How to Remove Blood Stains from Wood

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  • 0.5
  • Beginner
  • 5-20
What You'll Need
Bleach
Hydrogen peroxide
Paper towels
Washcloths
What You'll Need
Bleach
Hydrogen peroxide
Paper towels
Washcloths

If you cut yourself or suffer from some other type of injury, you may end up with blood stains somewhere in your home. In addition to being an unpleasant reminder of the injury or the other situation that caused the stain, you'll oftentimes find that blood is difficult to get out of certain surfaces. One of those surfaces that is notoriously hard to remove blood stains from is wood. Read on for a brief guide on how to clean up blood stains from a wooden surface like a hardwood floor, a wooden countertop, a cutting board, or a wooden piece of furniture.

Step 1 - Clean Up the Blood Before It Can Stain

If you happen to catch the wooden surface before the blood has a chance to set into it and cause a stain, you can oftentimes clean up the mess very quickly and with few repercussions. Soak up as much of the blood as you can with a paper towel. Remember that it's always most important to deal with and properly treat injuries first before you begin to clean up any other objects.

Step 2 - Clean the Blood With Wet and Dry Washcloths

Get the tip of one corner of a washcloth wet with cold water. The washcloth should not be too wet, as this could cause the blood to run and may just end up spreading the stain. Dab at the stained area with the wetted tip of the washcloth. Alternate treating the stained area with the wet washcloth and cleaning up any moisture that collects with a dry washcloth. As the wet washcloth becomes soaked and dirty, dip another corner of the washcloth into the cold water to continue. Keep going until the surface of the wood is as clean as possible.

Step 3 - Treat the Stain With Hydrogen Peroxide

It's likely at this point that there will be some blood left remaining on the surface, or that the stain will still be visible. In this case, you'll need to repeat the process from step 2, but use a washcloth with the tip dipped into hydrogen peroxide instead. Hydrogen peroxide is a better substance to use to clean up the blood and is a good option if water isn't sufficient to completely eliminate the stain.

Step 4 - If Necessary, Use Bleach

Before you begin to use bleach to clean up tough stains, be aware of the fact that the bleach is likely to stain the wood. If you have a darker wood surface, it's best to avoid bleach. Lighter woods may still be discolored somewhat by the bleach. Use only a very small amount of bleach to dab at the surface with a soaked washcloth. Be sure to thoroughly wash off the surface of the wooden object with cold water after you've treated the stained area to your satisfaction.