an enzyme-based cleaner
Read the guideBlood on a nylon carpet
moderate to remove
Cold water and mild detergent, then an enzyme-based cleaner
Read the guideBlood on a polypropylene carpet
moderate to remove
Cold water and mild detergent, then an enzyme-based cleaner
Read the guideBlood on a wool rug
hard to remove · pro sometimes needed
Cold water and mild detergent, then an enzyme-based cleaner
Read the guideBlood on a fabric sofa
moderate to remove
Cold water and mild detergent, then an enzyme-based cleaner
Read the guideBlood on a leather sofa
easy to remove
A barely damp cloth, then a dedicated pH-neutral leather cleaner
Read the guideBlood on a microfibre sofa
moderate to remove
Isopropyl alcohol (surgical spirit) on S-code microfibre; minimal water-based cleaning only on W-code
Read the guideBlood on a mattress
hard to remove · pro sometimes needed
Cold water and mild detergent, then an enzyme-based cleaner
Read the guideBlood on a polyester carpet
moderate to remove
Cold water and mild detergent, then an enzyme-based cleaner
Read the guideBlood on a silk rug
very hard to remove · pro sometimes needed
Gentle blotting only, then a specialist silk-rug cleaner
Read the guideBlood on a cotton rug
moderate to remove
Cold water and mild detergent, then an enzyme-based cleaner
Read the guideBlood on a velvet sofa
moderate to remove
Cold water and mild detergent, then an enzyme-based cleaner
Read the guideBlood on a suede sofa
hard to remove · pro sometimes needed
A suede brush and suede eraser, then a purpose-made suede cleaner
Read the guideBlood on a linen sofa
moderate to remove
Cold water and mild detergent, then an enzyme-based cleaner
Read the guideBlood on a cotton sofa
moderate to remove
Cold water and mild detergent, then an enzyme-based cleaner
Read the guide