How to Remove Blood Stains from Wood

Co-authored by Guy Peters

Last Updated: March 15, 2022

Wood floors and wood furniture are always exposed and thus are easily stained. Untreated wood, however, have more chances of getting deeper stains because they do not have the protection wood with finish have. There are removal methods that can help remove blood stains from treated wood as well as untreated wood.

Method 1

Method 1 of 3:

Untreated Wood

1
Sprinkle baking soda onto the blood stain.^{[1]
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Expert Source

Guy Peters
House Cleaning Professional
Expert Interview. 27 September 2021.}
2
Soak a brush in white vinegar.^{[2]
X
Expert Source

Guy Peters
House Cleaning Professional
Expert Interview. 27 September 2021.}

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3
Use the brush to gently rub the stained area.^{[3]
X
Expert Source

Guy Peters
House Cleaning Professional
Expert Interview. 27 September 2021.}
4
Wipe the affected area thoroughly with a dry clean cloth.^{[4]
X
Expert Source

Guy Peters
House Cleaning Professional
Expert Interview. 27 September 2021.} If the stain is still visible, use bleach. Use bleach cautiously especially if you have dark wood.
5
Soak a brush in bleach and wipe it all over the stained area.
6
Rinse the area thoroughly using a damp cloth to remove any residue.
7
Dry the wood using a towel or cloth.

Method 2

Method 2 of 3:

Waxed or Polished Wood

1
Use a clean cloth to blot the excess blood.
2
Mix 1/2 tablespoon of liquid dish-washing detergent with 1 cup of cold water in a small bowl to make a detergent solution.^{[5]
X
Expert Source

Guy Peters
House Cleaning Professional
Expert Interview. 27 September 2021.}
3
Dip a clean cloth in the detergent solution.^{[6]
X
Expert Source

Guy Peters
House Cleaning Professional
Expert Interview. 27 September 2021.}
4
Wipe the stained area with the cloth to remove the remaining blood stain.^{[7]
X
Expert Source

Guy Peters
House Cleaning Professional
Expert Interview. 27 September 2021.}
5
Rinse the area thoroughly using a damp cloth to remove any residue.
6
Dry the wood using a towel or cloth. Check if the blood stain is still visible.
7
If the stain is still noticeable, dip a superfine steel wool (number 0000) in liquid wax.
8
Rub the stained area lightly with the steel wool. The steel wool should remove only a fine layer of the surface of the wood.
9
Wipe the surface clean with a soft cloth.
10
Wax or polish the surface if needed.

Method 3

Method 3 of 3:

Varnished Wood

Fresh Blood Stain

1
Wipe the blood with a damp sponge.
2
Rinse the sponge. Repeat the wiping process until all the blood is gone.
3
Rinse the area thoroughly using a damp cloth to remove any remaining blood stain.
4
Dry the wood using a towel or cloth.

Old or Embedded Blood Stain

1
Buff the affected area with a cloth moistened with mineral spirits. Do this lightly.
2
Use a clean, wet cloth to wipe the area. If the blood stain is still visible, repeat the process using a steel wool (number 0000).
3
Rub the stained area using a steel wool moistened with mineral spirits. Do this lightly and make sure you rub along the grain of the wood. Try to remove only as much finish as you have to.
4
Wipe the surface clean with a soft cloth.
5
Refinish the affected area after 24 hours, if needed.

Expert Q&A

Question

How do you get blood out of untreated wood?

Guy Peters
House Cleaning Professional
Guy Peters is the Owner of MOP STARS Cleaning Service, a complete house cleaning service for residential and commercial clients, based in Denver, Colorado. Founded in 2014, MOP STARS provides regular, move in/out, deep, and commercial cleaning services. Guy has a BA in Finance from the California State University - Sacramento and an MBA from Cornell University.

Guy Peters

House Cleaning Professional

Expert Answer

A combination of baking soda and vinegar is your best option. Start by adding an even layer of baking soda over the dried blood and massaging it into the stain with a dry cloth. Then, soak a toothbrush in vinegar and vigorously scrub the wood. Once the bubbling stops, wipe away the mixture with a dry cloth. Keep repeating this process until the stain is completely gone!
Question

Does dish soap remove blood stains?

Guy Peters
House Cleaning Professional
Guy Peters is the Owner of MOP STARS Cleaning Service, a complete house cleaning service for residential and commercial clients, based in Denver, Colorado. Founded in 2014, MOP STARS provides regular, move in/out, deep, and commercial cleaning services. Guy has a BA in Finance from the California State University - Sacramento and an MBA from Cornell University.

Guy Peters

House Cleaning Professional

Expert Answer

Dish soap can help remove blood stains from finished wood! Dip a clean cloth into a mixture of dish soap and water and apply it to the stain. Just make sure that you don't pour the sudsy water directly onto the wood.