If you’re reading this, you probably already own or plan to purchase bamboo sheets. As a reminder, bamboo sheets are among the fastest-rising types of bedding, popular for their soft and exquisite feel. They are made from viscose found in bamboo fibers, making them eco-friendly, breathable, and hypoallergenic.
But as your bamboo bedding continues to see to it that you are comfortable every night, it might pick up a few stains in the course of its service. One such stain could be blood stains, which are pretty stubborn to get rid of.
So, if you are wondering how to get blood out of bamboo sheets, worry no more as we will be looking at some ways you can easily transform your stained bamboo fabric back into its original color without causing any damage.
How to Get Blood Out of Bamboo Sheets (5 Easy Steps)
There are many reasons why you might end up staining your bamboo bed sheets with blood. It could be from a nosebleed, a previous injury, maybe you accidentally scratched yourself while sleeping, or it could be that time of the month.
Due to the absorbent nature of bamboo fabrics, they are prone to even the slightest stains. Bodily fluids such as sweat, body oils, blood, and even particles from make-up, moisturizer, and body lotions can easily stain our bamboo sheets. Some might be easy to wash off, while others might require special attention to properly clean them off.
Blood stains are one of the toughest stains to remove from bamboo sheets because they easily spread and clot. The quicker you act, the simpler it will be to remove the stains from your bamboo sheets because it gets more difficult to clean blood that has dried and clots.
Below, we will be discussing different ways you can remove blood stains from bamboo sheets. Also, it is important to note that all the methods described below can be applied to other kinds of stains depending on how severe they are.
And if one method doesn’t work for you, you shouldn’t give up. Rather, try again using another method, as some stains can sometimes be so stubborn that they need multiple remedies.
1) Prepare Your Sheets For Washing
The smaller the spread of the stain, the easier it will be to wash off. You must try to limit the spread of the stain by any means possible.
Once you notice there are blood stains on your bamboo sheets, your first line of action would be to strip the sheets off the bed. And of course, this would be after you’ve already addressed the cause of the blood stain. Tend to your injuries right away to prevent infections and the spilling of more blood.
After you’ve successfully taken care of the source of the blood, proceed to gently remove the bamboo sheets from the bed. You mustn’t roll the sheet into a ball or fold it in any way that will encourage the transfer of the blood to other parts of the sheet.
Instead, try to isolate the stained area by picking the sheet at the center of the stain while keeping the rest of the sheets away from it. You can easily use your hands to separate the stained part from the clean part.
Also, do not mix your stained or dirty bamboo sheets with other clean fabrics to prevent the stain from spreading. And at no point should you try to wash bamboo sheets in a washing machine without getting rid of the blood stain first.
2) Always Soak In Cold Water First
The best way of handling blood stains on bamboo sheets is by soaking them for 24 hours in cold water. Using hot water might work in removing other types of stains, but when it comes to blood stains, it will only make your job harder.
Cold water causes the blood to lose its bonds, making them easy to wash off, whereas hot water causes the blood to clot faster and become harder, making them almost impossible to get rid of. Try using water between 30 and 40 degrees Celsius (or 86 and 104 Fahrenheit) when washing your sheets.
If the blood is still fresh, try to rinse it off in cold running water immediately. Doing this will wash off the majority of the fresh stain, if not all. And for dried blood, rinsing it under cold water might not give you the desired result.
Instead, soak the part of the bamboo sheets that are stained in cold water for 24 hours. Soaking the entire fabric at once is not a good idea as the stain can spread to other parts of the sheet. Also, try to change the water used in soaking the sheet regularly to prevent the stain from spreading to other parts.
If the blood stain was successfully removed, you can proceed to wash the bamboo sheet in your washing machine or by hand with mild detergent.
3) Choosing the Right Wash Cycle
After soaking or rinsing off the blood stain from your bamboo sheets, the next step would be to wash them. If you intend to use a washing machine, it is important to choose the right wash cycle.
Set your washer on a delicate or gentle cycle while using a mild detergent. The cold water and detergent mixed with the machine running on a delicate cycle will help to remove any remaining bits of stains without damaging your fabric.
And for those who might want to go the way of hand washing, always dab the stained surface using a disposable paper towel to remove the blood before proceeding to soak and wash it.
4) Line Dry
After you’ve successfully washed your bamboo sheets, you can then proceed to dry them. The best and ideal way would be to hang them outside to dry. While doing so, ensure you keep the sheets away from direct sunlight, as too much heat can cause the sheets to shrink. One benefit of air drying is that it helps prevent or reduce wrinkles, abrasions, and shrinkage.
