Does fake blood wash out of clothes?

Usually yes, as long as you act quickly. How much comes out depends on the type of blood and on the fabric.

Ordinary liquid fake blood on a water or glucose base, such as the blood from Mehron, Grimas, Mouldlife, The Dark Arts Company and Ben Nye, rinses out of clothing well in most cases. Fake blood from Superstar soaks deeper into the fibres. On white, light or synthetic fabrics that leaves a pink tinge behind more easily.

Three types will not come out again, however fast you are:

• Blood powder, such as Ben Nye Mass Casualty Blood Powder. The pigment is highly concentrated and bonds to the fibre straight away.
• Splatter and spray blood. It hits the fabric in fine droplets at speed and drives deeper into the weave.
• Blood that is made to be water-resistant, such as EBA Transfusion Blood. It stays put even in a damp haunted house, and you remove it with a special remover rather than water.

Not sure about a costume you care about? Test a drop on an inside seam first.

This is how you deal with a fresh stain:

• Rinse it out straight away with lukewarm water and hold the back of the fabric under the tap, so you flush the blood out rather than further in.
• Blot the spot and do not rub, because rubbing works the pigment into the fibre.
• Then let the garment soak in water of around 30 degrees with some detergent or a stain remover.
• Wash at 30 degrees and check that the stain has gone before the garment goes into the tumble dryer. Heat sets any last trace of colour.

Prevention is easier than washing: wear something that is allowed to get dirty, put a towel or a make-up cape over the shoulders while you work, and splatter your costume on purpose rather than by accident.