So you’ve just invested in some seriously nice custom bedding for your brand new bespoke bed. New year, new look, new you, yeah? And then, as life is want to do, something happens that might completely ruin those beautiful new sheets you had custom made for your mattress. Not cute.
Murphy’s Law is a real thing! Whether it was a nosebleed, your period, an accident, or a rogue dog paw to the face, now you’re left wondering how you can get blood stains out of your sheets. But don’t worry – you’re not alone. Everyone has to deal with this problem at some time or another. The only upside is that, because the problem is so common, there are a lot of great solutions out there to help you get your sheets back to good as new.
Steps to Saving Your Custom Bedding from Blood Stains
Here, we’ve outlined the 5 quickest and easiest steps to get blood stains out of your sheets. Plus, we’re also giving you a few alternative tips in case you don’t have everything on hand. Welcome to Blood Stain Triage for Custom Sheets 101.
1. Don’t let the stain sit.
The longer the blood is on your sheets, the harder it will be to get the stain out. So, once you realize that there are blood stains, rip those babies off of your custom mattress and work quickly. If the blood stain permeated all the way through to your custom mattresses’ cashmere cover; all these tips are good to follow for that as well.
2. Rinse with cold water.
The first thing you should do is rinse your sheets with cold water as soon as you can. Avoid blotting or wiping your sheets because that can work the stain further into the fabric. Instead, quickly rinse with cold water to keep the stain from setting further so you can clean it better and faster. Never use warm water – it sets blood. If you’ve gotten to the blood stain before it’s dried, this step plus the next one will usually do the trick. That’s why working ASAP after the stain occurred is vital to reviving your custom sheets. You just got them – you don’t want to have to buy them twice just because of a mishap.
3. Soak with an enzyme cleaner.
Enzyme cleaners are great because they make biological substances like starches, oils, fats and proteins — like those found in blood — break down quicker. So, once you rinse your sheets with water, soak the sheets or the affected area directly in the enzyme cleaner with water.
4. For white sheets, try hydrogen peroxide.
If your custom Egyptian cotton sheets are white and the blood stain was dry by the time you noticed it, hydrogen peroxide is your best bet. Enzyme cleaner might get a lot of the stain out, but hydrogen peroxide, which works in a similar manner to bleach, can really help lift the rest of the stain out of lighter fabrics. With blood stains, you might think that attacking the spot with bleach is the best POA. It’s not; don’t do it. Bleach on white cotton custom bedding will darken the area forever, and may even damage the structure of the fabric itself.
5. Wash cold and hang dry.
After you spot clean, you still need to wash the entire sheet. Toss it in the washer with your regular detergent, but be sure to keep it on the ‘cold’ cycle so that the stain doesn’t set any further in the heat. Be sure to hang-dry your sheets as well for the same reason. And if you can hang your sheet in the sun that is even better, because the sun can work as a natural lightener. Honestly, this washing method is best for organic cotton custom bed linens anyway.
Alternative Tips to Save Your Custom Sheets
If these steps don’t seem to work, here are some other blood stain removal techniques that might work instead:
White vinegar and salt
If you don’t have any enzyme cleaner or hydrogen peroxide on hand, reach for the vinegar instead. Mix three parts white vinegar with one part cold water and let your sheets soak in that for up to three hours. After that, you’ll want to use an old toothbrush to work and scrub some salt into the stained area. This will help further lift the stain before you toss it in the washing machine on the cold cycle.
Baking soda
Another way you can remove the stain is to make a baking soda paste with cold water and apply it directly to the stain. You should do this after you have already rinsed the stain with cold water, then gently rub the paste onto the stain and lay the sheet outside in the sun to dry. When you go to remove the dried baking soda residue, you’ll notice most of the stain has lifted. You can simply repeat the process until the stain comes out fully.
We know you’re attached to your custom-made cotton bedding – you probably care for it just as much as the mattress maker who made it by hand. You’re not going to give up on it just because it’s been in an accident. With these tips, blood or not, you can make sure your sheets can recover from anything life throws at them. And if after you’ve tried your best, they just can’t seem to shake the stains? Maybe it’s time for a new handmade Egyptian cotton bed set (hint hint).