The Truth About Removing Blood Stains: Why Some Products Just Won’t Cut It



If you have ever wondered how to remove blood stains, chances are you have been met with varying answers. Just scour the cleaning aisle of any grocery store and you will encounter bottle after bottle boasting,

Completely removes blood stains
Kills 99.9% of bacteria
Totally disinfects
Removes any kind of stain…even blood!

What these products fail to mention, however, is that although an affected surface area may seem free of blood and bacteria, blood has the ability to seep deep into surfaces and harbor dangerous bloodborne pathogens that traditional cleaning products are unable to remediate.

How to Remove Blood Stains Safely

First, make sure you are asking the right questions. When it comes to cleaning blood, it is not enough to simply ask, How can I remove this blood stain? Instead ask, How can I safely remove this blood stain?

Why is safety such an issue when it comes to cleaning blood stains?

Hepatitis B and C, Methicillin-resistant Staphylococcus aureus (MRSA), and human immunodeficiency virus (HIV) are all diseases that can be transmitted through exposure to infected blood. Did you know that there are 400 million people worldwide living with chronic hepatitis B, and most people do not even know they have been infected? Therefore, it is important to treat all blood as if it is infectious.

The Dos and Don’ts of Blood Cleaning

                                      Do                                      Don’t
Wear gloves when handling blood, even if the blood spill is small. Assume that gloves are unnecessary when handling the blood of a family member or friend, even for a small stain.
Know your rights if asked to clean up blood at work. Reuse sponges, mops, or other porous cleaning equipment that has been used in blood cleanup.
Use enzyme cleaners that can biodegrade the stain. Rely on typical cleaning agents like bleach.
Reach out to a professional bioremediation company for help. Hire a standard cleaning or carpet cleaning company.

When cleaning blood, the best way to protect yourself from potential infection is to hire a professional bioremediation company like Aftermath. Aftermath’s highly trained technicians are experienced in all the protocols necessary to return your home or business to a safe and livable condition. Contact us 24/7 for more information.

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Sources:

http://www.hepb.org/laotian/Hepatitis_B_virus.pdf
https://www.osha.gov/OshDoc/data_BloodborneFacts/bbfact01.pdf
http://www.aftermath.com/contact-24-7-365/