Tips to Remove Blood From Linen Easily (Other Stains Too)
Stains happen almost every day to fabrics. It is an issue that will not disappear anytime soon. Treating the stains you receive can be made simpler if you know the right instructions to follow.
If you want a good blood stain remover, look no further than hydrogen peroxide. Just soak the area that is stained with blood and use a toothbrush to scrub the area. If the stain persists you can repeat the process.
To learn how to remove all types of stains from your linens just continue to read our article. It has the tips and tricks you need to know about to get your linens looking better than when they were stained.
Removing Stains from Linen 101
How To Remove Stains From Linen
There are several ways to remove stains from linens. The first way is to do it as soon as the stain appears. Take a spoon or dull knife and remove as much of the material from the linen as possible.
Then blot the stained area with a clean cloth or paper towel. Move from the outside in to avoid spreading the stain. Once you have taken those two steps, use a stain remover that will not harm linen material.
Then fill a sink or tub with hot water and mix in some more stain remover. Submerge the linen in the water and then wash as usual.
Can You Remove Blood From Linen?
Yes, you can and one way to do it is catch the stain when it is fresh. This is the easiest time to remove the stain. Once you get the linen away from the table or off one of your family members, just toss it into the washing machine.
Then turn the temperature of the water to cold and let the machine go through its cycle. This should take care of the stain but if it doesn’t the next step is a little more involved.
Take the bloody linen and p[lace it in a sink or tub filled with 1 quart of warm water. The water should be mixed 1/2 teaspoon of dishwashing liquid and a tablespoon of ammonia. Then soak for 15 minutes. Then rinse. Repeat as necessary and until the stain is gone.
How To Remove Blood From Linen
If you can wash the stain right away then use cold water on the linen cycle. If you can’t you may want to try the method described above and soak it in warm water mixed with dishwashing soap and ammonia.
If the linen is larger you should increase the amounts accordingly. After you have finished soaking the material use a brush or a dull knife to either tamp the stain away or scrape it away. You should blot the area with a clean cloth.
After that step is done rinse well to get rid of any ammonia smell. You can repeat this process until the stain is removed. After you have done the final rinse launder normally to make sure the linen is clean and free from blood.
Remove Ink From Linen
This solution works for a variety of fabrics, not just linen. Spray the stained area with a light layer of hair spray. This will loosen the stain from the fibers. Next, fill a bowl or sink up with 1 quart of warm water, 1/2 teaspoon of dishwashing soap, and 1 tablespoon of white vinegar.
Soak for 30 minutes and then rinse. If the stain is not totally removed try rubbing some rubbing alcohol over the stain and cover with a pad that absorbs moisture Make sure to keep the stain and pad moist with alcohol and stop when the stain is gone.
If the stain remains, replace the vinegar with ammonia and repeat the process. Change the amount of the ingredients if the linen is large.
Remove Oil From Linen
The first step is to blot up as much of the excess oil as possible. You can use a paper towel or two or a clean cloth. Once that is done spread some absorbing powder over the stain. This can be talc, baby powder, or corn starch.
Let the powder sit on the stain for 20 minutes then brush off. After that step, mix some grease-fighting dishwashing soap with some baking soda and make a paste. Then put the paste on the stain with a soft-bristled toothbrush and wait 200 more minutes.
After that time has expired, rinse with warm water and repeat if necessary all the previous steps. Finally put Shout, Oxiclean, or some other good stain remover on the stain and wash in very hot water. Once the stain is gone you can dry the linens.
Remove Chocolate From Linen
When chocolate gets spilled on your linen blot up as much of the chocolate as you can first. Then let the chocolate harden before scraping it away with a dull knife, etc. Once that is done turn the item inside out and rinse the stained area with cold water.
Next, rub some non-bleach detergent over the spot and let sit for 5 minutes. Then soak the spot in cold water for another 15 minutes. Don’t forget to rub the stain with your fingers to help loosen the chocolate.
Then rinse under cool water and add more detergent if the stain remains and repeat the process till the stain is gone. If the stain remains then use a stain remover and wash the linens as usual.
How To Remove Candle Wax From Linen
Having a candlelight dinner doesn't have to be ruined the next day by spilled wax. You can remove wax fairly easily by letting it harden first and scrape it away with a dull object.
Next, cut a brown paper bag in half and lay it over the remaining wax. Set your iron to its hottest setting and run it over the paper bag. The heat should help the wax melt and transfer to the bag.
Continue to do this moving the bag to a clean spot until the stain is gone. Next, wash the linen-like you would without the stain, and the job is done. You should be able to replace the brown paper bag with paper towels if you do not have the former item in your home.
How To Remove Wax From a Linen Tablecloth
The process for this issue is the same as it is for other wax stains on linens. Since wax melts easily all you need is some absorbing paper and your iron and you are halfway there to getting the stain removed.
The trick is to keep moving the paper you are using to a clean spot. You do not want to re-transfer the stain back to the linen by going over a dirty patch. This method takes just a little bit of time as the wax is not that hard to remove.
Don’t forget to scrape off the hardened wax with something dull. A sharp object will damage the fabric especially if you press too hard. Be gentle but firm when scraping.
Remove Rust From Linen
One of the keys to removing rust is to do a colorfast test first. You need to make sure the remover will not damage the color of the linen when you remove the rust. The first step is to rub dishwashing liquid onto the stain and then rinse.
