Accidents happen. Whether you're dealing with an unexpected period leak or a small mishap, it’s never fun to find a stain on your favorite underwear. The good news? Getting those tough blood stains out is easier than you might think. You don’t need fancy equipment or harsh chemicals—just a bit of know-how and the right tools. Here's a step-by-step guide to help you tackle those stains without ruining your underwear.
Why Is It Difficult to Remove Period Stains From Underwear?
Blood stains from women’s underwear are usually difficult to remove, mainly due to the following reasons:
Blood composition: Blood contains a lot of substances such as protein, hemoglobin, and iron, which react with the fibers in the fabric, especially after some time, they will firmly bond with the fibers, making blood stains more difficult to remove.
Time factor: If blood stains are not treated in time, they will react with oxygen in the air and oxidize, forming darker colors or stains that are more difficult to clean. Especially under hot water or sunlight, the protein in the blood tends to coagulate, making the blood stains more fixed.
Type of fabric: Different fabrics have different absorbency and adhesion to blood. Some natural fibers such as cotton easily absorb blood, while synthetic fibers may not be easy to completely absorb blood stains, but once absorbed, it is more complicated to clean.
Related read: 9 Different Types of Women Panties
Blood concentration and dryness: The concentration of blood from menstrual blood or wound bleeding will affect the difficulty of cleaning blood stains. If the blood has dried, especially after the effect of time, it will become more solid and dark, which will be more difficult to clean.
Why Timing Matters
The best time to treat a blood stain is as soon as it happens. Fresh stains are much easier to remove than older ones. However, life happens, and sometimes you can't get to it right away. Don’t worry—it's still possible to remove older stains, but it might take a little more effort.
If the stain is fresh, rinse it out immediately with cold or lukewarm water (avoid hot water since it can set the stain). If the stain has dried, don’t panic. There’s still hope!
How to Clean Period Underwear
This cleaning process requires a special detergent and enzymes. They’re gentle, effective, and work wonders on tough stains like blood. If you don’t have them, salt water or hydrogen peroxide will work: soak the garment in salt water or 3% hydrogen peroxide (hydrogen peroxide) for 30 minutes to an hour before rinsing with clean water.
Of course, there are many more effective stain removers for removing menstrual blood. These are described in the following sections.
Along with the stain remover, you’ll need:
- Cold or lukewarm water
- A sink (or basin to wash in)
Once you’ve got your supplies ready, you’re good to go.
1. Wet the Stain
Start by getting the stained area damp. Use cold or lukewarm water—not hot water, which can lock the stain into the fabric. Gently wet just the area with the stain—there's no need to soak the whole garment.
2. Apply the Stain Remover
Grab your laundry detergent and enzyme preparation (or similar product) and get to work. This special stick has bristles on the top to make it easier to apply. Press the stick onto the stain and gently scrub in a circular motion. Make sure the product completely covers the stained area.
3. Let It Sit (Optional)
If the stain is especially stubborn, let the product sit for 5-10 minutes to penetrate the fabric. This step is optional but can help if you’re dealing with an older or deeper stain.
4. Rinse and Repeat
Rinse the fabric under cold or lukewarm water, gently rubbing the stained area with your fingers. You might notice the stain fading. If it’s still visible, repeat the process: apply the stain remover again, scrub, and rinse.
For older stains, you may need to repeat the process two or three times. Be patient—it’s worth it to save your underwear!
5. Check Your Progress
By now, the stain should be completely gone or almost invisible. If there’s a faint trace left, one final round of stain remover should do the trick. Once the stain is out, rinse thoroughly to remove any leftover product.
Tips for Stubborn Stains
If the stain just won’t budge, persistence is key! Here are a few extra tips for tough cases:
- Let the stain remover sit for a bit longer between applications.
- Use a gentle scrubbing tool, like the bristle top of your stain remover, to work the product deeper into the fabric.
- Be patient—it might take a few rounds, but most stains will come out eventually.
9 Stain Removal Solutions
In addition to common methods such as cold water, salt water, and hydrogen hydroxide, some special stain removers can help remove blood stains from underwear. Here are some common and effective stain removers that can help break down the components of blood and remove stains more easily:
1. Enzyme cleaners
Enzyme cleaners contain enzyme components that can effectively break down the proteins in the blood, thereby helping to remove blood stains. Common enzymes include proteases, lipases, etc. Enzyme cleaners are very suitable for dealing with protein stains (such as blood stains, sweat stains, etc.). These cleaners are usually mild but effective.
2. Oxidative stain removers (oxidative bleaches)
Oxidative bleaches (such as oxygen bleaches, and oxygen cleaners) are effective tools for stain removal and color removal. They can break down the iron components in the blood and oxidize the blood stains to help remove stains.
3. Stain removal sprays
Many stain removal spray products are specially designed to quickly remove stubborn stains such as blood stains, oil stains, and beverage stains. Their main ingredients are usually enzymes or active oxygen, which can quickly break down the proteins in the blood.
4. Baking soda (sodium bicarbonate)
Baking soda is not only a good helper for kitchen cleaning, it can also effectively remove blood stains from clothes. Baking soda is slightly alkaline, which can help neutralize the acidic components in the blood and thus help remove stains.
5. White vinegar
White vinegar is a natural stain remover with certain stain removal and disinfection effects. It can dissolve some organic matter in the blood, making blood stains easier to remove. Mix equal amounts of white vinegar and cold water and soak the underwear in the solution for about 30 minutes.
6. Dishwashing liquid
Some kitchen dishwashing liquids contain strong degreasing ingredients that can remove fatty substances from blood stains. During the cleaning process, if the blood is greasy, dishwashing liquid can play a certain auxiliary role.
7. Laundry detergent (containing oxygen ingredients)
Some high-efficiency laundry detergents, especially those containing oxidizing ingredients or enzymes, can effectively remove blood stains. They are usually more focused on protein stains than ordinary laundry detergents.
8. Alcohol
Some blood stains can be removed by alcohol, especially those that have just occurred. The volatility and solubility of alcohol can help break down certain components in the blood.
9. Bleach (chlorine bleach)
Bleach is a strong stain remover that can effectively remove a variety of stains, including blood stains, but due to its strong corrosiveness, it is not suitable for all materials of clothing and is not suitable for colored clothing, which is easy to fade. For white underwear, you can mix bleach with water in proportion, soak for 10-15 minutes, and then wash.
Final Thoughts
If your underwear accidentally gets stained with menstrual blood, it’s likely that your outer pants or bed sheets may also be affected. In this case, you can try the methods mentioned above to effectively clean the blood stains from your outerwear and sheets.
If your underwear becomes irreparably stained, it’s time to replace them. It's generally recommended to change your underwear every 3-6 months. If your underwear turns yellow or black, it should be replaced immediately to avoid the risk of bacterial infections.
For added comfort and security during special periods, consider using Plusock plus size high waist women's underwear, which perfectly combines comfort and protection.
Read more:
What Are Period Panties and How Long Do Period Panties Last？