Question:
I cut my finger without realizing it and then played my guitar. Unfortunately where I was
strumming rather enthusiastically, I sprayed a small amount of blood on the inside of the
guitar. I have managed to clean the outside OK but could you advise me on how to remove the
blood on the inside Please.
Answer:
I have cut my hands working inside guitars and blood will definitely stain permanently. Since
it has been there and soaked into the wood cells, I would try 2 things. First try to use a pump
sprayer of hair spray or better yet some wood alcohol and soak the area then try a long Q-tip
swab to blot out the red stain. If that doesn't do it then you could try a wood bleach kit with
2 parts you mix and then do the Q-tip application . This should do the trick but may have to be
done 2 or three times. Be sure not to flood the wood because this may go thru to the finished
side of the instrument and ruin the outer lacquered finished.
The problem with the blood is the setting in of the stain. If you can get the alcohol on it
right away or lacquer hair spray it will absorb it quickly, making the stain less noticeable.
After the bleaching process, if used on rosewood or mahogany you may have to rub on a wiping
stain to match the color of the inside wood. Good Luck.
Donated By: Tim Lawson http://www.timsguitar.com
Peroxide removes blood stains from almost anything. Professional laundries use this to get blood stains from clothes. I tried a little and it works. Just remember to damp sponge the peroxide off after the stain is gone. Nat M.