Another way would be to tumble dry the sheets, but this is not advisable unless you are in regions with harsher climates. When tumble drying, always keep the temperature to a minimum and remove the sheets immediately after they finish drying to prevent wrinkles.
5) Other Methods For Removing Tough Stains
Apart from blood stains, there are other kinds of stains that might prove difficult to remove. After your initial soak and wash, there might still be some signs of the stain left on the bamboo sheets. In situations like this, there are other options you could try.
Stain removers are a good way to remove stubborn blood stains. So we will be looking at some household items you can use to remove blood or any other kind of stains from your bamboo sheets.
Hydrogen Peroxide
Hydrogen peroxide is a good stain remover you can use on stubborn stains and is safe to use on bamboo sheets.
Pour some hydrogen peroxide on a disposable paper towel and use it to dab on the stain. After 10 to 15 minutes, proceed to dab it again with a new paper towel, but this time replace the hydrogen peroxide with cold water.
Lemon Juice
Lemon juice is a good substitute for hydrogen peroxide, so if you don’t have some at home, you can make use of lemon.
Just squeeze the juice on the surface of the blood stain and dab on it the same way you would with hydrogen peroxide. You might need to repeat the dabbing process multiple times to get the desired results.
White Vinegar
Pour some white vinegar on the part of the bamboo sheet that’s stained and allow it to sit for 30 minutes. After that, you can proceed to rinse the bamboo sheets off using cold water.
Enzyme-based Cleaners
Using enzyme-based cleaners or detergents is a good way of removing blood stains from bamboo fabrics.
Add some enzyme-based stain remover to cold water, then proceed to soak the fabric in it. Allow it to sit for a while, and then proceed to wash the sheet.
How Are Blood Stains Different From Other Stains?
Stains on our bedding are something that nobody likes, be it sweat stains, body oil, or blood. As we already know, some stains are easier to remove compared to others.
Bloodstain is one of the latter. They are different from other types of stains due to their ability to thicken and stick to any surface. Hemoglobin found in the blood helps the blood clot faster when exposed to air. This is useful in humans as it helps to heal and cover up injuries quickly.
When this blood is exposed to other surfaces like our bamboo sheets, due to its absorbent properties, it clots and sticks to the surface of the sheet, making it difficult to get rid of.
Best Methods for Whitening Bamboo Sheets
After a while, you might start to notice a change in the color of your white bamboo sheets. This can be caused by sweat stains and other bodily fluids, especially when the sheet is not washed regularly. Knowing how to whiten bamboo sheets properly is very helpful.
One of the easiest ways you can easily brighten the color of your sheets is by adding some lemon juice, white vinegar, or enzyme cleaner when washing your sheets. These are great stain removers and should help eliminate that yellowish look on your sheets.
Another way would be to soak the sheet in a water and baking soda mixture. Allow it to sit for a while until you start noticing changes, and then proceed to wash the sheet using mild detergents.
Note: Any detergent containing chlorine or other harsh chemicals should be avoided.
Don’t Use Bleach On Your Bamboo Bed Sheets
You might be tempted to use bleach on your bamboo sheets, but that would be a terrible idea. At all costs, avoid using bleach and fabric softeners on your bamboo sheets if you want them to last long.
This is because bleach and fabric softener contains a lot of harsh and abrasive chemicals that are too harsh for bamboo fibers. Using bleach to whiten your bamboo sheets can cause your bamboo fabric to pill, tear, and completely ruin the surface.
Best Bamboo Sheets
Before we wrap up this article, let’s look at some of the best bamboo sheets that are tested and proven to be soft, cozy, and can help improve the quality of your sleep.
They are:
- Bampure Organic Bamboo Sheets
- California Design Den Bamboo Sheets
- Cozy Earth Bamboo Sheet Set
- Kassatex Linen-Bamboo Sheet Set
- The Company Store Bamboo Sateen Sheet Set
- My Sheets Rock The Regulator
Final Thoughts
Blood stains are difficult to get rid of compared to other types of stains. When trying to remove stains, you will need to exercise patience because it might take some time before you achieve your aim.
Always remember, the faster you get the blood stains removed, the better because dried blood is more difficult to get rid of compared to fresh blood.
In conclusion, cold water is your best friend when it comes to blood stain removal. Rinse off fresh blood in cold water and soak sheets with dry blood in cold water.
