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Mattress · Blood

Blood or period stain on the mattress: how to get it out

Cold water, as little liquid as possible, and blot, don't rub. Fresh or dried, here's the order to try things.

Quick answer

  1. !Cold water only, and don't soak it. Heat sets blood.
  2. 1Strip the bed and blot (skip blotting if it has dried)
  3. 2Dab with cold water
  4. 3Upholstery stain remover
  5. 43% hydrogen peroxide (last resort, test first)
  6. ✓Let it dry fully before you make the bed

Match your situation

Your situationTry this
Fresh, still wetBlot with a dry cloth, then dab with cold water (steps 1 and 2).
Dried inSkip the blotting. Vanish says keep a dried stain dry and go straight to its carpet and upholstery spray (step 3). You may need to repeat it once or twice. [1]
Care label has cleaning restrictionsFollow the label. Some mattresses restrict which cleaning products you can use. [1] Silentnight warns that harsh chemicals or heavy moisture can damage the fabric and stitching. [3]
It went through to the sheets or pyjamasRinse them in cold water and soak (see sheets and pyjamas).
Still a faint mark once dryRepeat step 3. If it still shows, try step 4 on a hidden patch first.

What you need

Shop links go to Amazon UK search results. As an Amazon Associate I earn from qualifying purchases. It never changes what a guide recommends.

Step1

Strip the bed and blot

  1. Take off the sheets, pillowcases and mattress protector. [1][3] Get the bedding into cold water straight away (see sheets and pyjamas).
  2. If the stain is fresh, blot it with a clean absorbent cloth, cotton towel or kitchen roll to soak up as much as you can. [1]
  3. Dab, don't rub. Rubbing spreads the stain. [3]
  4. If the stain has already dried, skip the blotting and go to step 2 or 3. [1]

Check the label first

Look at the mattress care label before using any product. Some mattresses restrict which cleaning methods or solutions you can use. [1]

Step2

Dab with cold water

Cold water alone can lift a fresh blood stain if you get to it before it dries. [7]

The Sleep Foundation's cold-water method: [7]

  1. Dampen a clean cloth with cold water.
  2. Dab the stain gently to draw it out of the mattress. When the cloth gets dirty, switch to a clean one.
  3. Repeat. If it won't shift, try the same thing with a tiny bit of laundry detergent on the cloth.

Then rinse with a spray of clean cold water and dab dry with a dry towel, so no soap is left behind. [3]

Step3

Upholstery stain remover

  • Leave 5 min
  • Dried stains: repeat 1–2×

Vanish UK's method for blood on a mattress: [1]

  1. Spray Vanish Gold Carpet Care & Upholstery Vacuum Up Foam onto the stain and leave it for 5 minutes.
  2. Blot the stain, then remove any leftover product with a clean cloth.
  3. For a dried stain, keep it dry rather than wetting it first, and use Vanish Oxi Action Carpet & Upholstery Spot Treatment Spray in the same way. You may need to repeat once or twice. [1]

Test first

Try any product on a small hidden area of the mattress first, to check it doesn't discolour or damage the cover. [1]

Step4

3% hydrogen peroxide

Last resort, test first

If a stain is still there, Emma Sleep suggests 3% hydrogen peroxide. [4]

  1. Fill a spray bottle with 3% hydrogen peroxide.
  2. Spray the bloodstain, then blot with a clean towel.
  3. Repeat spraying and blotting until it has gone.

University of Georgia Extension's textile guide uses a few drops of 3% hydrogen peroxide on a set blood stain for 1 to 3 minutes, then rinses. Use it only if it won't harm the colour of the fabric, so test it on a hidden area first. [5]

Don't overdo it

Use only enough to dampen the spot. Too much liquid risks damaging the mattress. [1][3]

Dry it properly

  1. Let the mattress air dry completely before you put the bedding back on. This can take several hours, so Silentnight suggests doing it in the morning so it's dry by bedtime. [3]
  2. Emma Sleep says you can speed it up with a hairdryer on a cool setting, not too hot. [4]
  3. Once it's dry, Silentnight suggests sprinkling bicarbonate of soda over the mattress, leaving it for 15 to 30 minutes to neutralise odours, then vacuuming it all off with an upholstery attachment. [3]

Blood on the sheets or pyjamas

Rinse the stain with cold water on both sides and blot it with a wet paper or cotton towel. [2] Then soak:

  • 60 g scoop to 4 L water
  • Whites: 6 h max
  • Colours: 1 h max

Vanish UK's soak for sheets and clothes: [2]

  1. White sheets: one scoop (60 g) of Vanish Oxi Action Crystal White Powder in 4 litres of water, soak for 6 hours maximum.
  2. Coloured sheets or pyjamas: one scoop (60 g) of Vanish Oxi Action Multi Power Powder in 4 litres of water, soak for 1 hour maximum.
  3. Rub the stain before rinsing, then wash as usual or rinse thoroughly.

For dried blood, the American Cleaning Institute says to pre-treat or soak in warm water with a product containing enzymes (such as a biological detergent), then wash. If a mark is left, rewash with a bleach that's safe for the fabric. [6] Check it before it goes in the dryer.

Stop it happening again

  • Use a waterproof mattress protector. It stops stains reaching the mattress. [1][3]
  • Deal with blood as soon as you see it. Fresh stains come out far more easily than dried ones. [1][7]
  • Wash bedding in cold water first if there's blood on it. Hot water sets the stain. [2][4]

Sources

  1. Vanish UK: How to get stains out of a mattress (blood stains section)
  2. Vanish UK: How to get blood out of clothes (sheets section)
  3. Silentnight: How to clean a mattress
  4. Emma Sleep UK: How to clean stains from your mattress (blood stains)
  5. University of Georgia Extension (Textiles): Remove stains from blood
  6. American Cleaning Institute: Stain removal guide (blood)
  7. Sleep Foundation: How to get blood out of a mattress

Answers a common question: how to get rid of period or blood stains on a mattress (asked on X here and here, Oct 2026). Checked 22 Oct 2026.

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