Banish Blood Stains From Clothing With A Simple Item From Your Kitchen

Chances are, you got a nosebleed at some point or cut a finger while cooking. Everything seems fine now, except for one thing: your clothes have blood stains. The first thing you should do is wash them with cold water as soon as possible. Avoid warm or hot water, as it may cause the proteins in your blood to clump together and set into the fabric.

However, this step alone isn't enough to remove blood stains from your favorite clothing. You must also apply some sort of cleaning solution, whether natural or chemical. One option is sodium bicarbonate, or baking soda. Due to its alkaline nature, it interacts with acidic compounds like sweat or blood and dissolves them. It's also mildly abrasive, so you can use it to scrub away stains from delicate fabrics."Baking soda is the opposite of vinegar. It is harsh like vinegar but dissolves organic matter," explained May Nyman, a chemistry professor at Oregon State University, in an interview with Live Science. "Like vinegar, it cannot harm you," she added. What's more, this pantry staple acts as a natural deodorizer, leaving your clothes smelling fresh.

Time is of the essence when you're dealing with blood stains, so try to remove them while they're fresh. First, soak the garment in cold water and work into the stain with your fingers. If that's not an option, pat it with a clean cloth soaked in cold water. Next, mix baking soda and cold water in a 2:1 ratio to make a paste. Apply this mixture to the blood stain, covering it completely.

Wait about half an hour, then gently blot the fabric with a damp cloth to draw the stain out. Refrain from rubbing the affected area, as it can damage the fabric and make the stain harder to remove. When you're done, wash the garment with all-natural or regular laundry detergent. Lastly, air dry your laundry to keep the colors from fading and prevent shrinkage. This will also ensure that any remaining stains won't set into the fabric. As a side note, baking soda isn't the best choice for cashmere, silk, and other delicate fabrics. It can also leave white residue on black or dark-colored clothes — or cause discoloration. Apart from that, it should be safe to use on cotton shirts, blue jeans, flannel jackets, and similar garments.