How To Clean Blood Out Of Leather

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Blood stains can be pretty tricky to remove, especially when the stain is on leather. Don't worry. As pesky as these stains may be, there are plenty of options at your disposal. We've tackled all your frequently asked questions, so you can get your leather back to working order in a jiffy.

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Scrape off the dried blood with a stiff-bristled brush. Guide the brush over the stain in gentle, careful movements, so you don't scratch your leather in the process.^[1]

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Blot the fresh stain with a clean rag instead of wiping it. Soak up as much as you can with gentle dabbing motions. Try not to wipe down the stain, or you might make it worse.^[2]

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Treat the spot with a leather cleaner and a leather conditioning product. Soak a clean, cotton cloth with leather cleaner. Then, move the cloth in circular motions over the stain. Let the surface dry off for at least 5 minutes; then, dip another clean, cotton rag into a leather conditioner. Lightly massage the product onto the leather, and let it sit for 5 more minutes. Afterwards, wipe off any extra conditioner with a cotton cloth.^[3]
- The Leather Institute recommends cleaning the spot with a leather cleaner, and following up with a combination cleaner-conditioner-protectant product.
- You can buy leather cleaners and conditioners online or from specialty stores.
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Go over the stain with a mild soap solution. Soak another clean sponge in a diluted mixture of cold, soapy water. Blot the damp sponge all over the pesky stain, and dab it dry with a dry, clean cloth.^[4]
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Treat the stain with 3 drops of ammonium hydroxide and 1 L (0.26 US gal) of water. Since ammonium hydroxide is a really strong chemical, dip a clean sponge into the mixture and dab it onto a tiny section of the stain first. If the leather doesn't look damaged, sponge down the rest of the stain with the diluted mixture. Then, blot the stain dry with a paper towel.^[5]
- You can buy ammonium hydroxide online or from chemical distributors.
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Cover it up with leather polish. Pick a leather polish that's a close match to your leather item. Then, apply a small amount of polish to the stain using a clean cloth, working the polish into the stain using circular motions. Once you've completely covered the stain, buff the polish into the leather with a clean section of cloth. Let the polish dry completely before using your leather again, whether it's a jacket, sofa, purse, or something else entirely.^[6]
- You can pick up leather polish online or from certain big-name retailers. Check your leather polish bottle for drying recommendations.
- If you're applying polish to a pair of leather boots or a leather handbag, hold the polish bottle up to the leather and see if it's a good match.

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Certain chemicals and solvents aren't safe to use. Products like high pH cleaners, abrasives, alcohol, butyl cellosolve, mink oil, wax, furniture polish, and glass cleaner may damage your leather in the long run. As a general rule of thumb, only use products that are specifically recommended for leather.^[7]
- Some sources suggest using saddle soap to clean your leather.^[8] However, other experts, like The Leather Institute, don't recommend this.^[9]
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Can I use vinegar to clean the leather?

Susan Stocker runs and owns Susan's Green Cleaning, the #1 Green Cleaning Company in Seattle. She is well known in the region for outstanding customer service protocols — winning the 2017 Better Business Torch Award for Ethics & Integrity —and her energetic support of green cleaning practices.

Stain Removal Specialist

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If you don't feel comfortable cleaning your leather garments on your own, feel free to take them to a professional cleaner instead.^[10]

Try not to apply cleaners and conditioners directly to leather. Instead, apply the product to a cloth, and then treat the stain.^[11]
For your own safety, always wear gloves when handling blood stains, especially if the blood isn't yours.^[12]

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Article SummaryX

Blood can be tricky to remove from leather, but if you treat the stain immediately, you'll have a better chance of getting it out. You can treat blood stains on leather with soap and water. First, dab the stain with a clean, dry cloth to remove as much of the blood as you can. Then, mix together room temperature water and a few drops of mild soap or dish detergent. Dampen a washcloth with the soap solution, then gently blot the stain with it. Once you've done this, wet a new cloth with clean water and dab the stain to remove any excess soap. Then, blot the cleaned area with a towel until it's dry. You can also use hydrogen peroxide in place of soap and water to get the stain out. To learn how to test your fabric to make sure the cleaner won't leave a stain, read on!

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