After the rinsing place in your washing machine and run it through one cycle. If the stain remains, use a rust stain remover on the area to get rid of the rust. Follow the directions on the package.
There are some good brands of rust remover in your local stores. Which one you use must be determined by if it is designed to work with linens. Other rust removers should be avoided.
Remove Lipstick From Linen
The process for this problem is quite simple. First, you should freeze the stain in your freezer and let the lipstick harden. Next, you need to take a dull knife or spoon and scrape off as much lipstick as you can.
After that, you can apply a stain or makeup remover to the stain and launder as normal. Repeat as necessary until the stain is gone. If you do not have makeup remover you can try an oxygen-based bleach as that is supposed to work on all fabrics.
Or you can try dabbing the spot until you get as much lipstick of the linen as you can. Then on the reverse side add some soap without water and let it sit for 10 minutes. After that time is over dab the spot with a damp cloth and then launder as usual. Repeat as necessary to remove the stain completely.
Remove Grease From Linen
This procedure is similar to removing oil from linen. First, you have to blot the stained area to remove any excess grease that sits there. Next, apply some cornstarch, baby powder, or some other absorbing powder to the stain and let it sit for a while.
After brushing off the powder coat the stain with grease-fighting dishwashing liquid and wait another 15 minutes. After that, wash the linen in either warm or cold water.
Another method would be to use a petroleum-based pre-treatment and rub the fabric together. Then let the linens sit for about 15 minutes. Then fill your washing machine with heavy-duty detergent and hot water. Soak your linens overnight and wash in the morning.
Repeat either process as necessary and until the stain is gone.
Remove Coffee Stain From Linen
Coffee may be healthy for your body but it doesn't look good on your linens. The first move you need to do is to blot up any excess coffee from the area. Now you can pre-treat with a stain remover like Shout and wash right away or you can mix a quart of water with 1/2 teaspoon of dishwashing liquid and soak the stain for 15 minutes.
When that time has ended, rinse well and blot the area with rubbing alcohol. Rinse and let dry. After all this, if the stain is still there try an enzyme soak following the instructions on the bottle. Rinse and let dry before washing the linens.
An alternative is to place the stain over a bowl and rubber band it in place, making sure the fabric is taut. Next lift boiling water about 2 to 3 feet over the stain and pour. This may help and it may damage your linen so use with caution.
Remove Red Wine Stain From Linen
This is not a hard stain to get out of linen, even though red wine can be stubborn in other fabrics. The first step is the same as most of the other options and you need to blot up the excess. Take care not to press too hard or you will drive the stain deeper. Next, you can pre-treat the stain with a stain remover and wash right away.
Or you can soak the stain in a quart of warm water and 1/2 teaspoon of dishwashing liquid. Let the stain soak for 15 minutes. Rinse well and then rub some rubbing alcohol over the stain. Rinse again and let dry.
If the stain persists then repeat the process as necessary until you have removed the stain.
How To Remove Stains From Linen Upholstery
The first thing you should do is vacuum the area of the stain. This should remove any loose items that did not harden onto the fibers. Then you should look at the cleaning instructions that should be attached to the fabric.
If there is no code do a test on a hidden piece of fabric to see if the stain remover damages the furniture. When that is done you can try to steam the stain and loosen it up some more.
Next, you should mix some dish soap and water and dab it across the stain taking care not to spread the stain further. If this mixture doesn’t work, try using a little vinegar or vodka. The odor should dissipate once the liquids have dried.
If those solutions do not work, then it is time to go to the chemical stain removers. Just use them as per the instructions so you do not make a mistake. Don’t forget to rinse and repeat if the stain has not disappeared.
How To Remove Stains From White Linen
First, you fill a tub full with room temperature water and submerge the white linen in it. Next, you let the garment soak for 30 minutes before kneading it and rinsing it. Next use a stain remover that contains hydrogen peroxide.
Make sure to follow the instructions carefully. You do not want to ruin your nice white linens. After application of the stain remover, wash and let dry. Hang the linen up to dry instead of putting it in your dryer. This protects the fabric and keeps it in good shape.
Removing Stains From Vintage Linens
The good news here is that you do not have to use chemicals if you do not want to. All you need is enough lemon juice to cover the stain. After that sprinkle a little table salt over the lemon juice and let the linen soak in those two ingredients for a while.
Next, rinse the linen with warm water then treat the spot with some white vinegar. When that is done dry the linen in the sun. The sun is a natural bleach agent that is always safe to use.
There are chemical methods you can try and the ingredients are a scoop of laundry soap, 3/4 of a cup of ammonia, and a cup of oxidizing cleaner in a gallon of hot water. Soak overnight and rinse and wash in the morning.
Can You Remove Mold From Linen?
Yes, it is possible and the process is time-consuming but simple. First, wipe as much mold off as possible. Then hang the linen in the sun spreading it out so the sun can dry the mold. Do that for a day.
Then overnight soak the linen in hydrogen peroxide and rinse in the morning. Finally, either hand wash with hand soap or use your washing machine.
Some Final Words
Removing blood or other stains from linens is not a difficult task to do. You just need to know the right methods to get the stains out. The procedures for the majority of stains are simple but time-consuming.
Once you get them mastered you will be a pro at removing stains and not afraid of any stain that hits your linens. If you use chemicals make sure to follow the instructions carefully.
