How To Get Fish Blood Out Of Boat Carpet | 4 no-fishy tricks

There’s nothing quite like life at sea, whether you’re heading out on a day’s fishing trip or you’ll be spending a week chartering open waters and angling. It’s a great way to relax and get away from the hustle and bustle of daily life. 

It’s all fun and games until it’s meal prep time – that’s when things get messy… very messy! 

The mess typically starts outside with de-scaling duties. Then, it is time to prepare the whole fish. Now, fish blood is the biggest threat as it can easily end up all over your bright boat carpets. 

If this happens to you, you can get the fish blood out with a simple four-step process. Just vacuum, spot clean, steam clean and let the area dry!

There’s no need to get down and dirty right away. Sometimes, you’ll be able to lift fish blood stains out of your carpet WITHOUT having to go crazy scrubbing! Here are the quick steps to take.

Step 1: Vacuum the carpet

you’ll want to run the vacuum over the boat first. This helps remove any dirt that’s sitting on the surface of the carpet and makes it easier for you to get to the stain. 

On top of that, vacuuming is important for preventing dirt from getting lodged further into the carpet while you work. 

Step 2: Steam Clean

Once you’ve finished vacuuming, use a standard steamer or a portable carpet cleaner on the boat’s floor. Make sure to go over the entire carpet and to follow the manufacturer’s instructions. 

If you don’t have a steamer handy or the steamer has not entirely worked on the stain. It is time to do some spot-cleaning with chemicals (non-harsh ones).

Step 3: Spot Cleaning Stubborn Stains

Once you’re done vacuuming and steam cleaning, you may still find a few stubborn stains on your boat carpet. In that case, you can try spot cleaning the worst of the worst. 

Remember that you’ll want to spot clean fish blood stains as fast as possible – the dryer it gets the tougher it is to clean. If the stain is fresh and wet, blot it before you vacuum. 

There are a few different spot cleaning products/methods you can use when it comes to removing fish blood stains. Let’s take a look at a few. 

Method 1: Multipurpose Cleaner

The first method for removing fish blood stains is to grab a bottle of your favorite commercial carpet cleaner. There are tons of great carpet cleaners out there, and you can usually find some that are specially designed for boats in your local fishing shop!

Now, to get to work, simply spray the cleaning solution onto the fish blood stain and allow it to soak in for a few minutes. Then, blot the stain to remove the cleaner and the fish blood with it.

If you need to, you can repeat the cleaner stain. Or you can move onto one of our below methods to get rid of the stain once and for all. 

Method 2: Shampoo

This one might sound weird, but if you’re in a pinch, you can actually use an unscented shampoo to clean your carpet! Just mix a few drops of shampoo with a bucket of warm water. 

Then, pour the solution onto the fish blood stain. Allow the solution to soak into the stain for a minute or two before grabbing a scrubbing brush. 

Get ready to get down and dirty because you’ll need to scrub the stain to lift out the fish blood. After a few minutes, you should notice that the blood begins to wash away with the water. 

Method 3: Vinegar Solution

If you’d rather use natural methods, you can create a simple solution of two cups of water and two cups of vinegar. You want to keep the ratio even, and not dilute it too much. That way, the vinegar can properly do its job!

Now, simply pour the solution onto the fish blood stain and allow it to soak for a few minutes.

Then, scrub at the stain gently with a medium bristled brush – an old toothbrush works well for this step. Blot the stain dry to soak up the remaining solution and blood.

Method 4: Water and Dish Tablets

Cold water and mild dish tablets work wonders when it comes to lifting stains out of your marine carpet. For this method, you’ll need to have a dish tablet – which may not always be available on a boat. But, if you happen to get lucky…

Let the tablet dissolve in a bucket of warm water. You may need to stir the water a little bit so that the soap fully dissolves and begins to foam up. 

Now, allow using a rag to apply the solution to your marine carpet. Give the solution a minute or two to soak into the stain before patting it dry with a clean towel. You should notice the stain lifting as you blot the area dry. 

Just make sure not to use hot water when you tackle the stain. Hot water can cause the stain to set, making it a permanent feature of your boat’s carpet. 

Step 4: Air Dry

At this stage, the stain should be gone! So, the next step is to allow the boat to dry thoroughly. Leave the boat outdoors and let the sunshine and fresh air evaporate any water on deck. 

Frequently Asked Questions

What Removes Fish Blood?

Bar soap, enzymatic sprays, and hydrogen peroxide all work well for removing fish blood from clothes and carpets. You can use a combination of different methods to get fish blood out of your belongings. 

How Do You Get Stains Out of Boat Carpet?

A quick process of vacuuming, spot cleaning, and steam cleaning works well for most types of stains. Even if a different material is staining your carpet, you can use the spot cleaning methods to get rid of the stains.