Blood Spills on Carpeted Floors

Blood Spills on Carpeted Floors
Blood spills on carpeted floors are some of the most difficult to clean up due its absorbent nature.
The majority of buildings contain at least some amount of carpeting, which is why it is important to know how to respond to spills in these areas. Many of the procedures for cleaning up blood on carpet will be the same as any other area, but there are a few additional concerns. In addition, there is no way to disinfect carpet completely so the best option is to sanitize as thoroughly as possible.

  • Work Quickly: Blood or other bodily fluids can harden or set up quickly on carpeting making it much more difficult to clean. Respond quickly, but make sure to follow all safety precautions like wearing appropriate PPE, securing the area, and ensuring the injured individual is safe.
  • Use Appropriate Products: Bleach and other decontamination products can damage or destroy carpet. The best way to clean these areas is to use manufacturer approved carpet shampoos and cleaners. Make sure you select a product with some anti-microbial properties to help sanitize the area as thoroughly as possible. Another recommendation is that after the area is cleaned and dried repeat the process once or twice more since the absorbent nature of carpet can still conceal some pathogens.

  • Steam Clean: Depending on the nature and size of the spill, it is advisable to perform a steam clean of the carpet. Steam cleaners will clean, remove debris, and sanitize carpeting more completely than conventional washing. Although there is some additional cost to steam cleaning, it is the best way to protect against bloodborne pathogens.
  • Change Carpet Tiles: Removable carpet tiles are a great way to protect against exposure to bloodborne pathogens. Carpet tiles are often less expensive than traditional carpet, and if a certain area becomes heavily soiled with blood they can easily be removed and replaced. If your organization is equipped with carpet tiles be sure to dispose of them properly after being saturated with blood or any other potentially infectious bodily fluid.

The basic protocol for cleaning carpets and removing the threat of bloodborne pathogens is listed below. Please note that even when these steps are followed there is no guarantee that the threat of bloodborne pathogen exposure is 100% eliminated.

  1. Put on Disposable Gloves: No matter what type of surface you’re cleaning, always put gloves on first.
  2. Contain the Spill: After a spill, it is important to keep it as contained as possible to avoid allowing the affected area to spread. Create a barrier around the spill with an absorbent material.
  3. Initial Disinfect: Once the area is contained, spray the affected area with an appropriate carpet detergent to help kill some of the surviving pathogens. After spraying the area, allow it to sit for 10 minutes so the disinfectant has time to work.
  4. Blot up Excess Fluids: Use disposable towels or rags to blot as much excess fluid as you can and then carefully dispose of the soiled rags in a sealable bag.
  5. Extract Absorbed Fluids: The carpet will absorb some of the fluid so removing them will be the next step. Use a wet-vacuum to thoroughly wet and remove any fluids. Repeat the process of wetting and suctioning several times. While wetting the affected area be sure to prevent any water from spreading beyond the initial boundary.
  6. Re-disinfect: After vacuuming, thoroughly re-saturate the area with an appropriate disinfectant. Follow your carpet manufacturer’s recommendations since certain products can damage carpet fibers and dyes.
  7. Let Sit: After completely disinfecting the area, allow the disinfectant to set and work for up to 20 minutes to make sure it has the full effect.
  8. Third Disinfect: Repeat the previous two steps of disinfecting and then allowing to sit for 10-20 minutes.
  9. Rinse: Once the final round of disinfecting is complete, rinse the area one last time to remove any remaining detergent or disinfecting solution. After rinsing, wet-vacuum the area.
  10. Dry: Next, dry the area thoroughly with rags to draw out any remaining moisture and then place fans near the area to completely dry it,
  11. Wrap up: After the area is clean, properly dispose of all rags and PPE contaminated by the spill. In addition, thoroughly clean all other equipment used during the spill cleanup.