How To Clean Dried Blood Off Stitches
Once stitches come out, you want your healed wound to be as invisible as possible. But blood stains can remain on the skin surface and take time to fade away. You may have even tried other home remedies like lemon juice or raw onion to reduce redness from a cut and bring down the swelling.
However, dried blood is quite a different case altogether. Luckily for you, there are natural ways to clean dried blood off stiches. The good news is your garments will not be stained or altered in any way. Here is how you can remove blood from your stitches:
How to Clean Blood Stains off Stitches: What You Need
You will need the following items to clean blood stains off stitches while wearing a bandage:
- A clean washcloth.
- Hydrogen peroxide.
- A bowl of warm water.
- A few cotton balls.
- A pair of tweezers.
- A bandage.
- A pair of scissors and a small pair of nail scissors.
Vinegar
Vinegar is a mild antiseptic and a great home remedy for cleaning blood stains off stitches. Just soak a washcloth in vinegar and place it over your wound for 10 – 15 minutes. You can also dab the vinegar on the blood-stained area and leave it on for a few minutes. Use a fresh washcloth every time and change it every 10 minutes. If the blood stain is still there after you have used vinegar, you can also use baking soda to clean blood off stitches.
Baking Soda
Baking soda is another excellent home remedy for cleaning blood stains off stitches. You can use this remedy if you are allergic to vinegar or want to avoid it for any reason. Baking soda is a mild antiseptic and anti-inflammatory agent. Soak a clean washcloth in baking soda water and place it over the wound. Let it stay on the wound for 10 – 15 minutes. If the blood stain is still there after you have used vinegar, you can also use hydrogen peroxide to clean blood off stitches.
Hydrogen Peroxide
Hydrogen peroxide is another potent cleaning agent for blood stains. Hydrogen peroxide has a mild bleaching effect and can lighten colored fabrics. Use a clean washcloth to dab hydrogen peroxide on the blood stain. However, do not pour the hydrogen peroxide directly on the wound as it can cause irritation to the skin. Once the blood stain is gone, clean the area with mild soap and water and then apply a good antiseptic ointment.
Conclusion
It is essential to clean blood stains off stitches while wearing a bandage as they can cause skin irritation and infection. You can use the above-mentioned remedies to clean blood stains off stitches while wearing a bandage.
Apart from that, you can follow a few simple tips to keep the wound infection-free and clean while it is healing. Always keep the wound covered or covered with a bandage. If you are wearing a bandage, make sure it is not too tight. You can also apply an antiseptic ointment on the wound.
