Hello!

We had baby number 3 a month ago. We let the older siblings choose a special outfit for baby to wear when they met her. Sadly, when dressing the baby, her cord gushed blood. Anyway, I have tried all sorts of things to get the blood out but it’s still very visible right in the middle of the outfit. It wouldn’t matter, if it was any other baby outfit, but the first outfit is always a keepsake and I’d rather it not have a big patch of dried looking blood in the middle.

I’ve used nappysan stain remover spray, which lightened it a little, and it’s been washed 2-3 times.


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  • I wonder what material the outfit was and how you went with this?


  • Distilled white vinegar is an effective tool for removing blood stains from fabric, particularly if the stains are still fresh. Pour a solution of one part vinegar to two parts water over the stain and let it soak for about 10-20 minutes then rinse or blot (don’t scrub) with a damp cloth and repeat as necessary.
    To remove dried blood stains out of clothes
    Soak for an hour in cool water. Soaking blood stained fabric in cool water can help break up the stain and make it easier to remove.
    Wash as usual. …
    Scrub with soap and water. …Personally I think SunLight block soap is the best !
    Turn the fabric inside out. …
    Have patience. …
    Use an enzymatic cleaner.


  • Hot wash! At least 60° with napisan/some sort of oxygen bleach and detergent. If that doesn’t work then you could try chlorine bleach if it wouldn’t last a 90° wash.


  • I use spit. Yes that’s correct – it is an old tailor’s trick and it works. My grandma was a tailor and there is something in our saliva that helps break it down before you wash it on a regular cycle in the washing machine.


  • I usually smother stains with sards wondersoap on the wet fabric and leave soaking in cold water.


  • Sounds silly but try Dr Beckmann Floor Carpet stain remover on your clothes. Its tougher and I find works best.


  • If you can find preen ultra degreaser it gets EVERYTHING out!! Sometimes you might need to re wash with the de greaser sprayed on it again, but usually within two washes the stain is out!!


  • Try velvet laundry soap. I use that for tough stains and it’s pretty good. I haven’t tried it on blood though.


  • I use milk and it works. Put the clothing in a bucket and fill with milk make sure the milk covers the clothing because the clothing will soak it up leave for 2-3 days. Then rinse out the milk from the clothing in cold water only. Repeat if there is some blood left. Then wash as normal.


  • Have you tried a bi-card and vinegar scrub. Just make a past rub it on and leave it for a bit.. not sure if I will work though!


  • Use hand soap without the detergent


  • Soak it in nappisan?


  • I know a lady who has got old stains out by making a paste of napisan and gently rubbing it into the stains, leaving it for a few hours, rinsed it then washed as normal. Not all materials are suitable to dry in the sun so check the instructions on the label


  • It would have been better if you had rinsed it in cold water first but since that is too late now, you could try to put paper towel behind it and then spray with Ecoworx (which I’ve used) and then just blot it up. Unfortunately it may be too late since you’ve already washed it a few times. Good luck with the outcome


  • Use paper towel behind the blood stain and rub the ice cube on the surface.


  • Never use hot water on blood. Always rinse directly in cold water. Once washed in the washing machine the stain is set and there is little hope. Depending on the colour of the garment I would use hydrogen peroxide at this stage or go to the dry cleaner indeed.


  • A professional opinion on stain removal is probably worth while at this point.


  • Don’t use hot or warm water…. that ‘cooks’ the blood into the fabric.


  • If you have a friend in the medical profession – see if they can get you some heparin. Often that will lift the red cells and then you can wash with napisan or similar soaker


  • Even if you can’t get the stain out…..it’s kind of a story that’s attached to the garment.


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