In spite of their popularity, white footwear presents a unique cleaning challenge, with blood being one of the most dreaded stains due to how quickly it dries and how difficult it is to remove. This guide will teach you how to remove dried blood from white shoes without making the stain worse.
With our advice, your favorite pair of canvas sneakers can withstand even the toughest stains, like grease, grass, and blood. Blood stains on white sneakers, suede, or any other type of fabric shoe are unattractive and unsanitary.
Find out how to remove blood stains from white shoes using common household items. There are a number of methods for removing dried blood from white shoes, including using a machine and removing the stain by hand. Canvas footwear stained by blood? No problem! Just use some white vinegar, rubbing alcohol, and baking soda!

Ingenious Methods for Removing Dried Blood From White Shoes
Almost everyone has pondered the problem of cleaning blood from white shoes at some point. Unwanted, unsightly stains on our boots are something that everyone has experienced at some point.
A bloodstain on your tennis shoes is unsightly and needs to be cleaned right away, but not every method is created equal. If you choose the wrong method, you run the risk of making the stain worse and extending the time it takes to restore your white shoes.
Cleaning blood off canvas shoes is a breeze with some common household items and some time. Read this article to find out how to remove dried blood from white shoes in a variety of ways.
Vinegar can be used to remove blood from white shoes.
White vinegar is an effective cleaner, and can be used to remove even the most set-in blood stains. Cleaning a pair of white canvas sneakers with white vinegar is a breeze. It's best to dilute it first because of its acidity and to avoid damaging your shoes.
- Dissolve 1 part vinegar in 9 parts water
- Amount of water equal to 1 part
- Ineffective, worn-out toothbrush
Using a soft cloth, apply the vinegar solution that has been diluted with water. White vinegar can be used to get rid of lingering bloodstains or grass stains on shoes; just let it sit there for half an hour. Use a used toothbrush to scrub the stain, and then rinse it off with cold water. The blood's pigment washes right off thanks to white vinegar's disinfecting properties.
DIY Cleaner That Gets Rid of Blood and Dirt
This easy-to-make stain remover can be used on both clothing and footwear, and it is effective even on the toughest bloodstains. A few drops of your preferred essential oil give it a subtle aroma, and it won't bleach most white canvas shoes.
Substitute lemon juice for essential oils to create a pleasant scent and boost cleaning power. Before applying the concoction to your shoe, try it out on a small, hidden area for optimal results.
- Cups of Hydrogen Peroxide, Two
- 1 ounce of liquid cleaner
- Two or three drops of pure oil
If you want to clean your white Vans® or another brand of shoes, fill a spray bottle with the liquid and soak the stained area. Wait one minute for the cleaning solution to soak into the bloodstain, then scrub gently with a clean cloth or a toothbrush. Please use cool water to wash and repeat if necessary. This do-it-yourself cleaner gets rid of blood and other stubborn stains, returning your white sneakers to pristine condition.
If you have white canvas sneakers that have become stained with blood, you can use dish soap to remove the stain without damaging the fabric. Leather shoes cleaned with dish soap retain their luster without altering the color of the leather.
- 1 milliliter liquid dishwashing detergent
- one cup of hot water
Wet a cloth in the soapy water, wring it out, and use it to wipe down your canvas footwear. Soapy water can be rubbed in to remove grime or stains. Dry your shoes by patting them with a paper towel to remove as much moisture as possible, and then letting them air dry flat.
To Remove Stains, Use Hydrogen Peroxide
This common household item is incredibly helpful when trying to eliminate blood stains. Hydrogen peroxide is a strong disinfectant and all-purpose cleaner that can restore the appearance of stained or otherwise unattractive surfaces.
Oxidizing chemicals like hydrogen peroxide break down the colored components in blood, leaving behind a stubborn stain that is no longer red. Hydrogen peroxide can be used to remove blood stains from fabrics by diluting it with water.
