# How to clean fresh blood stains off a tatami mat? Need answer fast! **URL:** \ **Category:** Factual Questions\ **Created:** [August 27, 2008, 4:51am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/how-to-clean-fresh-blood-stains-off-a-tatami-mat-need-answer-fast/461391 "2008-08-27T04:51:01Z")\ **Posts on this page:** 20\ **Page:** 1
**Author:** ![Autolycus](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/a/22d042/32.png) [@Autolycus](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Autolycus)\ **Post date:** [August 27, 2008, 4:51am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/how-to-clean-fresh-blood-stains-off-a-tatami-mat-need-answer-fast/461391/1 "2008-08-27T04:51:01Z")
Nobody is injured, and that’s all I’ll say about the nature of this situation. I’m moving out of my tatami room tomorrow, and I need a way to get rid of these stains. Anyone know? ---
**Author:** ![5-HT](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/5/f19dbf/32.png) [@5-HT](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/5-HT)\ **Post date:** [August 27, 2008, 4:52am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/how-to-clean-fresh-blood-stains-off-a-tatami-mat-need-answer-fast/461391/2 "2008-08-27T04:52:34Z")
I’ll have to get back to you on that, I’m busy filing the serial numbers off some guns. ---
**Author:** ![Qwisp](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/qwisp/32/397_2.png) [@Qwisp](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Qwisp)\ **Post date:** [August 27, 2008, 5:04am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/how-to-clean-fresh-blood-stains-off-a-tatami-mat-need-answer-fast/461391/3 "2008-08-27T05:04:00Z")
I’m not sure what kind of mat a tatami is, but cold water takes out blood stains ---
**Author:** ![Rhubarb](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/r/59ef9b/32.png) [@Rhubarb](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Rhubarb)\ **Post date:** [August 27, 2008, 5:04am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/how-to-clean-fresh-blood-stains-off-a-tatami-mat-need-answer-fast/461391/4 "2008-08-27T05:04:45Z")
I confess total ignorance as to the nature of a Tatami mat, but Oxyclean or similar cleaner is supposed to be very good at removing blood stains. ---
**Author:** ![CaerieD](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/c/da6949/32.png) [@CaerieD](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/CaerieD)\ **Post date:** [August 27, 2008, 5:46am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/how-to-clean-fresh-blood-stains-off-a-tatami-mat-need-answer-fast/461391/5 "2008-08-27T05:46:42Z")
I once used large amounts of hydrogen peroxide to get a few pints of blood out of carpeting and it worked perfectly. Never had to try on a tatami mat, though. ---
**Author:** ![Kolak\_of\_Twilo](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/kolak_of_twilo/32/73_2.png) [@Kolak\_of\_Twilo](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Kolak_of_Twilo)\ **Post date:** [August 27, 2008, 5:51am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/how-to-clean-fresh-blood-stains-off-a-tatami-mat-need-answer-fast/461391/6 "2008-08-27T05:51:14Z")
[QUOTE=CaerieD] I once used large amounts of hydrogen peroxide to get a few pints of blood out of carpeting and it worked perfectly. Never had to try on a tatami mat, though. [/QUOTE] A few PINTS!?!?!? Yikes. ---
**Author:** ![5-HT](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/5/f19dbf/32.png) [@5-HT](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/5-HT)\ **Post date:** [August 27, 2008, 6:04am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/how-to-clean-fresh-blood-stains-off-a-tatami-mat-need-answer-fast/461391/7 "2008-08-27T06:04:11Z")
I had no idea what [tatami](http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Tatami) mats were either, but I have to say they’re pretty cool looking. ---
**Author:** ![Renee](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/renee/32/287_2.png) [@Renee](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Renee)\ **Post date:** [August 27, 2008, 6:25am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/how-to-clean-fresh-blood-stains-off-a-tatami-mat-need-answer-fast/461391/8 "2008-08-27T06:25:26Z")
I’d go with hydrogen peroxide, poured on then dabbed dry. ---
**Author:** ![cornflakes](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/c/9d8465/32.png) [@cornflakes](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/cornflakes)\ **Post date:** [August 27, 2008, 7:23am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/how-to-clean-fresh-blood-stains-off-a-tatami-mat-need-answer-fast/461391/9 "2008-08-27T07:23:12Z")
I’ll second (third) using hydrogen peroxide. I’ve used a spray bottle of peroxide to clean canvas mats after aikido classes, and it works well. ---
**Author:** ![tirial](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/t/ac91a4/32.png) [@tirial](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/tirial)\ **Post date:** [August 27, 2008, 8:04am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/how-to-clean-fresh-blood-stains-off-a-tatami-mat-need-answer-fast/461391/10 "2008-08-27T08:04:23Z")
If you can’t use chemical cleaners try warm salt water and pouring a little salt directly on the blood stain while its in the water. Let it sit for ten minutes. It lifts out some of the stain and loosens the rest. Otherwise, here’s a fourth vote for hydrogen peroxide. ---
