Tag Archives: blood spills

How to Clean Up Blood Spills on Carpets

One of most daunting cleaning challenges of all is blood spills on carpeted floors. One key issue is sanitizing the carpet as quickly as possible.  A blood stain that is allowed to set may never be removed. Blood can harden on carpeting and become crusty which makes it very difficult to clean.  Whenever possible respond as fast as you can to clean up blood on a product.

 

It is also important tot use the right commercial solution to clean a carpet. Bleach can damage or destroy a carpet. It is best to clean these areas using cleaners approved by the carpet manufacture. Be sure to choose a product that has antimicrobial properties to help clean it as thoroughly as possible. It is also recommended that you wash the carpet thoroughly three to four times to a day.

 

Using the right products can make all of the difference when it comes to removing blood. Make sure that you are using a cleaner that is intended for use on carpet. If you use a cleaner meant for floors or fabrics instead of carpet then you may not get the results that you want.

 

Yet another way to get the stain out is to rent a steam cleaners. These machines, which can be rented at most grocery and carpet stores can sanitize the carpet fibres and remove any remaining blood.  This is especially recommend if you suspect that the blood that was spilled was infected with pathogens in any way.

 

Make sure that you put on disposable gloves and create a barrier around the spill so that it cannot be tracked around the home. Once the area is isolated spray it with a manufacturer approved cleaner and then let it sit for about fifteen minutes. This gives the disinfectant the time it needs to sanitize the carpet.  This is important because if the proteins are left in the carpet then they can carry disease as well as be a fertile ground for mold.

 

You should then take paper towels or an absorbent powder like resolve and blot up as much as fluid as possible. You should then use a wet-dry vacuum to help extract any reaming water, cleaning fluid and blood.

 

After you have done all this you need to repeat it all again at least three times. Let the disinfectant sit on the stain and do it’s job for it at least twenty minutes.  After you are done repeatedly cleaning the blood stain at least three times then place portable fans near the stain to help the moisture dry.

 

Finally be sure to dispose all gloves and rags and thoroughly sanitize any equipment used to clean the blood of your carpet.

 

How to Clean Up Blood Spills on Floors

 

Blood has protein in it, which can cause it to stain. Blood can also be a big carrier of disease so unless you are certain of where the blood has come from treat it like you would an infectious substance. Be sure to wear disposable gloves and dispose of any absorbent materials in a plastic bag of their own. If there is a lot of blood then consider wearing a mask, gloves and protective clothing.

This might seem like a lot of precautions to take but blood is a carrier of many bacteria and diseases and it is also a nurturing base for the growth of all kinds of molds. The good news is that cleaning up blood over hard surfaces like tile, vinyl, hardwood, cement or metal floors is easier than cleaning it up off of a fabric surface.

 

To clean up a spill on a hard surface soak up as much of the blood as possible with paper towels or another absorbent material.  Then pour a bleach solution of one part bleach to nine parts water over the contaminated area.  Leave this solution on the blood stain for twenty minutes and then allow floors to dry naturally.

 

If there is a great deal of blood to clean up then you might have to use some kind of absorbent material to soak it up.  In a pinch kitty litter can work to help soak up any excess liquid. If there is a lot of blood you should also take some kind of measure to block off or contain the contaminated area so that it cannot come in contact with pets or people.

 

After you are done cleaning up the blood be sure to disinfect all of the martials that you used to clean up the mess. This is especially important if you think the blood you were cleaning up was infected in any way.  Disinfect any mops, brushes and rags that you intend to use again by saturating each with bleach solution and then allowing them to dry in the air.  Any gloves worn should be thrown out with all other soiled cleaning materials.

 

When discarding blood make sure it is in double garbage bags and then throw it out. Afterwards be very sure to thoroughly wash your hands with soap and water. Ideally if the blood spill was huge it is a good idea to take a shower.