How long does blood stay on concrete

Ick. Not a pleasant job to do at the best of times – and if you have blood on your concrete chances are it’s not the best of times. Blood can be very difficult to remove, but with a little bit of know-how (and at Stone Surface Specialists, we know how), you’ll be on your way to newly-sparkling concrete in no time.

Step 1 – Dab

If the blood is still liquid, use a soft, clean cloth to dab at it and absorb as much of the liquid as possible. Avoid rubbing as this can just spread and push the blood further into the concrete.

Step 2 – Scrub

If the blood is dried, use a stiff-bristled brush to scrub at it. This will loosen the dried blood into particles and dust that can then be swept up with a broom.

Step 3 – Detergent

If there are any marks remaining, use a solution of one part dish detergent with three parts water and pour onto the affected area. Scrub vigorously with the stiff-bristled brush.

Step 4 – Hydrogen Peroxide

If you’re still left with a stain, it’s time to call in the marines. Pour a small amount of hydrogen peroxide 3% (regular peroxide from the store) directly onto the stain and leave for about fifteen minutes. The peroxide will break down the blood stain, enabling you to mop it up with a clean paper towel. Repeat with the peroxide until all traces of blood are removed.

If you’re still struggling to remove the stains, or if the above seems too daunting to attempt, give the experts at Stone Surface Specialists a call at 801 856 0164. We’re the experts in all-things-concrete, and will have your concrete back up to snuff in no time.

Removing bloodstains may be daunting, especially from porous surfaces like concrete. This is because the stain tends to soak into the concrete on contact. However, removing blood from a concrete floor may be a walk in the park with the right products and tools.

Following the right procedures ensures you stay safe as you clean.

Ensure you wear protective gloves first.

Use clear cold water to saturate the blood-stained surface.
Then cover it with a thin layer of sodium/hydrogen peroxide powder.
After a few minutes, rinse the surface thoroughly with water.
Next, scrub it using a stiff bristle brush with cold water to neutralize any remaining sodium.
Finally, rinse the surface with clean water, and you’re done.

Ways to Remove Blood from Concrete Floor

When working in a concrete zone and you get injured, bloodstains may form on the concrete surface. This means you’ll have to think of the best way to get rid of it. If you don’t, the blood may lead to unpleasant marks. Below is a brief guide on how to clean up blood from a concrete floor in the best way possible.

Chemical/Tools that You’ll Need

First, let’s take a look at the things you’ll need during the clean-up. They include but are not limited to the following:

Stiff bristle brush
Clean water
Clean cloth
Safety glasses (optional)
Mouth mask (optional)
Chemical protective gloves
Sodium/hydrogen peroxide
Broom
Dustpan

How to Remove Fresh Blood from a Concrete Floor

The first thing to do before cleaning is to put on gloves. This helps keep you safe since blood from another person may be contaminated and may spread diseases. Next, clean up the blood pooling on the concrete floor before it soaks.

You can use a clean cloth to dab the affected area until you’ve gotten rid of the fresh blood. Take note that you should avoid rubbing the stain since it only spreads instead of getting cleaned.

How to Remove Dried Blood from a Concrete Floor

If the bloodstain stays for a long time without being cleaned, follow the procedure below to remove it from a concrete floor. It includes:

Step 1: Put on Chemical Protective Gloves/Mouth Mask

Protection gloves are essential, as discussed earlier on. Before cleaning dried bloodstains, I’d recommend you also put on a mouth mask.

This helps prevent blood particles from finding their way into your mouth while scrubbing the concrete surface.

Step 2: Scrub the Blood-stained Concrete Floor

This step involves using clean water and a brush with stiff bristles to scrub the bloody patch. This way, you loosen the dry particles on the concrete floor, making them come out. Do this for about 5 to 10 minutes, depending on the intensity of the blood stain(s).

Step 3: Sweep Up the Remnants

After scrubbing the blood patches, sweep the dried blood particles using a broom and a dustpan. Ensure you discard the waste healthily and safely by following your area’s hazardous waste disposal guidelines.

