Depending on the type of upholstery you have on your car, the method used to clean it when it has blood stains varies. Blood stains should be removed as soon as possible because the newer the stain the easier it is to remove. Time and heat can cause the stain to sink deeper and deeper into the fabric, leaving a permanent trail. So, grab the necessary equipment, consider which method will work best for your car upholstery, and do your best to get rid of the stains!
Step
Method 1 of 8: Using Cold Salt Water (Fabric Upholstery)
Step 1. Treat the stain slowly
You can use a cloth or paper towel to absorb the blood. Don't rub the stain, as this will only make the stain wider or push the blood further into the fabric. Use gentle pressing motions to absorb as much blood as possible, changing cloth or paper towels if they become soiled.
Step 2. Prepare a brine solution
Mix 2 teaspoons of salt and 1 cup of cold water and pour it into a spray bottle. Hot water or even warm water will make blood stains permanently attached to the upholstery. So, make sure you use cold water to clean the stain.
Step 3. Spray the solution onto the problem area
If you don't have a spray bottle, dip a clean white cloth in the saline solution and press gently on the stain. Change the cloth if it is dirty.
If you have to work with a large stain, start at the edges and work your way towards the center so the stain doesn't spread
Step 4. Wipe off excess water with a clean, dry cloth
Repeat spraying the saline solution and soaking up the water until the blood stain is gone or the cloth can no longer absorb the blood.
Step 5. Rinse the stain until it is completely clean
Use a cloth dampened in cold water and rinse off any remaining salt solution that is still on the cloth. Try not to rub the stain. A gentle pressing motion will absorb the excess solution more effectively.
Step 6. Dry the cleaned area
Use a dry cloth or paper towel to dry the stained area. If the stain is still visible, it may be permanent, but you can try to treat it with harsher methods.
Method 2 of 8: Using Dish Soap (Fabric Upholstery)
Step 1. Make a solution with dish soap and cold water
Mix 1 tablespoon of liquid dish soap and 1 cup of water in a large bowl to prepare the required solution.
Step 2. Use the solution to clean the stain
Dampen a clean white cloth with a solution of dish soap and water and use it to clean the problem area.
Step 3. Gently brush the stain
A normal-sized brush can cause you to scrub too hard, pushing the stain further into the fabric. If you're using a toothbrush, you may not need to scrub too hard to prevent the stain from spreading or permanently soaking into the upholstery.
Step 4. Rinse the cleaned area
Use a clean, damp cloth to rinse off the soap solution by gently pressing the problem area. To deal with stubborn stains, you can again use a soap solution and scrub with a toothbrush. When you're done brushing, you can rinse it again with a clean, damp cloth.
Step 5. Perform the final rinse
This time, you can use a cloth dampened in cold water to rinse the remaining soap solution off the cloth. Rinse thoroughly with gentle pressing motions.
Step 6. Dry the cleaned area
Use a cloth towel to dry the cleaned area by pressing gently on it until the towel can no longer absorb the water.
Method 3 of 8: Using Baking Soda (Fabric Upholstery)
Step 1. Make a baking soda solution
Mix the baking soda and cold water in a 1:2 ratio in a large bowl to make a cleaning solution.
The chemical properties of baking soda make it effective for removing blood stains
Step 2. Clean the stain using the solution
Use a clean cloth to apply the baking soda solution to the stain. You have to let it sit for 30 minutes before rinsing it off.
Step 3. Rinse the problem area
Use a cloth dampened in cold water to clean the baking soda solution on the upholstery. Rinse thoroughly with gentle pressing motions over it until most of the stain is removed.
Step 4. Dry the cleaned area
Use a dry towel to gently press the problem area and absorb as much of the remaining liquid as possible.
Method 4 of 8: Using Meat Tenderizer Paste (Fabric Upholstery)
Step 1. Make a cleansing paste
Mix 1 tablespoon of meat tenderizer with 2 teaspoons of cold water in a small bowl until it forms a paste. Mix well until you get a smooth paste.
Meat tenderizer is perfect for cleaning blood stains. Meat tenderizer helps break down the protein in the blood so it can work very effectively
Step 2. Apply as much paste as needed
Use your fingers to apply the paste over the surface of the stain. You can spread the paste out with your fingers, but don't press too hard. Leave it for an hour.
Step 3. Wipe off excess paste
Use a dry cloth to wipe off excess paste. Be careful not to spread or re-attach the stain that has been removed and absorbed by the meat tenderizer.
Step 4. Rinse the cleaned area
To remove any leftover paste, use a cloth dampened in cold water, and gently press it over the problem area until you don't find any traces of paste or blood on the cloth. Do the rinsing process until it's completely clean because the paste left behind can rub against the upholstery and cause stains again.
Step 5. Dry the rinsed area
You should absorb any water left on the rinsed area using a dry cloth gently pressed over it.
Method 5 of 8: Using Hydrogen Peroxide (Upholstery Fabric)
Step 1. Apply hydrogen peroxide directly to the stain
Moisturize the problem area with 3% hydrogen peroxide and let it sit for about 30 minutes. Watch the time carefully because hydrogen peroxide can damage the fabric if left too long.
While very effective at cleaning blood stains, hydrogen peroxide should be your last resort. This substance can bleach the fabric and can damage the upholstery and, in some cases, cause discoloration. Do a recessed test before using hydrogen peroxide
Step 2. Use a dry cloth to absorb the foam produced by the hydrogen peroxide
If the stain remains after cleaning the area, you can repeat the same steps by reapplying the hydrogen peroxide and absorbing the resulting foam with a clean cloth until the stain is completely gone.
