Period stains? Here’s how to get blood out of clothes, sheets and furniture
Period stains happen. You don’t have to be in a particular stage of your ovarian cycle to experience a leak. There are many causes behind unexpected bleeding: maybe you forgot to check your period tracker, you’re trying a new contraceptive method or your cycle is still finding its groove.
The point is, menstruation can be messy, and leaks are nothing to be ashamed of. But the fear of leaving a stain on your friend’s couch, ruining a perfectly good set of sheets or having to toss your fave undies is real.
Luckily, cleaning period spills can be a cinch with a little know-how.
In this article, we explain how to get blood out of clothes and furnishings and let you in on a hack for making leaks a thing of the past.
You’ve got a period stain. What now?
The sight of blood on fabric can be alarming, but don’t get your knickers in a twist just yet (that step comes later). If you catch the stain quickly and get to it right away, it should be fairly easy to remove.
Leave the stain to dry, and you’ll have a stickier sitch on your hands. But with a bit of extra effort, you should still be able to get it out.
Start by gathering some:
- Hydrogen peroxide. This oxidising chemical will make the blood stain bubble, lifting it from the fabric. If you don’t have any in the cupboard, lemon juice will do.
- Cold water. When it comes to blood stains, cold is gold, hot is not. Heat will only make the proteins latch tighter onto the fabric.
- Clean cloths and a soft-bristled brush. You’ll use these for soaking, dabbing* and patting the stain.
*PSA: Always dab, never rub, a period leak. Rubbing will only spread the stain.
How to get blood out of clothes and furnishings
As long as you’ve got hydrogen peroxide (or lemons) on hand, you should be able to coax blood out of most materials.
Here’s how to remove blood stains from the common places leaks happen.
How to clean period blood off underwear
- If the stain is fresh, rinse your undies under cold running water to flush out as much blood as possible. If the stain is dry, soak the item in cold water for 30 minutes.
- Pour hydrogen peroxide onto a wet sponge and start dabbing the stain.
- Apply laundry pre-wash or enzyme detergent for some oomph. (Optional.)
- Wring out the underwear and pop it in the washing machine on a cold cycle.
- If the stain won’t budge, repeat steps 1–4.
- Hang the item up to air dry.
How to remove blood from sheets
For fresh stains:
- Strip the sheet off your bed quick smart to stop the blood from seeping into your mattress.
- Rinse the stain with cold water.
- Dampen a cloth with cold water and start dabbing the stain.
- Submerge the sheet in cold water for 30 minutes, then place the stained area in a large bowl.
- Pour half a cup of hydrogen peroxide (or the juice of one lemon) over the stain, plus plenty of cold water.
- Wait 24 hours and let the solution work its magic.
- Machine wash on a cold, regular cycle.
- Let the sheet air dry.
For dried stains:
- Submerge the sheet in cold water overnight to loosen the dry blood.
- Pour half a cup of hydrogen peroxide over the stain and pat it in with your brush.
- After 10 minutes, use a cold, wet cloth to dab the stain.
- Machine wash on a cold, regular cycle.
- Let the sheet air dry.
If the stain remains, repeat the process and try, try again.
How to get period blood out of your couch
- Promptly use a dry cloth to soak up as much of the spill as you can.
- Dampen a fresh cloth with cold water and use it to blot the stain.
- Add a few drops of hydrogen peroxide to a new cloth and keep blotting.
- Soak another clean cloth with cold water and use it to rinse the stained area. Easy does it – use gentle circular motions and avoid scrubbing.
Dealing with a stubborn stain? Repeat steps 3 and 4 until it disappears.
How to remove period stains from your mattress
- Dampen a cloth with cold water and use it to give the stain a good blotting.
- Dab the stain with hydrogen peroxide.
- Soak a fresh cloth with cold water and use it to blot the stain away. Rotate the cloth as you go to aid absorption.
- Dip another clean cloth in cold water and use it to rinse the stained area thoroughly.
- Leave the mattress to air dry.
Sick and tired of cleaning? Try leakproof underwear
If the potential for leaks is stressing you out, you are not alone. Whether it’s blood, pee, sweat or a combo of different fluids, spills worry pretty much everyone at one point or another.
At Modibodi, we’re helping quash leak anxiety for good. Our high-tech leakproof underwear contours to your body and absorbs fluids, preventing spills from happening in the first place.
Worried about breakthough bleeding? Our light-moderate absorbency range will keep your clothes stain-free and worry-free.
As they say, the best offence is a good defence.
Keen for more tips on navigating your period? Find them on our blog.