Step 4: Use a Detergent Mixture

Apply a detergent mixture if there are still some blood patches left behind after sweeping the concrete surface. This involves creating a mixture comprising three parts water and one part liquid dish detergent in a bowl. Stir till the contents mix properly and then pour a small amount of the solution into the blood-stained area.

Use a stiff bristle brush to scrub the surface once more. If the blood stains come out, it means the mixture is working. If they don’t, you must look for a stronger option. But before that, use a clean cloth or a paper towel to clean up the liquid.

Step 5: Apply Hydrogen/Sodium Peroxide

Use sodium/hydrogen peroxide if the blood stains are still there after completing the previous steps. Pour a small amount on the affected area and allow it to stay for about 15 minutes. This enables the blood stain to break down into small particles. Use the stiff-bristled brush to scrub the surface again.

Before re-examining the stain, wipe the surface using a clean cloth or a paper towel to clean up the sodium/hydrogen peroxide. If the stain is still there, add another portion of hydrogen/sodium peroxide till the stain comes out completely.

How Long Does Blood Take to Dry on a Concrete Floor?

This will depend on the surrounding temperature and texture of the surface. Alteration of the ambient temperature may cause a remarkable effect on a concrete floor. This may increase or decrease the time needed for the blood stain to dry up.

How Long Does Blood Stay on a Concrete Surface?

A blood stain can stay on a concrete surface for a long time after drying up. It may get to a point you can’t detect it due to weathering. However, advanced statistics and Raman spectroscopy allow researchers to date a blood stain accurately.

But they can only do so if the blood stain is less than 2 years old. Raman spectroscopy involves shining a laser on a blood sample to measure the intensity of scattered light. This way, they determine how long the blood stain has been on the concrete floor.

Can Blood Stain Concrete?

Yes, it can. Follow the steps highlighted in this article to remove a blood stain from your concrete floor.

Tips to Ensure Your Concrete Floor is Free of Blood Stains

The tips below ensure your concrete floor is free of blood stains. They include:

Clean blood droplets right away after an accident/injury
Instead of sodium/hydrogen peroxide, you can also use trisodium phosphate. But note it may not be that effective compared to the former.
It’s advisable to have an antidote or any other anti-accident treatment readily available.
Ensure there’s sufficient ventilation where you are working
Ensure all chemicals are stored in marked containers

Frequently Asked Questions

What Should You Do in the Event of a Blood Spill?

You can manage spots, blood drops of blood or other small spills (up to 10 cm) by immediately wiping the area. Use paper towels or a clean cloth with warm water and detergent, followed by rinsing and drying the area. This is because wet areas attract contaminants.

Can You Use Salt to Remove Blood Stains?

Yes, you can. This is because salt has strong dehydrating properties enabling it to lift water and blood. After a short time, use cold water to rinse the surface, and you’re done with the blood stain. If it doesn’t, use stronger chemicals such as hydrogen/sodium peroxide to break up the dry blood stains.

Bottom Line

Blood stains on your concrete floor may sometimes be an uphill task to get rid of. To avoid this scenario, use this handy guide to ensure blood doesn’t stain your concrete floor permanently.

Does blood come off of concrete?

Pour a small amount of hydrogen peroxide 3% (regular peroxide from the store) directly onto the stain and leave for about fifteen minutes. The peroxide will break down the blood stain, enabling you to mop it up with a clean paper towel. Repeat with the peroxide until all traces of blood are removed.

Does blood leave stains on concrete?

Removing blood stains from concrete seems to be a daunting task. Concrete is porous and stain would tend to soak into it on contact. That is why stain removal for concrete is really tough and needs special treatment. For effectively removing blood stains from concrete, the chemical method should be used.

How long will a blood stain last?

The literature data currently available on the estimate of the age of blood stains by exploiting color variations are limited from the first hours [16,17] up to a maximum of eight days [1] and 30 days [19], while in our work we have documented detectable color variations up to 60 days.

Does dried blood come off?

Soaking blood stained fabric in cool water can help break up the stain and make it easier to remove. Wash as usual. Sometimes, soaking blood stained fabric and then washing it in the washing machine is enough to remove a dried blood stain.