Step 3. Rinse the cleaned area
Use a clean cloth dampened in cold water to rinse off any excess hydrogen peroxide on the stained area. Be sure to rinse thoroughly as the hydrogen peroxide remaining can discolor the upholstery or damage it.
Step 4. Dry the stained area after rinsing
By gently pressing the stained area with a clean, dry cloth, you can absorb the excess water leaving only the damp area to dry on its own.
Method 6 of 8: Using Ammonia and Liquid Dish Soap (Vinyl Upholstery)
Step 1. Make a cleaning solution
Mix teaspoon of liquid dish soap and 1 tablespoon of ammonia and pour it into a spray bottle. Add cold water and shake well.
Ammonia is a strong cleaning agent and can dissolve proteins in the blood that make it difficult to clean. It is important to dilute this solution before use. As with any cleaning product, it's a good idea to test a small, hidden area before using it
Step 2. Spray the solution
Once thoroughly mixed, spray the solution on the stain and let it sit for about 5 minutes. This allows the cleaning solution to work to penetrate into the coating and clean it thoroughly.
Step 3. Scrub the stained area
Be careful not to scrub too hard and to prevent this, it's best to use an old toothbrush.
Step 4. Use a clean cloth to absorb the liquid
Repeat the spraying, scrubbing and rinsing process until the stain is gone or until you don't see any blood stains on the fabric.
Step 5. Rinse the stained area
Use a cloth dampened in cold water to rinse off the remaining solution. You have to rinse it until it's completely clean. The remaining solution can damage the upholstery.
Step 6. Dry the rinsed area
Absorb excess water by gently pressing the cleaned area with a dry cloth. Let it dry by itself.
Method 7 of 8: Using Dish Soap and Water (Leather Upholstery)
Step 1. Prepare a cleaning solution
Mix teaspoon of liquid dish soap with a small amount of water in a small bowl to make a cleaning solution. Stir the mixture until the soap is completely dissolved.
You can remove blood stains from leather with soap and water, but harsh soaps can potentially damage the leather. It's a good idea to use a mild soap and test it on a hidden area to make sure you don't damage the leather upholstery
Step 2. Stir the solution
Shake the solution until it produces a lot of foam. This way, the solution will be more effective at removing stains.
Step 3. Dip a soft cloth in the solution
You can damage the leather with a brush or a rough cloth, especially if the car seat is made of high-quality leather, which is soft to the touch. Dip a soft cloth in the foaming solution and wet it thoroughly before using to remove the stain.
Step 4. Gently wipe the surface of the stained skin
Use a cloth that has been dipped in the soap solution and wipe the surface of the leather several times, not pressing too hard. Do this until the stain begins to transfer to the fabric. For stubborn stains, you'll need to repeat this process a few times, but if you can no longer see the bloodstain on the fabric, then you've reached the maximum that this method can do.
Step 5. Rinse the cleaned area
Use a clean, damp cloth to rinse off the remaining solution. Make sure you rinse thoroughly because soap can leave a film on the skin or damage it.
Step 6. Drain excess water
Now you can use a dry towel to absorb the excess water on the upholstery. Once you have absorbed most of the remaining water, allow the upholstery to dry on its own.
Step 7. Continue with the process of moisturizing the skin
This will prevent new blemishes from forming and restore moisture to the skin, thus preventing the skin from cracking over time. You can buy conditioner for skin care at most hardware stores or in the automotive section of a major retail store.
Method 8 of 8: Using Cream of Tartar (Skin Upholstery)
Step 1. Make a cleaning solution
Mix 1 portion of cream of tartar with 1 portion of lemon juice in a small bowl to make a paste. Make sure you mix the two ingredients evenly before using it to clean the stain.
Cream of tartar is best used for removing dark stains, such as blood, on the skin
Step 2. Apply the paste on the stain
You can use a toothbrush to apply the paste and gently scrub the stain. Let the paste sit for 10 minutes before rinsing it off.
Step 3. Clean the paste and reapply if necessary
You can use a damp cloth to clean the paste. If the stain is still there, try reapplying the paste until the stain is gone or until you can no longer lift the stain from the problem area.
Step 4. Rinse the cleaned area
Use a clean, damp cloth to rinse off any excess paste. Make sure you rinse thoroughly because the paste left behind can damage the skin in the long run.
Step 5. Dry the rinsed area
Use a dry towel to absorb any remaining water after you finish rinsing. After absorbing as much water as possible, let the area dry on its own.
Step 6. Continue with the process of moisturizing the skin
This will prevent new blemishes from forming and restore moisture to the skin, thus preventing the skin from cracking over time. You can buy conditioner for skin care at most hardware stores or in the automotive section of a major retail store.
Tips
- Remember to mix and use a minimal amount of cleaning solution to remove stains. Too much liquid can damage the upholstery and cause the stain to spread.
- If the blood has dried, try to scrape off any build-up before trying the cleaning methods mentioned above.
- If you use a commercial product to clean bloodstains, make sure that the product dissolves the protein in the blood. Even the most powerful cleaners won't necessarily be able to deal with stains if they don't contain the enzymes needed to dissolve protein.
Warning
- When cleaning other people's bloodstains, wear gloves to protect yourself from diseases that may be blood-borne.
- Do not use alkaline cleaning products for leather as they can damage the outer layer of the leather.
- Never mix ammonia and bleach. The mixture of the two will produce toxic fumes.
- Don't try to clean the bloodstain with something hot. The heat will cook the protein in the blood and cause the stain to settle.
- Avoid oil-based cleaners for dealing with vinyl as they can harden the vinyl.
- Do not inhale ammonia fumes as it can be harmful to health.
- Be careful when handling leather. The surface of the skin is very smooth and tends to be easily damaged.
- Do not use harsh detergents, solvents and such abrasives to work with vinyl and leather as they can damage them.
