How to remove smallish blood stains from a light grey carpet?

[Broadback]

Question as title please. My wife has attempted removal using a damp cloth impregnated with Fairy Liquid, this had simply lightened the stains. Any ideas please?

[Dave Liquorice]

Do not apply any form of heat(*). Cold water, plenty of it, leave to soak for a few minutes, clean cloth/kitchen roll, blot up the water/softened coagulated blood, repeat with more clean cold water and clean cloth kitchen roll, repeat...

(*) Heat will rupture the red cells/denature the protiens and release the iron held in the haemaglobin. You then end up with a effectively a rust stain which will be very hard to remove. Keeping the red cells in tact and rinsing away works, but once the blood has coagulated you need to let the water soften the blood first.

[Huge]

Too late for that. The detergent in the Fairy Liquid will already have ruptured the cells.

[alan_m]

A product designed for removing pet urine odour/stains.

[Robin]

The material matters - wool, polyester, silk etc not all the same.

[Martin]

The forensic team will find the blood whatever they do.

[Tim+]

I think hydrogen peroxide is good for removing blood. What it?ll do to your carpets I have no idea. ;-)

Tim

[Brian Gaff]

You are not supposed to hold boxing matches in your living room, think of the damage to the ornaments!

Brian

[Dave Liquorice]

effectively

hum, the detergent or the salt?

Hopefully most or all of the iron is still bound into the haemaglobin even if the cells are ruptured. The heat causes the protien structure to unfold/fall apart which allows the iron to escape.

[Dave Liquorice]

Surely it's common knowledge that blood is best dealt with as soon as possible with cold water only.

[Huge]

What difference does it make?