It’s a period right of passage—asking a trusted pal (or let’s get real, sometimes even a stranger) to check the back of your pants for unexpected leakage. And although we hold our breath waiting for the “spot check” to come back negative, once in a while the results turn out to be bloody. Bloody ANNOYING!!!
No matter if it’s your first period or your 300th, bleeding onto underwear, your wardrobe, your bed (etc) doesn’t have to be a huge deal. It happens! But it can be a huge pain—especially when you have a tricky stain on your favorite jeans or comfiest sheets you’re forced to contend with.
Thankfully we have you covered. FIRST with period underwear to help avoid leaks going forward, and SECOND—with this handy list of 10 ways to remove period blood stains. Bookmark this page, you may need it!
For Fresh Stains
Ice the Stain Out: If you’ve noticed the leak right away, dive straight into the rescue op with cold water. The colder, the better here. Rinse the area under cold water ASAP to stop the stain from setting in. If you have an ice cube handy, you can rub it onto the stain after rinsing too.
Blast With Baking Soda: Baking soda can be a savior when it comes to fighting stains, especially blood. Mix it with water to form a paste, apply it to the stained area, let it sit for a bit, then gently scrub away.
When Life Gives You Lemons: …use them to clean your period blood. The acidity of the lemon juice is a great way to naturally break down the stain. After squeezing a lil’ juice on that thang, you can gently blot, and then rinse with cold water.
Hydrogen Peroxide Is Your Hero: This first-aid-kit staple comes in clutch for leaks too, as it’s a great remover for protein-based stains like blood. Dab some on and watch it fizz. Heads up! This works best for lighter colored materials, as it may discolor darker fabrics.
Make the Stain Less of a Headache With Aspirin: First of all, amazing word play by me. Second, yes ~aspirin alchemy~ is a thing! Crush a few tablets, form a paste using water, let it sit on the stain for a few minutes and then rinse with cold water.
No matter if it’s lemon, baking soda, or aspirin, you’ll notice cold water is key here. Don’t even go near that hot water tap sister! You see—*puts on lab coat*—when blood is exposed to hot temps, the protein in the blood vibrates and then clumps.
This actually sets the blood into the fabric MORE, as water loses the ability to wash it out. This is true for fresh stains and older ones, which, (amazing timing) we’ll get to right now👇
For Dried Stains
Pre-Soak Before Washing: If you were running late for work and couldn’t get to your sheets until EOD, or your underwear has stubborn stains from leaks past—try giving them a good cold soak before throwing them into the washing machine with detergent. The icy bath is like the pre-party.
Vinegar Isn’t Just for Salad Tossing: …it’s for stain removal too. White vinegar works wonders to break down the protein in blood stains. Soak the stain in equal parts cold water and white vinegar for about 30 minutes, and then toss into the laundry. ON COLD, of course.
Meat Tenderizer?: Yes! Meat Tenderizer! You can grab it at the grocery store. It works because it contains enzymes that break down proteins like those found in blood stains. Make a paste with it using cold water, let sit for 30 minutes, scrub and rinse with cold water—and voila.
Make Contact With Contact Solution: A good hack while on-the-go, you can use your contact solution on your dried stain! Soaking in saline solution is super handy if you noticed your blood stain hours after it happened (and you’re nowhere near your home laundry base).
Get Salty: If you don’t have saline handy, you might have salt! Rub your dried stain with salt water, and you’ll notice the blood lift a lot easier 💪
Stay Stain-Free
Keep these tips handy in case your period ever springs up on you. But if you’re looking to prevent leaks all together, check out Leakproof Period Underwear.
Wearing them in preparation for your period starting (or even when you think you’re finished for the month), is a good way to stop any early (or late) spotting from staining all your fave things in the first place.
If you're looking to protect those high thread count sheets, period undies can also be worn overnight for sweet, leak-free (and stain-free) dreams.