Blood on fabric
Short answer: Rinse blood with cold water straight away and avoid heat. Heat makes the proteins in blood set inside the fibre, and then the stain becomes very hard to remove. With cold water, liquid detergent and a little patience, most fresh stains come out of bamboo clothing.
Why cold water
Blood contains proteins, and they react to heat much like an egg in a hot pan. In cold water the proteins stay soluble, so they can be rinsed out of the fibres. That is why cold water is always the first choice, whether the stain is on a top, a pair of pyjamas or a sheet, and however small it is.
What heat does to blood
Warm water, a hot tumble dryer or an iron makes the proteins set and bind between the fibres. Once that has happened, the usual household tips do little. It is the single mistake that ruins the most blood stains, and you avoid it by holding back the heat until the stain is completely gone.
Rinse from the inside
Turn the garment so the stain faces down towards the water, and let cold water run through the fabric instead of pressing the stain deeper in. Keep going until the water runs clear. The water should push the blood out the way it came in. See also our bamboo pajamas for men if it happened overnight.
Liquid detergent and waiting time
Put a little liquid detergent straight on the wet stain and work it in gently with your fingers. Leave it for about twenty minutes so the detergent has time to loosen the blood from the fibres. Avoid a hard brush, because it can wear the soft bamboo fabric and roughen the surface.
Wash cold afterwards
After the waiting time, rinse the stain again in cold water until no more colour comes out. Then wash the garment cold and follow the care label. Check the fabric when the wash is done and before it goes in the dryer. If a faint shadow remains, repeat the treatment instead of drying it and setting the rest.
If the stain has dried
A dried blood stain is harder, but not impossible. Start by scraping off what is loose with the back of a spoon, then put the garment in cold water. Wait too long rather than too short, because the stain has to soften before it will loosen. See also bamboo underwear for women if the stain is on underwear.
Salt in cold water
Dissolve a little salt in a bowl of cold water and leave the stained part to soak for about an hour. Salt helps draw the blood out of the fibre. Press the fabric lightly without rubbing, then rinse with clean cold water. Carry on with liquid detergent as described above and finish with a cold wash.
Hydrogen peroxide on white fabric
On white clothes, hydrogen peroxide can help with the last traces, but always test it first on a hidden spot, such as inside a seam. It can lighten colours, so do not use it on coloured or patterned fabric. Use only a little on small stains and rinse well with cold water before washing.
Check the stain before drying
Hang the garment up wet and look at the stain in daylight before it dries. If anything is left, treat it again, because drying and heat set the rest. If you have got blood on your bed, the same method applies to bamboo bedding: cold water first, liquid detergent next and heat last of all.
Frequently asked questions
Does hydrogen peroxide work
On white it can help with the last traces. Test on a hidden spot first, as it can lighten colours, and do not use it on coloured or patterned fabric where the stain has not come out.
Can you use warm water
No. Warm water sets the proteins in the fibre, and it is the single mistake that ruins the most blood stains. Use cold water all the way through until the stain is completely gone.
Does salt help
Yes, in cold water. Salt helps draw the blood out of the fibre, especially on a stain that has been allowed to dry. Soak it for about an hour and rinse with clean cold water afterwards.
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