Period stains show up everywhere from panties and denim to towels and more. Over time, you'll likely stain just about everything it's possible to stain.
Whenever blood is left on fabric for a long period of time, it tends to absorb and set into the fibres of the fabric, making it much more difficult to remove at a later date.
Dish Soap and Baking Soda
Apply a small amount of dish soap to your stain and cover it with baking soda. Let it sit for about twenty minutes, then scrub the area with a soft-bristled brush (an old toothbrush works well). Run the garment through your regular wash cycle to fully lift the stain.
Soap and water is the best way to remove most blood stains; this is especially true of fresh blood stains on clothing or other small items like pillowcases.
Contrary to that belief, the blood you menstruate is just as “clean” as the venous blood that comes from every other part of the body and it's harmless as long as you don't have any bloodborne diseases (pathogens aren't picky when it comes to manifesting in bodily fluids).
During a woman's period, menstrual blood will contain mucus lining, bacteria, and uterine tissue. When drinking any blood, if it's disease-free, a small amount will not cause damage. But consuming more than a few teaspoons puts you at risk of iron overload, a potentially deadly condition called hemachromotosis.
How often should you wash your genital area during periods? Blood can offer a favorable environment for bacteria to thrive, so health care providers recommend rinsing the genital area at least twice a day — morning and evening — while on your period. It's also acceptable to do this more often if you feel uncomfortable.
Blood stains are notoriously stubborn and difficult to remove from fabrics. In our extensive testing of stain removers and laundry detergents, blood is one of a handful of stains that many products struggle to remove completely — but it isn't impossible.
Try pouring white vinegar on the stain and let it soak for ten minutes. Then, blot the area with a paper towel. Repeat the process again if the stain is still visible. Then, wash normally.
Why does blood stain so badly? Due to the hemoglobin that's present in blood, it stains very easily. This is because hemoglobin and other coagulating agents bond with anything they can when exposed to air — including fabric fibers.
If you are caught out in public with stained pants, simply tie a sweatshirt, sweater, or large shirt around your waist. This will help you hide the stain until you are able to go home for a change of clothing.
Pink Blood
Your blood may appear pink in color at the beginning or end of your period, especially if you're spotting. This lighter shade usually means that the blood has mixed with your cervical fluid. Sometimes pink menstrual blood may indicate low estrogen levels in the body.
You can repeat, but do remember that set blood stains are often permanent stains. As one last chance, you can apply a stain remover directly to both sides of the stain before its final trip through the wash.
Myth: Menstrual blood is dirty. Fact: During our cycle, our bodies get rid of blood and membrane that we no longer QHHG LQ RXU ERGLHV %XW menstrual blood is just like other blood from our body and is not dirty blood.
Wash as usual.
Sometimes, soaking blood stained fabric and then washing it in the washing machine is enough to remove a dried blood stain. However, it is recommended that you air dry the fabric rather than dry it in a dryer. If a stain still remains after washing, heat can set the stain.
Period leaks happen for a number of reasons, some of the most common reasons are: Incorrect period care size or absorbency. Sleeping position. Full pad.
The first myth is that you should never wash blood-stained clothes with other laundry. This is simply not true! If you pre-treat and use cold water, you're unlikely to have any problems. And your blood stained clothes won't transfer onto other clothes.
If you are constantly having brown discharge or spotting and it's bothering you, ask your OB/GYN. They may consider prescribing a new birth control method with higher estrogen that can help stop the spotting. Hormonal contraception can also help manage chronic menstrual pain from conditions like PCOS or endometriosis.
Luckily, salt water or saline can come in handy in a pinch. Plain old table salt and cold water do really well for getting period blood out of clothes after the stain has dried. If you're a contact lens wearer, you can use your saline solution to the same effect, which is pretty handy when you're traveling.
Wash on the usual cycle in cold water. Do not use hot water, as this will set the stain. Always check the instructions on the garment's care label.
Here are a few things to know before you begin the stain-removal process: Removing fresh blood from sheets tends to be easier and quicker than if the blood has dried. “You'll want to act fast to remove blood stains, preferably when the stain is still fresh,” Goodman says.
On average, women will have 450 periods over their lifetime, which equals 3,500 days spent menstruating. That's over 10,000 period products in one lifetime! Of course, each woman is unique so that number will vary, but understanding your cycle is important since you will have so many throughout your life.