4 Methods for Getting Blood Stains Out of Wood for Good

Just because you got blood on your wood floor, deck, or cutting board doesn’t mean your DNA has to be trapped in there forever. By using common household products like baking soda, vinegar, and dish detergent, you can tackle any blood stain. Read on to learn how to clean blood out of any wood, whether it’s varnished, untreated, or polished.

This article is based off an interview with our house cleaning professional, Guy Peters. Check out the full interview here.

Things You Should Know

Use a damp sponge to clean fresh blood off varnished wood. For older stains, rub mineral spirits into the grain of the wood.
Clean untreated wood by spreading an even layer of baking soda on the blood stain, then scrubbing it with a brush dipped in white vinegar.
Clean finished wood by rubbing it with dish detergent mixed in water and gently rubbing it with ultrafine steel wool if the stain persists.

Method 1

Method 1 of 4:

Varnished Wood (Fresh Blood Stain)

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1
Dab up any excess blood with a damp sponge. Wring out a wet, clean sponge and dab it on the spill. Don’t rub the spot or it could get even more embedded. Press the sponge along the grain to absorb the most blood possible.^{[1]
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- Varnished wood includes any floors, furniture, or objects coated in polyurethane, lacquer, or shellac.
Run the sponge under cold water and squeeze it out until all the blood is gone. Keep blotting out the stain until there’s no blood left.^{[2]
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Wet and wring out a cloth, then wipe down the whole area to remove any leftover blood.^{[3]
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Don’t let the water sit for too long, or the wood could stain.

Method 2

Method 2 of 4:

Varnished Wood (Old or Embedded Blood Stain)

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Lightly rub mineral spirits into the grain of the wood with a soft cloth.^{[4]
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Research source} Mineral spirits is an irritant, so wear gloves. If you’re working in an unventilated area, like on a wood floor inside, wear a respirator, too.
2
Wood floors and furniture are typically varnished with polyurethane, shellac, or lacquer.
Get rid of the mineral spirit residue by wiping the surface down with a damp cloth.^{[5]
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Research source} This is especially important if you’re working on a floor in a home with pets or young children.
Take superfine 0000 steel wool and dip it in mineral spirits. Lightly go over the stained area with the steel wool, rubbing with the grain of the wood. After each pass, check to see if the stain is still there. It could take as little as one go-over to get rid of it.^{[6]
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Clean off all of the mineral spirit residue with a soft, clean cloth.
If you had to take off too much of the varnish in a visible area, refinish the wood with the right color varnish. If you’re dealing with a blood stain that covers a large area, like on a floor or deck, consider refinishing the whole thing.

Method 3

Method 3 of 4:

Untreated Wood

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1
Blot up any excess blood. If your bloodstain is fresh, get up as much as you can by dabbing it with a paper towel. Don’t rub the stain—that works the blood deeper into the wood.^{[7]
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Spread an even layer of baking soda all over the stain.^{[8]
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Expert Source

Guy Peters
House Cleaning Professional

Expert Interview} Gently rub it into the area with a soft, dry washcloth.
Dip your brush in white vinegar, then vigorously scrub the stain. The vinegar-baking soda acid-base reaction is what makes this method work, so don’t let the chemicals touch each other beforehand.^{[9]
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Guy Peters
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Expert Interview}
Once you stop seeing a bubbly reaction, thoroughly wipe down the area.^{[10]
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Guy Peters
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Expert Interview}
5
Repeat the process until the stain is removed. Make sure the area is totally dry before adding more baking soda or the residual vinegar will make it react too soon. Keep reapplying and scrubbing until the stain is gone.
6
Rinse off the wood with cold water. Finally, wash everything off with cold water (warm water could make missed blood clump up and stick to the wood).^{[11]
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Use superfine steel wool on tougher stains. If the stain still isn’t coming out, that means it’s stuck down in the wood. To get rid of it, take 0000 superfine steel wool and rub it over the surface of the stain.^{[12]
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Research source} Check to see if it’s still there after each pass. When you’re done, wipe the surface down with a soft cloth to get rid of the wood shavings.

Method 4

Method 4 of 4:

Waxed or Polished Wood

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1
Use a clean cloth to blot the excess blood. Dab, don’t scrub, or you could end up making the stain more difficult to remove.
- Some wooden floors and furniture are waxed or polished instead of varnished. Use your fingernail to lightly scrape an inconspicuous area. If you make a small scratch or the finish comes off, it's likely wax.
Mix 1 tablespoon (15 mL) of liquid dish-washing detergent into 8 fluid ounces (240 mL) of cold water to make your cleaner.^{[13]
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Use a soft cloth dipped in the detergent to rub away the rest of the blood stain.^{[14]
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Guy Peters
House Cleaning Professional

Expert Interview}
Remove any residue from the wood by wiping it with a damp cloth, then drying it off.
5
Rub stuck stains with superfine steel wool. If the stain isn’t coming out with chemicals, remove the topmost layer of the wood. Use superfine 0000 steel wool to lightly rub the surface of the stain.^{[15]
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Research source} Check the wood after each pass—1 or 2 may be enough to remove it.
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Wipe the wood down and add polish or wax as needed. If the wax, polish, or stain fully came off the wood, wipe the area down and reapply your stain or wax. Buff the area after, then rub it with a damp cloth and dry it again.^{[16]
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- If the blood stain was in a large area, like on your floor, now would be a good time to do a deep clean.

Expert Q&A

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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!

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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.

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Warnings

Wear gloves when handling mineral spirits, and always work in a ventilated area. If you’re not able to, wear a respirator.

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Do not apply ammonia to a hardwood floor. The floor can discolor when it gets in contact with ammonia.

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