During that “time of the month,” most ladies experience the dreaded premenstrual syndrome (PMS). You know, that week of headache, moodiness, bloating, and cramps, to name a few. Cheer up, though! Getting your period is a telltale sign that your body is working the way it’s supposed to. During the menstrual cycle, your body releases hormones that keep you in top shape.
Having regular menstruation is great. However, PMS can suck up your good mood. Add period stains to the equation, and you’re faced with another eye-rolling situation. Although they look messy, period or blood stains, in general are fairly easy to remove. So you don’t have to contemplate throwing your blood-stained underwear or jeans in the trash the next time you bleed right through them.
7 Different Ways On How To Remove Period Stains
1. Use cold water
The ultimate rule when dealing with blood stains is to use cold water. Hot water works well as a hot compress to give you comfort from cramps, but it’s not advisable to be used in removing blood stains. Hot water can only push the stain deeper onto the fabric instead of lifting it off.
It’s also best to act fast when you need to get rid of period blood stains. If you don’t deal with period stains right away, the blood will clot and stick to the fabric. Blood also dries very fast.
Take your stained clothing or sheets and rinse them under the sink. Run cold water through it for a few minutes. Let the water remove the majority of the stain. A little bit of soap on hand can also help lift off any stubborn mark. You can then toss it in the washing machine and wash it in cold water. Remember to skip the dryer. The heat from the dryer can set in any remaining blood stain on the fabric.
2. Use a stain remover
If you menstruate irregularly, it can be hard to track your period. In this case, it’s best to stock up on laundry products that work great with blood stains. Among these products are oxygen-based bleach and enzymatic detergents.
Apply oxygenated bleach on the stained clothes or sheets and let it soak on the fabric for 10 minutes. You can then rinse it in cold water. Oxygen-based bleach is safe even for your colored clothes as it will not cause fading. After rinsing, you can now wash the garment in the washing machine. It’s best to use an enzymatic detergent to get rid of blood stains. This type of detergent uses enzymes to deal with protein-based stains, such as period blood.
3. Rub some salt
Sometimes running the blood-stained garment under the sink with cold water just won’t cut it. In this case, you can make a paste using salt and water to remove blood stains on your sheets or clothes.
To make a salt paste, mix one-part salt with one part water. You can then grab an old but clean toothbrush to scrub the salt paste on the affected area. Rinse it off using cold water. Now you’re ready to wash the item in the washing machine. After washing, skip the dryer and air dry the fabric to avoid any remaining stain from setting.
4. Use baking soda as a rough exfoliant
Similar to using salt, you can also make a paste out of baking soda and water to remove period blood on your sheets or garment. This pantry staple is a rough exfoliant that can lift off stubborn period stains.
Make a baking soda paste by mixing equal parts baking soda and cold water. Apply the paste on the stain and gently rub it in. You can then let it sit for 30 minutes for the baking soda to do its work. After that, you can rinse it with cold water. Any remaining stain should be removed when you wash it in the washing machine.
5. Use white vinegar
White vinegar works wonders in the laundry room. This deodorizer and stain remover is a laundry staple, and for good reason. To get rid of blood stains using vinegar, rinse the stained garment or sheets with cold water first. Then you can pour vinegar on the stain and let it sit for around 15 to 20 minutes. Scrub off stubborn stains using a clean wet towel and rinse off with cold water. After this, you are now ready to wash your clothing in the washer using cold water and detergent.
6. Soak it with hydrogen peroxide
Hydrogen peroxide is a reliable stain remover for getting rid of blood stains on underwear or sheets. This solution also contains bleaching properties that can get rid of blood on clothes. Since it’s a mild bleach, it works well with whites. However, if you plan to use it on colored fabrics, do a spot test first on your clothes’ under seam.
To use hydrogen peroxide, pour a bit of the antiseptic over the item with a stain. Let the fabric soak in the solution for around 24 hours for the best results. You may resoak the garment with hydrogen peroxide if there is still a persistent stain. Rinse off any remaining solution. After that, you can now wash your garment in the washing machine using cold water and detergent. Make sure you skip the dryer and choose to air dry. Doing so prevents stains from setting.
7. Squeeze some lemons
When period stains bring you down, squeeze some lemons. Lemon juice contains large amounts of citric acid. The citric acid found in lemon juice is a good stain remover and cleaner as it can kill mildew and bacteria. It also works well in fighting stain, including blood.
To remove blood stains, squeeze the juice from one lemon and apply it to the stain. Let the juice soak for around five minutes. Using a wet cloth, work your way by rubbing the lemon juice deeper into the fabric. Be careful with using lemon juice, though. Like hydrogen peroxide, lemon juice is also a mild bleach. After soaking with lemon juice, you are now ready to wash your garment in the washing machine. Don’t forget to use cold water and detergent.
Removing Stubborn and Dried-in Period Stains
There are times when you don’t have enough time to deal with a messy period stain on your clothes or sheets. You may need to run an errand, or you simply don’t have the will to clean it yet.
You should soak your blood-stained items with cold water before heading out if you can’t wash them immediately. For dried-in period stains on clothes and sheets, here’s how you can get rid of them without throwing them away:
It may shock you, but one of the best ways to get rid of a blood stain that has already dried is to use an unseasoned meat tenderizer. Yes, you read that right.
Meat tenderizer can help loosen dried blood by breaking down its fibers. If you can’t find an unseasoned meat tenderizer in your grocery stores, you can use white vinegar instead. Like meat tenderizers, white vinegar can also loosen up those dried period blood. The acetic acid found in white vinegar works its way in softening fibers found in the blood. Similar to how meat tenderizers work.
To use them, you need to soak the stained fabric in cold water for about an hour. You can then put a spoonful of meat tenderizer on the affected area. If you are using vinegar as a substitute, you can mix one cup of vinegar with one cup of water to soak the stained clothing. Let the fabric soak in the vinegar or tenderizer for about 30 minutes. Run the garment in cold water to rinse. Now you can toss it in the washing machine using detergent on a cold wash. Air-dry the garment and check for any remaining stains.
How to Avoid Period Stains from Happening in the Future
Your menstruation can come unannounced. If you are not ready, you are making yourself prone to period stains. Here are some reasons why you can get period stains and how you can avoid them:
- You don’t track your monthly period. There are great phone applications available for download that can help you on this one. If you don’t usually keep track of when your menstruation is coming, you can be more prepared and carry your feminine products.
- You are not using the best level of protection that suits you. There are tons of products in the market to choose from to get you protected from blood stains. Whether you use tampons, pads, or menstrual cups, the key is choosing the right product that works for you. They all come in different sizes for your needs. For instance, if you have a heavy flow, choose a larger or higher absorbency product.
- You don’t replace your feminine products more than you should. Tampons need to be changed every 3-4 hours. Meanwhile, pads need to be replaced when they look loaded. On the other hand, menstrual cups need to be removed and emptied before the 12-hour mark. Replacing these items frequently lessens your chance of having leaks.
In Conclusion
Getting your monthly period can be crappy, but dealing with blood stains should not be painful. Remember that the key to removing period stains is to remove them as soon as you notice them. Although, it’s best when you prevent leaks from happening altogether. If you like this post, don’t forget to share so you can help other girls who may also need these tips!
Want to share this?