- 12 cup of hydrogen peroxide
- Two cups of ice water
Put the mixture on the stained area, rub it in with a clean toothbrush in circular motions to loosen the dried blood, and then wipe it away with a clean cloth. Rinse them in clean water and then dry them naturally. It is recommended to use a suede brush to gently buff suede shoes after cleaning to restore the finish.
Dried blood stains can be removed with baking soda.
With some baking soda and water, even the most stubborn blood stains can be removed, leaving your shoes clean. Cleaning and bleaching properties of baking soda make it an excellent revitalizer for old, worn, or yellowed shoes. Grass stains, grease stains, period stains, and even stubborn yellow sweat stains are no match for this potent compound.
- 3 tablespoons baking soda
- Reduce the water to a tablespoon
Baking soda and water should be mixed to a thick paste. You can remove yellow stains from white shoes by using a sponge to scrub the affected area and any rubber parts, such as the soles, in a circular motion. In order to get rid of any stains, wash your sneakers in warm water.
Hang the shoes in a warm area to dry after stuffing paper towels into the toe boxes to soak up any remaining moisture. After the leather shoes have dried completely, clean and condition them with leather cleaner and leather conditioner.
Ammonia is an effective cleaner that can remove even the most stubborn stains, including blood. One tablespoon of ammonia mixed with half a cup of warm water can be used to clean stubborn blood stains from white mesh or canvas sneakers.
To dry the stain on the surface, blot it repeatedly. Blot the area with cold water and a clean white towel.
Ammonia and chlorine bleach are incompatible.
Use talcum powder on a new blood stain.
A fresh bloodstain can be especially daunting to clean, but if you catch it while it's still wet, you can get it out before it ruins your canvas shoes. Put a paste made from talcum powder and water on your boots to remove a fresh bloodstain.
Once the spot has dried, brush the stain away. You can substitute cornstarch or cornmeal for talcum powder if you don't have any on hand. As opposed to letting the blood soak into the fabric of your shoes, these dry powders absorb the blood, making it easy to brush away.
When regular soap doesn't work, a concentrated application of liquid laundry detergent will get rid of the blood stain. This is a potentially viable option, albeit a less cost-effective one due to the pricey detergent and the large amount needed.
If you want to get rid of tough blood stains without ruining your white sneakers, use a detergent that is color-safe with bleach.
You can remove the blood from your shoes by applying a thick layer of laundry detergent, rubbing the area with an old toothbrush, and then letting it sit for 15 to 20 minutes before washing as usual. If the stain still remains, you could try a different laundry detergent or cleaning method.
Using Rubbing Alcohol to Remove Blood Stains
Shoes made of canvas or leather that have been stained with blood are unsightly and unhygienic. Alcohol rubs off stains because it dissolves the organic components of the pigment. Before using the rubbing alcohol everywhere, give it a test run.
To get rid of the stain, soak a clean cloth in isopropyl alcohol, wipe the affected area, and then rinse the shoe in clean water. If the discoloration is still present once the sneakers are dry, you will need to repeat the process until the natural color of the sneakers is restored and all blood stains have been removed.
Stains are no match for Oxiclean's Power
Commercially available Oxiclean is an oxygen bleach used to treat stains and whiten fabrics. It's better than regular chlorine bleach, and it's safe for the environment, so it's a necessity for any household.
When mixed with water, OxiClean creates oxygen bubbles that help break up and remove blood from canvas shoes through a chemical reaction.
Sneakers or other footwear that has been splattered with blood can be cleaned by combining two tablespoons of oxygen bleach with a gallon of water and soaking the item for up to an hour. After washing your boots in clean, cool water, let them dry naturally.
Following the directions, you can clean blood off your shoes with Oxiclean because it is a color-safe bleach that won't turn your shoes yellow.
It's a daunting task to try and figure out how to clean blood from white shoes. With the right supplies, however, dried blood can be easily removed from white shoes. To effectively remove blood from canvas shoes without damaging or yellowing them, you can use ingredients found in your pantry, medicine cabinet, or laundry room.

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