A scrape during a workout, a cut while chopping vegetables, or a scratch while walking the dog can make you bleed. Sometimes, the blood ends up on your shoes. No one likes bloodstains on their shoes, especially your favorite pair. Don’t worry. The methods we’ll share today can help you easily remove bloodstains from your shoes. Let’s take a look!
1. Why Are Bloodstains Hard to Clean?
Bloodstains are hard to clean because of the proteins in blood. Heat causes these proteins to coagulate, making the stain tougher. Blood isn’t just water—it also contains protein and iron. When blood proteins touch the fibers of a shoe, they start to bind, acting like glue and sticking to the material. Many people rinse shoes when they see bloodstains. They think hot water will clean better. But that’s not true. Like egg whites, blood proteins solidify with heat. Hot water makes the stains stick even more to the shoe.
The difficulty of cleaning shoes varies depending on the type of shoe. Cloth shoes and sneakers have fibers that absorb blood, letting it sink deeper. Leather shoes don’t let blood in, so it stays on the surface, but it can leave dark stains if not cleaned quickly. Mesh shoes have holes that let blood seep through, making cleaning harder. Once blood dries, it turns dark brown and almost sticks permanently. Act quickly to prevent this.
In short, bloodstains are tough to clean. They clot, soak into the material, and leave marks. Once they settle into the shoe, they are hard to eliminate.
2. Methods for Cleaning Bloodstains from Shoes
Different shoe materials require different cleaning methods. First, I’ll show a general cleaning method. Then, I’ll explain specific methods for each type of shoe material.
Most Shoes
First, place the shoes in a sink and rinse the bloodstained area with cold water. Cold water can wash away some fresh blood. It also stops the blood proteins from coagulating. Note: Don’t use hot water. It makes the proteins solidify, which makes cleaning harder.
Next, put a little dish soap or mild laundry detergent on the bloodstain. Gently scrub with an old toothbrush or soft brush. Dish soap breaks down the fats and proteins in blood, loosening the stain from the fibers. The toothbrush bristles go deep into the fabric. This makes it work better than scrubbing by hand.
If dish soap doesn’t remove the bloodstain, try baking soda and hydrogen peroxide. Buy hydrogen peroxide from a pharmacy. Sprinkle baking soda on the stain, then add a few drops of hydrogen peroxide. After the stain bubbles for 2–3 minutes, gently scrub the area with a brush. Hydrogen peroxide oxidizes the blood pigments. This helps lighten the dark red stains. Baking soda works as a mild scrub and neutralizes odors.
Finally, rinse the shoes well with clean water. Let them air-dry naturally.
Leather Shoes
Leather prevents bloodstains from penetrating, making them easy to wipe off. Use a soft cloth with cold water to gently wipe the bloodstain. Don’t use too much water. Then use a small amount of mild soapy water on the cloth to wipe the stain. Finally, use a dry cloth to absorb the moisture, and the bloodstain on the leather shoes will be removed. After cleaning, put a little leather conditioner on the shoes. This prevents the leather from cracking.
Mesh Shoes
Cleaning mesh shoes is similar to the general steps. For the first rinse, use plenty of cold water and rinse several times. Since mesh shoes have many pores, blood can easily penetrate into the pores and inner layers of the shoe. Repeated cold water rinsing is necessary to remove the blood from the pores. When brushing with a soft-bristled brush, use gentle motions to avoid causing the mesh to fuzz.
White Shoes
White shoes require special care, as they may yellow during washing. Use more hydrogen peroxide because it can bleach stains. Don’t dry the shoes in direct sunlight. If they are still yellow after washing, apply a little toothpaste and scrub the yellow spots.
3. Some Precautions
- Bloodstains are harder to clean once they have dried, so the sooner you address them, the easier it will be;
- Hot water can cause bloodstains to set, so use cold water for washing;
- If you can’t wash the shoes right away, dampen the bloodstains with a wet wipe or cold water. You can clean them properly later at home.
- Hydrogen peroxide and detergents can irritate your skin. Wear gloves when cleaning.
Once the bloodstains are gone, your shoes will be ready to accompany you again. Let’s review how to clean bloodstains from shoes. This way, you won’t panic next time. Bloodstains can be frustrating, but they can be managed. Blood is hard to remove because of its proteins. Heat makes these proteins coagulate and stick to shoe fibers. The key is to act quickly and always use cold water to prevent stains from setting. For most shoes, start by rinsing with cold water, then scrub gently with dish soap and a soft brush. Stubborn stains can be treated with baking soda and hydrogen peroxide. Leather shoes should be wiped gently with a damp cloth. Apply conditioner afterward. Mesh shoes need repeated rinsing to remove blood from the pores. White shoes may need extra hydrogen peroxide or toothpaste to restore brightness.