Accidents can happen. So, if you ever need to know how to get blood out of car seat, we can help. The trick is to act quickly because the sooner you can work on the stain, the better your chances of getting blood out of car seat, or out of any other material. However, we also offer car interior detailing tips for stubborn, dried-in blood stains. Follow our steps to achieve the best results.

If you’re interested in learning more about our eco-friendly car care, download our Eco Wash Benefit Guide:

How to Get Blood out of Car Upholstery

Depending on the severity of the stain, you may need to repeat some of the steps. But with a bit of persistence, you’ll master how to remove stains from car seats. Here are the steps on how to get blood out of car upholstery:

What You’ll Need

• Paper towels or a microfiber car cloth for car interior
• Dish soap
• Hydrogen peroxide (only for light-colored seats)
• Soft car wash brush or toothbrush
• Car vacuum cleaner

You may need additional cleaning products or equipment for more stubborn blood stains. For example, a steam cleaner for cars is brilliant for stain removal. We’ve included some more green cleaning tips at the end of this post.

Blot the Stain

First, use paper towels or another absorbent material to blot the fresh blood stain. This action helps minimize the amount of blood soaking into the fibers of your car seats and carpets. Dab gently, don’t rub, as too much pressure will push the stain deeper into the fabric.

Rinse Blood From Car Seat Using Cold Water

Next, rinse the stained car upholstery with cold water. Blood stains can set into fabrics if exposed to heat. Hot water can cause proteins in the blood to thicken and bind to the fabric fibers, making the stain more challenging to remove. By blotting with cold water, you help prevent the heat-activated setting of the stain.

Clean Stain With Dish Soap

Mix a small amount of mild liquid soap with cold water to create a soapy solution. Apply the solution to the stain, gently agitating the area with a suitable car wash brush or an old toothbrush.

Rinse Again

Rinse the area with cold water to remove the soap residue. Blot the excess water with a clean cloth or paper towel. If you still notice traces of blood, try the next step below.

Using Hydrogen Peroxide

If the stain persists, you can use hydrogen peroxide, only for light-colored fabrics. If you need to remove blood stains from car seats using this method, proceed with utmost care and attention. Before applying hydrogen peroxide to the entire stain, test it on a hidden area to ensure it doesn’t cause discoloration or damage to the fabric. If the test is successful, do the following:

• Dampen a clean cloth or cotton ball with hydrogen peroxide and blot the blood stain.
• Allow the hydrogen peroxide to sit for a few minutes.
• Then, blot the area with a clean, damp cloth to lift the stain.
• Repeat this process until the stain is gone.
• Rinse the area with cold water to remove any remaining hydrogen peroxide.
• Blot with a clean cloth or paper towels to absorb excess moisture.

Dry Car Seats

Once your car upholstery is completely stain-free, drying the cleaned area is the next important step. You want to avoid a damp, musty smell. So, open the car doors and windows to let air circulate. Alternatively, use your hairdryer to speed up the process.

Also, using faster drying techniques can help reduce water spots on car seats. However, if notice a mark, we’ve got car care tips to help! See our post on how to get water stains out of car seats.

Vacuum to Finish

Once you have successfully followed the steps on how to remove blood from car seat, vacuum the seats to ensure an immaculate finish.

Finally, we know that it’s not just blood that makes a mess. So, if you need some additional car care tips, follow these guides:

• How to remove mold from car interior
• How do you remove yellow smoke stains
• How to get stains out of leather car seats
• How to get chocolate out of car seats

Steam Cleaning (Optional)

Alternatively, you can steam clean car interior for a much deeper clean. The high temperature and pressure of steam help break down and lift a wide range of liquid stains and solid particles.

Moreover, steam cleaning will not only remove blood from car seat, but also deep cleans upholstery. The high temperature kills bacteria and germs, leaving your car interior clean and sanitized. Also, use this steam method if you want to know how to get bad smell out of car.

However, if you don’t have a steam cleaner, or would rather leave the stain removal to the professionals, inquire about DetailXPerts’ car interior detailing service.

Green Cleaning Tips to Get Blood Out of Car Seat

As well as eco-friendly steam cleaning methods, you can also try home remedies that are a greener alternative to some commercial cleaning products. Check out the following.

Salt to Remove Blood From Car Seats

Salt can be effective on fresh blood stains because it absorbs moisture. Meanwhile, its gritty texture has an abrasive quality, which helps break down and lift blood particles from your car seats. Here are the steps:

• Dilute two teaspoons of table salt in a cup of cold water.
• Get a microfiber cloth and dip it into the saltwater solution. Use this to blot the stain from the carpet or upholstery.
• Work from the edges inwards until you reach the center. This will stop the stain from spreading to unaffected areas.
• Rinse with cold water and dry thoroughly. Repeat the process if necessary.

Baking Soda

Like salt, baking soda is another household item that is effective when you want to know how to remove blood stains from car seat.

• Mix one tablespoon of baking soda and two tablespoons of water in a small bowl.
• Dab this solution on the stain.
• Let it rest for about 30 minutes.
• Rinse with a cloth dipped in cold water.
• Dry the area with a clean microfiber towel.

Homemade Lemon Juice Stain Remover

Lemon juice has a natural acidity that helps break down the proteins in blood, making it easier to lift the stain. The steps are:

• Get a slice of lemon and dab it on the stain.
• Allow to rest for a few minutes – do not dry. Lemon juice contains natural acids that can damage carpets, seats and upholstery when left to dry.
• Rinse with a towel dipped in cold water.

As lemon juice has natural bleaching properties, it’s advisable to test it on a small, hidden area first to ensure that it won’t cause discoloration or damage to the car seat fabric.

Once you know how to clean blood from car seat, you can keep your car fresh and clean with regular care and attention. For example, learning how to deep clean car interior ensures a safe and hygienic space for you and your passengers.

Conclusion

To sum up, how to get blood out of car seat is manageable in a few steps. The sooner you can address the problem, the easier it is.  For stubborn, dried-on blood stains, steam cleaning is the answer. Moreover, this environmentally friendly method doesn’t rely on harsh cleaning agents to clean your car interior.

Finally, if you don’t own a steam cleaner, or have the time, leave the blood stains to the professionals. Our friendly team is always happy to help and offer advice.

To find out more about green cleaning techniques, download our Eco Wash Benefit Guide: