HELPFUL HITS FOR USING STAGE BLOOD

PROBLEM: Staining Fabrics
Stage blood is staining my clothing.
CAUSE:
Almost every stage blood on the market will stain fabric. This is due to the fact that the "true" blood red color is best achieved by using strong FD&C Dyes, which sometimes keep their dying capabilities even when mixed into their base liquid (usually methyl cellulose or corn syrup).
SOLUTION:
Mix in a small amount of liquid Shout® stain remover into your stage blood. This will make washing the blood out of your clothing or costume much easier.
CAUTION: Stage blood should already not be used in the mouth, but becomes toxic if ingested with the addition of some commercial stain removers.

PROBLEM: Staining Skin
Stage blood leaves a red haze on my skin after I wash it off.
CAUSE:
As with the problem of staining clothing, the dyes in most stage bloods can sometimes leave a red "stain" on your skin for a while after being washed off. This is, of course, temporary and will usually come off the next time you shower.
SOLUTION:
To remove the red stain from your skin immidiately, gently scrub the area with shaving cream and then wash off with soap and water.

PROBLEM: Not Flowing Through Tubing
I need to pump blood through tubing for a gushing effect or constant flow (as for a fountain), but it runs too slow/coagulates and clogs the plumbing.
CAUSE:
Most stage bloods sold commercially are meant to be used for makeup application and are formulated with corn syrup to aid in the viscosity and drying of the product. Corn syrup works well for obtaining a fresh drippy look on props and makeup, but is still essentially sugar, and will gunk up tubing quickly and become a sticky mess.
SOLUTION #1:
Use a different type of blood. Methyl Cel Blood is formulated to be thinner, like real blood, and is water based. It does, of course, dry eventually but takes much longer and can be rehydrated by adding more product. Methyl cellulose blood has been used for years by special effects artist to simulate large quantities of blood or make blood that flows easily through small tubes.
SOLUTION #2:
If you must use traditional syrup based stage blood, the addition of Photo Flo to your blood will help keep it fluid and moving. Photo Flo is a chemical that is used in professional photo development and is available through most photography suppliers.
CAUTION: Stage blood should already not be used in the mouth, but becomes toxic if ingested with the addition Photo Flo.