Removing blood stains.

[Aneirin]

Hi all.

I've got a Fjallraven g-1000 jacket with protester lining. I was wearing it when I took a fall recently & it's got a fair few blood stains on it.

Unfortunately it spent 2 weeks in hospital with me & the blood is now well dried in.

Fjallraven have said to just get advice off the internet & suggested using salt.

I was wondering if anyone on here has direct experience with this or any other blood stain removing techniques?

I bought it for what it does rather than what it looks like so it's no big deal if I can't remove them completely , but it does look a bit gruesome at the moment.

Thanks in advance.

 

[TLM]

You could try papain or bromelain and then just wash with soap. These are proteolytic enzymes that break the blood to smaller molecules that wash off easier. Used for tenderizing meat and at least here available at most stores. These enzymes should not affect ("protester" assumed to be ) polyester or cotton in any way.

 

[Toddy]

Best way to get blood stains out is firstly not to fix them, with either leaving them too long, or heating them or adding something like oxygen bleach.

Best way I know of to get them out is to soak the fabric in cool, not heated, water and leave it soaking for at least 24 hours, then try just using soap.

Salt water is fine for underwear, T shirts, etc., but jackets have metal fixings, and finishes that won't appreciate salt soaking.

If the stains don't come out with just soaking and soap, then you might try looking at Stain Devil's. They do a chemical stuff that does work to release the blood from the fabric. Not cheap, not guaranteed to work, but generally quietly (as in might remove most) effective.

If you're happy to do the salt, soak the jacket as I suggested, then shake the salt right over the stains and rub gently.

I hope it comes out easily, and that you are fully recovered.

 

[Toddy]

You could try papain or bromelain and then just wash with soap. These are proteolytic enzymes that break the blood to smaller molecules that wash off easier. Used for tenderizing meat and at least here available at most stores. These enzymes should not affect ("protester" assumed to be ) polyester or cotton in any way.

I have never seen those here, truthfully I hadn't a clue that they were available at all.

 

[birchwood]

I use Bio-tex or Napisan for my riding kit . Have had blood from cut humans and horses on it in the past, a good soak in either gets it out.

 

[TLM]

Some washing powders that claim "enzymes" apparently have proteolytic ones for the difficult stains.

 

[TLM]

truthfully I hadn't a clue that they were available at all.

Here bromelain is also sold in many health food stores as tablets.

 

[Aneirin]

You could try papain or bromelain and then just wash with soap. These are proteolytic enzymes that break the blood to smaller molecules that wash off easier. Used for tenderizing meat and at least here available at most stores. These enzymes should not affect ("protester" assumed to be ) polyester or cotton in any way.

Protester love the sound but yes, polyester; after sorting the spell check thing out.

 

[Aneirin]

Best way to get blood stains out is firstly not to fix them, with either leaving them too long, or heating them or adding something like oxygen bleach.

Best way I know of to get them out is to soak the fabric in cool, not heated, water and leave it soaking for at least 24 hours, then try just using soap.

Salt water is fine for underwear, T shirts, etc., but jackets have metal fixings, and finishes that won't appreciate salt soaking.

If the stains don't come out with just soaking and soap, then you might try looking at Stain Devil's. They do a chemical stuff that does work to release the blood from the fabric. Not cheap, not guaranteed to work, but generally quietly (as in might remove most) effective.

If you're happy to do the salt, soak the jacket as I suggested, then shake the salt right over the stains and rub gently.

I hope it comes out easily, and that you are fully recovered.

Fair play Toddy on the heads up 're the salt. I love the jacket & how it performs on snags etc., corroding the metal wouldn't be good. Tidy piece of kit it is. I would have soaked it straight away (As we do with cloth nappies) but it's been too long.

As for fully recovered, it'll take a while but the morphine makes me a bit over optimistic at times.

Fortunately I have Broch near me who talks some sense.

 

[zornt]

I have used hydrogen peroxide to remove blood stains.
Just soak the stain and wait for a while and then scrub with a stiff brush.
Jon