How to Remove a Blood Stain From a Pillowcase With Stain Solver

Blood stains have a reputation for being difficult to remove, and there is a good reason for that: the longer blood remains in fabric, the more difficult the stain can become to remove.

That makes the first rule of treating a blood stain simple:

Deal with it as soon as you can.

In this real-world Stain Solver test, an overnight blood stain on a pillowcase was completely removed by soaking, rinsing, washing, and drying the fabric. By the end of the process, the stain was 100% gone.

What About Colored Pillowcases?

This same process can also be used on many colored pillowcases and other colorfast washable fabrics.

Stain Solver is color safe because it is not a chlorine bleach or another harsh cleaner designed to strip color from fabric. Instead, it uses oxygen-cleaning action to help break down and lift stains.

That makes it a useful option when you are dealing with blood stains on colored fabrics and want to remove the stain without reaching for chlorine bleach, which can discolor or damage many fabrics.

As always, follow the fabric manufacturer's care instructions and test for colorfastness in an inconspicuous area when appropriate.

Whether the pillowcase is white or colored, the same key rules apply: treat the blood stain as soon as possible, give Stain Solver time to work, rinse thoroughly, and make sure the stain is gone before putting the fabric in the dryer.

Why You Should Treat Blood Stains Quickly

Blood is a protein-based stain. Once it dries and has more time to bond with fabric fibers, removing it can require more soaking and treatment.

Fresh blood stains are generally easier to tackle than stains that have been allowed to sit for hours or days.

There is another important consideration: avoid exposing a fresh blood stain to very hot water before treating it. Excessive heat can help set protein stains into fabric.

So, when you discover a blood stain, resist the temptation to simply throw the item into a hot wash and hope for the best.

Instead, treat the stain first.

 

How We Removed This Overnight Blood Stain

For this pillowcase, we used Stain Solver as a soaking treatment before laundering the fabric normally.

Step 1: Prepare the Stain Solver Solution

Mix Stain Solver with warm water and make sure the powder is completely dissolved.

Stain Solver normally dissolves best in warm water. Because blood is a protein stain, however, avoid applying an excessively hot solution directly to a fresh blood stain.

The goal is to create a fully dissolved Stain Solver solution while avoiding unnecessary heat on the stained fabric.

Step 2: Submerge the Stained Pillowcase

Place the stained portion of the pillowcase into the Stain Solver solution.

For this stain, we allowed the fabric to soak for about 30 minutes so the oxygen-cleaning action had time to work through the stained fibers.

This is an important part of the Stain Solver process. Rather than immediately scrubbing aggressively, give the cleaning solution time to do the work.

Step 3: Rinse Thoroughly

After soaking, remove the pillowcase and rinse it thoroughly.

At this point, inspect the stained area before moving on to the washing machine.

Do not machine-dry a fabric if you can still see the blood stain. Dryer heat can make a remaining stain substantially harder to remove.

If staining remains, repeat the treatment first.

Step 4: Wash Normally

Once the stain has been successfully treated, wash the pillowcase normally with your other laundry, following the fabric manufacturer's care instructions. Try using a scoop of Stain Solver for your daily laundry to keep whites whiter and colors more colorful.

Step 5: Check Before Drying

Before putting the fabric into the dryer, check the stained area again.

If the stain is still visible, treat it again rather than applying dryer heat.

In our test, the pillowcase was washed and then dried normally.

The Result: The Blood Stain Was Completely Gone

After soaking in Stain Solver, rinsing thoroughly, washing, and drying, the overnight blood stain had disappeared.

The stain was 100% gone.

It is a good example of why having a versatile stain remover available before you need it can make such a difference.

Blood stains, food stains, beverage spills, grass stains, and plenty of other everyday messes rarely happen at a convenient time.

When they do happen, the sooner you can start treating them, the better.

Blood Stain Removal Tips to Remember

• Act quickly. Blood stains generally become more difficult to remove as they age.

• Avoid very hot water on fresh blood stains. Heat can help set protein stains.

• Treat before washing and drying.

• Give Stain Solver time to work. Soaking can be particularly useful for washable fabrics.

• Rinse thoroughly after treatment.

• Inspect the stain before putting the item in the dryer.

• Repeat the treatment if necessary rather than drying a remaining stain.

• Always follow the fabric manufacturer's care instructions, and test for colorfastness when appropriate.

Can Stain Solver Be Used on Washable Fabrics?

Stain Solver is an oxygen-based cleaner designed for many washable fabrics and household surfaces.

When mixed with water, it creates an oxygen-cleaning reaction that helps loosen and lift staining material from the surface being cleaned.

As with any cleaner, always check the fabric's care instructions before treatment. Stain Solver should not be used on wool or silk.

Frequently Asked Questions About Removing Blood Stains

Can Stain Solver remove blood stains?

Stain Solver can be used to treat blood stains on many washable fabrics. In the pillowcase shown in this video, an overnight blood stain was completely removed after soaking, rinsing, washing, and drying.

Should I remove a blood stain immediately?

Yes. Treating a blood stain as soon as possible generally gives you the best opportunity to remove it before it becomes more firmly established in the fabric.

Should I use hot water on a blood stain?

Avoid very hot water directly on a fresh blood stain. Blood contains proteins, and heat can make protein stains harder to remove. Stain Solver should still be thoroughly dissolved before use, but the treatment solution does not need to be excessively hot when you're working with blood.

Is Stain Solver safe to use on colored pillowcases?

Yes. Stain Solver is color safe for many colorfast washable fabrics, including colored pillowcases. It is not a chlorine bleach and does not rely on harsh bleaching chemicals to remove stains. Instead, Stain Solver uses oxygen-cleaning action to help break down and lift stains while being gentler on fabric colors.

As with any cleaning product, always follow the fabric manufacturer's care instructions and test for colorfastness in an inconspicuous area when appropriate.

Should I put a blood-stained item in the dryer?

Not until you have checked that the stain is gone. Dryer heat can set remaining staining into the fabric. If you can still see the stain after washing, treat it again before drying.

How long should I let Stain Solver work?

Stain Solver generally benefits from contact time rather than immediate rinsing. Depending on the stain, soaking for 30 minutes or longer may help, and stubborn stains can require an extended soak.

Can I soak a pillowcase in Stain Solver?

Yes, provided the pillowcase is made from a Stain Solver-compatible washable fabric. Make sure the solution reaches the entire stained area, allow it time to work, and rinse thoroughly afterward.

Don't Give a Stain More Time Than It Deserves

Blood stains can look intimidating, especially once they have dried overnight.

But the most important thing you can do is start treatment as quickly as possible and avoid setting the stain with unnecessary heat.

This pillowcase went from an obvious overnight blood stain to clean fabric after a straightforward Stain Solver soak, rinse, wash, and dry.

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