The cold water + saline trick for blood stains

You will need

• Cold water · From the tap — must be cold, not warm
• Table salt or saline solution · Woolies/Coles table salt ~$1, or saline eye drops from the chemist ~$5
• Liquid dish soap · Morning Fresh or similar, Woolies ~$3
• Clean white cloths or paper towels · Bunnings or Woolies, ~$3 for a pack
• Hydrogen peroxide 3% (optional, for stubborn stains on white fabric only) · Chemist Warehouse ~$3 for a bottle — do NOT use on coloured fabric

Step 1

Act fast and use COLD water only

As soon as you spot the stain, rinse it under cold running water from the back of the fabric. Hot or warm water cooks the protein in blood and sets the stain permanently, so keep it cold the whole time.

Step 2

Pack the stain with salt or saline

Pour a generous pinch of table salt directly onto the damp stain, or soak it with saline solution. The salt draws the blood out of the fibres — leave it to sit for 5 minutes, then dab (don't rub) with a clean white cloth.

Step 3

Work in a drop of dish soap

Put a small drop of Morning Fresh onto the stain and gently work it in with your fingertip using circular motions from the outside edge inward. This breaks down the remaining proteins. Rinse again with cold water and check the stain.

Step 4

Repeat until clear, then wash normally

If a faint mark remains, repeat steps 2 and 3 once more before washing. Once satisfied, machine wash on a cold or cool cycle as per the garment label — do not tumble dry until the stain is completely gone, as heat will set any trace left.

Step 5

Stubborn stain on WHITE fabric only — try hydrogen peroxide

Dab a small amount of 3% hydrogen peroxide onto the stain with a cotton ball and watch it fizz — that means it's working. Rinse immediately with cold water after a minute and wash as normal. Skip this step entirely on coloured or dark fabrics as it will bleach them.

The stop point

If the fabric is labelled dry-clean only, or the stain has already been through a hot wash or dryer cycle → stop, take it to a professional dry cleaner and tell them what the stain is.

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