**Author:** ![TokyoBayer](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/tokyobayer/32/13989_2.png) [@TokyoBayer](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/TokyoBayer)\ **Post date:** [August 27, 2008, 8:45am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/how-to-clean-fresh-blood-stains-off-a-tatami-mat-need-answer-fast/461391/11 "2008-08-27T08:45:59Z")
[QUOTE=Autolycus] Nobody is injured, and that’s all I’ll say about the nature of this situation. [/QUOTE] Next time, use more towels under her, or put a nylon sleeping back down first. I’ve never tried hydrogen peroxide, but if you do, check first to make sure it doesn’t stain. If you clean with water, they recommend rubbing with chalk afterwards, but I’ve never tried that either. ---
**Author:** ![BellRungBookShut-CandleSnuffed](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/b/bcef8e/32.png) [@BellRungBookShut-CandleSnuffed](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/BellRungBookShut-CandleSnuffed)\ **Post date:** [August 27, 2008, 10:20am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/how-to-clean-fresh-blood-stains-off-a-tatami-mat-need-answer-fast/461391/12 "2008-08-27T10:20:00Z")
[QUOTE=TokyoPlayer] Next time, use more towels under her, or put a nylon sleeping back down first. [/QUOTE] Yeah, or put a futon down. Those are cheaper and easier to replace. If you’re lucky it won’t even go through the sheets. Sounds like your initial situation in Japan is going well 🙂 You ever look into the private contracts for teaching in Fukuoka? ---
**Author:** ![pseudotriton\_ruber\_ruber](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/p/a9a28c/32.png) [@pseudotriton\_ruber\_ruber](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/pseudotriton_ruber_ruber)\ **Post date:** [August 27, 2008, 11:11am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/how-to-clean-fresh-blood-stains-off-a-tatami-mat-need-answer-fast/461391/13 "2008-08-27T11:11:08Z")
I’d throw the ladel away, though. ---
**Author:** ![BellRungBookShut-CandleSnuffed](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/b/bcef8e/32.png) [@BellRungBookShut-CandleSnuffed](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/BellRungBookShut-CandleSnuffed)\ **Post date:** [August 27, 2008, 11:33am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/how-to-clean-fresh-blood-stains-off-a-tatami-mat-need-answer-fast/461391/14 "2008-08-27T11:33:55Z")
[QUOTE=pseudotriton ruber ruber] I’d throw the ladel away, though. [/QUOTE] He can keep the whisk, though. ---
**Author:** ![CalMeacham](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/calmeacham/32/35_2.png) [@CalMeacham](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/CalMeacham)\ **Post date:** [August 27, 2008, 11:47am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/how-to-clean-fresh-blood-stains-off-a-tatami-mat-need-answer-fast/461391/15 "2008-08-27T11:47:03Z")
Don’t forget to move the Naval Treaty from its hidey-hole. And put the mats back the right way ---
**Author:** ![TokyoBayer](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/tokyobayer/32/13989_2.png) [@TokyoBayer](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/TokyoBayer)\ **Post date:** [August 27, 2008, 3:37pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/how-to-clean-fresh-blood-stains-off-a-tatami-mat-need-answer-fast/461391/16 "2008-08-27T15:37:45Z")
[QUOTE=BellRungBookShut-CandleSnuffed] Yeah, or put a futon down. Those are cheaper and easier to replace. If you’re lucky it won’t even go through the sheets. [/QUOTE] I wouldn’t count on that much luck. Best to put something waterproof under the sheets. ---
**Author:** ![Angel\_of\_the\_Lord](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/angel_of_the_lord/32/2949_2.png) [@Angel\_of\_the\_Lord](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Angel_of_the_Lord)\ **Post date:** [August 27, 2008, 3:43pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/how-to-clean-fresh-blood-stains-off-a-tatami-mat-need-answer-fast/461391/17 "2008-08-27T15:43:50Z")
No idea if this’d work on tatami, but OxyClean is freaking amazing when it comes to blood. If you don’t have OxyClean, try meat tenderizer. The unseasoned, unless you want an interesting olfactory remnant. ---
**Author:** ![gigi](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/g/a587f6/32.png) [@gigi](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/gigi)\ **Post date:** [August 27, 2008, 5:50pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/how-to-clean-fresh-blood-stains-off-a-tatami-mat-need-answer-fast/461391/18 "2008-08-27T17:50:02Z")
[QUOTE=TokyoPlayer] Next time, use more towels under her, or put a nylon sleeping back down first. [/QUOTE] Yeah, I was going to say that small amounts of your own blood come out with your own saliva, but then I realized the nature of the situation. ---
**Author:** ![CaerieD](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/c/da6949/32.png) [@CaerieD](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/CaerieD)\ **Post date:** [August 27, 2008, 5:58pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/how-to-clean-fresh-blood-stains-off-a-tatami-mat-need-answer-fast/461391/19 "2008-08-27T17:58:17Z")
[QUOTE=Kolak of Twilo] A few PINTS!?!?!? Yikes. [/QUOTE] It was from a birth at home with little warning, so there was no plastic or anything to catch the blood. Luckily, it all turned out okay in the end and even the _carpeting_ survived. ---
**Author:** ![Hal\_Briston](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/h/a9a28c/32.png) [@Hal\_Briston](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Hal_Briston)\ **Post date:** [August 27, 2008, 6:09pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/how-to-clean-fresh-blood-stains-off-a-tatami-mat-need-answer-fast/461391/20 "2008-08-27T18:09:37Z")
[QUOTE=Rhubarb] I confess total ignorance as to the nature of a Tatami mat, [/QUOTE] It’s Japanese for “place to slaughter the infidel”. [Next page](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/how-to-clean-fresh-blood-stains-off-a-tatami-mat-need-answer-fast/461391.md?page=2)