Whether you got a paper cut without realizing it or had a violent crime occur on your property, knowing how to clean up blood is a vital skill.
Mopping up blood and calling it a day will not suffice, as blood can contain harmful pathogens and diseases.
Blood and bodily fluids are considered a biohazard, which is why you need to clean and disinfect the bloodied area to get rid of all microorganisms that may linger.
This article will discuss the step-by-step cleaning process so you can clean up blood spills and stains safely and thoroughly.
What You Need
Here's the equipment you'll need for cleaning up blood:
Personal protective equipment:Â This includes gloves and safety goggles.
Registered or hospital-grade disinfectants
Cloth towels
Paper towels
Biohazard bag
Leak-proof containers
Disinfectant wipes
Note: It is not always possible to obtain all these items, which is why it is a good idea to contact a biohazard decontamination company like Chore-ology to properly clean a blood spill for you, offering you peace of mind.
Cleaning Blood: A Step-By-Step Guide
Before you begin, you need to wear personal protective equipment, including gloves and goggles. If there are other bodily fluids at the scene, you may have to wear a full hazmat suit and booties.
1. Get rid of potential dangers
You first need to assess the area and look for any potential hazards, like broken glass or sharp objects. Remove these objects using a broom and dustpan - don't use your hands as they may cut you or infect you.
2. Cover the blood spill with dry towels
Cover the spill with dry towels and allow them to soak up as much blood as possible. You may have to layer the towels and place something weighted on top of them to help them absorb the blood.
Again, avoid using your hands (even if gloved) to add pressure to the towels.
3. Use disinfectant soap
Once the towels have soaked up most of the blood, you should place them in a biohazard bag to dispose of them safely.
Next, apply your disinfectant solution to the area and allow it to sit for at least 10 minutes.
Using a fresh dry towel, scrub the disinfectant soap from the outside of the spill towards the center. Also, dispose of this towel once done.
4. Use damp towels
Allow the blood spill to sit for a few minutes while you wet some towels. Wring them out until they're damp but not dripping.
Place the damp towels over the blood spill area and leave them for a few minutes. Then, use a wet towel to wipe up the remaining disinfectant and any visible blood.
Dry the area with paper towels.
5. Decontaminate the spot
Even if you can no longer see any blood, you should clean the area one final round.
You can use disinfectant wipes, a bleach solution in some warm water, or more hospital-grade disinfectant to wipe down the area a last time. Rinse it with clean water.
6. Check yourself
Once you've cleaned up the blood spill, you need to check your clothing to make sure you didn't get any blood on yourself.
If you notice any blood on your skin, use disinfectant to clean the area. Remove any bloody clothes and either discard them or wash them with a disinfecting solution.
7. Dispose of the waste
If you're using reusable equipment for cleaning, decontaminate these items in a bucket with water and disinfectant. Allow the equipment to soak for at least 10 minutes.
Any non-reusable cleaning equipment should be placed in a biohazard bag that is clearly labeled. You'll have to contact biohazard waste removal services to collect and dispose of these bags safely.
8. Do a final check
Once everything has been cleaned and cleared, you need to do a final check of the area. Check the floors, furniture, walls, and yourself for any signs of blood.
It can be useful to have a neighbor or friend who was not involved in the initial cleaning process to help you identify any overlooked contaminated areas.
9. Wash your hands (and yourself)
Finally, it is time to clean yourself. Hop in the shower and wash your hands and body with disinfectant and warm water. As an extra step, you can wipe yourself down with disinfectant wipes after your shower.
Which Disinfectants To Use
There are several disinfectants that can help you clean up blood:
Hydrogen peroxide: It gets rid of bacteria, but may have bleaching effects.
Enzymatic cleaners:Â These break down proteins found in blood.
Bleach:Â A 10% bleach solution can be used on minor blood spills.
Vinegar: Â A mixture of white vinegar and water can remove small blood stains from fabric.
Hiring Experts To Clean Up Blood
The step-by-step process detailed above is a good starting point, but when you're dealing with human blood and other body fluids, it is safer to contact the experts.
Chore-ology offers professional blood cleanup services, with expert teams who know how to handle biohazard waste and crime scene cleanup. We'll leave the blood spill areas looking better than before with the highest level of professionalism.