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26-06-2017, 13:55
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#1
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Registered User
Join Date: Jan 2008
Location: Honokohau, Big Island, Hawaii
Posts: 91
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Removing blood stains from sails
My son somehow spouted a leak while furling our mainsail this weekend. His shin deposited a considerable amount of blood onto the dacron sail. I've read about using either bleach or ammonia to remove stains. Does anyone here have experience and suggestions on how to clean off the blood?
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26-06-2017, 13:59
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#2
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Registered User
Join Date: Sep 2006
Posts: 9,398
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Re: Removing blood stains from sails
Cold fresh water is generally accepted as the way to remove blood stains. I wouldn't be putting bleach on sails.
__________________
"You CANNOT be serious!"
John McEnroe
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26-06-2017, 14:09
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#3
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Registered User
Join Date: Feb 2016
Location: Northport NY
Boat: Pearson 10M
Posts: 431
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Re: Removing blood stains from sails
There is a product called "Stain Devils" Little bottles sold at supermarkets. They are stain specific. I have used the one for Blood, works better than you would expect.
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26-06-2017, 14:10
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#4
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Registered User
Join Date: Dec 2016
Location: PNW
Boat: J/42
Posts: 938
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Re: Removing blood stains from sails
Think of the all the little bits in blood as tightly coiled springs. You want to wash them out quickly and gently. Once those millions of little springs trip within the fibers, forget about it. Lots of the coldest possible water as soon as possible - ice water if possible.
Otherwise, start making up a good story...
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26-06-2017, 14:14
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#5
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Moderator
Join Date: Nov 2011
Location: aboard, in Tasmania, Australia
Boat: Sayer 46' Solent rig sloop
Posts: 28,524
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Re: Removing blood stains from sails
Mahana,
Use hydrogen peroxide, medicinal strength, not the stuff for bleaching. It won't hurt the dacron. If it is really a lot of blood, I'd do as cruising cat 44' suggested, first, that will get most of it. Then attack it with the peroxide, and that breaks down the hemoglobin molecules. Eventually, you'll get to a point of diminishing returns, and that's about as good as it will get. It will not be noticeable from a distance.
Ann
PS It has been suggested that peroxide is how Chinese laundries in the US used to remove blood stains from articles of clothing.
__________________
Who scorns the calm has forgotten the storm.
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26-06-2017, 14:29
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#6
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Registered User
Join Date: Apr 2005
Location: Southern California
Boat: Catalina 320
Posts: 1,314
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Re: Removing blood stains from sails
Hydrogen Peroxide, when I was a paramedic we had a bottle devoted to removing blood from uniforms.
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27-06-2017, 08:34
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#7
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Registered User
Join Date: Sep 2013
Location: Alert Bay, Vancouver Island
Boat: 35ft classic ketch/yawl.
Posts: 1,982
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Re: Removing blood stains from sails
Soak in cold salt water for 24hr, works in hospital.
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27-06-2017, 08:35
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#8
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Registered User
Join Date: Jun 2017
Location: SE FL
Boat: C&C 42 Landfall
Posts: 41
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Re: Removing blood stains from sails
State troopers always carry 6 pack of Coca Cola to clean blood off the road at accident scene... might work on your sails.
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27-06-2017, 08:44
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#9
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Registered User
Join Date: Oct 2007
Location: nh
Posts: 10
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Re: Removing blood stains from sails
Amonia is used by commercial cleaning companies but i'd test it on Dacron first
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27-06-2017, 08:53
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#10
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Registered User
Join Date: May 2008
Posts: 439
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Re: Removing blood stains from sails
Ditto on peroxide. You can see it bubble the blood to rinse away. Takes several applications. Works great on clothes.
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27-06-2017, 08:55
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#11
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cat herder, extreme blacksheep
Join Date: Jul 2008
Location: furycame alley , tropics, mexico for now
Boat: 1976 FORMOSA yankee clipper 41
Posts: 18,967
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Re: Removing blood stains from sails
Quote:
Originally Posted by Calif.Ted
Hydrogen Peroxide, when I was a paramedic we had a bottle devoted to removing blood from uniforms.
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this method must be done before wetting the material with any other solution.
peroxide works best.
the rest are for after the peroxide.
ammonia does not work.
cold salt water does not work on material.
once material is wetted with another substance, peroxide willnot work.
i got lots of blood on my clothing in my 30 plus years working intensive care areas in my career of nursing.. prolly about the same amount the paramedics got in 2 weeks of working traumas..hahaha
i ruined many uniforms before i learned this trick from paramedics
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27-06-2017, 11:19
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#12
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Registered User
Join Date: Mar 2014
Posts: 230
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Re: Removing blood stains from sails
I recently tried OxyClean Max Force Spray and found that it did the job of removing long-set blood from clothing and bedsheets. That's all cotton, though. I can't say how it would work on sails, but I would try it if I had stains on my sails.
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27-06-2017, 11:39
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#13
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Registered User
Join Date: Jun 2014
Location: Up the mast, looking for clean wind.
Boat: Currently Shopping, & Heavily in LUST!
Posts: 5,629
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Re: Removing blood stains from sails
People have been making (blood) sacrifices to Gods for thousands of years, so isn't Neptune to be given his due?
__________________
The Uncommon Thing, The Hard Thing, The Important Thing (in Life): Making Promises to Yourself, And Keeping Them.
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27-06-2017, 11:44
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#14
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֍֎֍֎֍֎֍֎֍֎
Join Date: Apr 2006
Posts: 15,136
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Re: Removing blood stains from sails
Peroxide, yes.
A discrete secret of young ladies all over the world for laundering needs. If a simple soak doesn't do it, get a stiff brush or denture brush and help it.
Peroxide does go stale on the shelf, if the bottle is over a year old, you may need new.
The "oxide" magic stain removers sold as laundry boosters may also help, applied as a paste, allowed to sit, then scrubbed, but hydrogen peroxide works wonders.
Slightly OT: Should NOT be used on cuts and wounds, unless truly necessary, because it also destroys healthy tissue and leaves a fertile "soup" to encourage bacterial growth. Been deprecated for over a decade because of that problem.
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27-06-2017, 13:24
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#15
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Registered User
Join Date: Oct 2012
Location: Beaufort SC Atlanta Ga
Boat: Pearson 36-2, Pearson 26 'annapolis'
Posts: 196
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Re: Removing blood stains from sails
We left ours on the sails as reminders of our ineptness at reefing.
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