How To Get Period Stains Out of Jeans & Clothes

No matter how careful you are, if you're a woman you'll probably have to clean a period blood out of your clothes at some point. The best way to prevent staining is to remove the garment right away and rinse it with cold water. Scrub the area with soap, washing it away with lukewarm water. Never use hot water on a blood stain, as heat will cause the stain to set. If you catch it early enough that should be enough to prevent a stain. Unfortunately, leaks don't tend to happen at convenient times, so you may have to wait hours before cleaning. If you own period underwear from Ruby Love, you do not need to worry about any stains at all. But if you don't...

Here are the three best ways to remove a period stain:

1. Hydrogen Peroxide

• Why It Works: This tried and true method of blood stain removal interacts with organic matter, like blood, causing it break the matter down. This makes it ideal for menstrual stains, because rather than just washing the stain out, it eliminates it at a chemical level.
• The Upside: Though it works best on newer stains, it can still work on blood stains that have dried. It also kills bacteria that may have grown within the stain itself.
• The Downside: Hydrogen peroxide can lighten bright dyes, so it may discolor some fabrics.
• How To Use It: Dip a cotton ball in peroxide and dab it on the garment, or use a dropper to squeeze several drops on the stain. The interaction between the organic matter and peroxide will cause it to bubble up. Once the bubbling has died down, you can rise it in cool water.

2. Baking Soda (and Vinegar)

• Why It Works: Baking soda has whitening and dozens of cleaning properties. Before modern cleaning products, baking soda and vinegar (used together or separately) were the staple household cleaners. Vinegar interacts with baking soda to produce a foaming cleaner.
• The Upside: It won't take the color out of your clothes, and it doesn't have an unpleasant odor.
• The Downside: Though its useful for literally hundreds of cleaning tasks, it's less effective on blood stains than harsher options.
• How To Use It: Just baking soda – combine 3 parts baking soda with 1 part water to create a paste. Rub it into the garment and let it sit for about 10 minutes, then rinse in cool water.

With vinegar – Rub the baking soda paste into the garment, then add a small amount, of vinegar. Let it fizz up and leave it for about 10 minutes, then rinse with cold water.

3. Bleach

• Why It Works: Bleach is a strong chemical whitener that works by oxidizes stains.
• The Upside: It's highly effective at removing difficult stains.
• The Downside: Bleach will also remove color from clothes, and shouldn't be used on non-white garments. Bleach can also cause chemical skin burns, especially in people who are already sensitive or allergic to it. Additionally, bleach isn't recommended for use on underwear for anyone who has a sensitivity as it could lead to irritation.
• How To Use It: You can buy washing bleach for use in your washing machine. Simply follow the instructions on the bottle.

Remember that an ounce of prevention is worth a pound of cure. To save your clothes from stains and yourself from embarrassment, consider switching to period panties during your time of the month, especially the kind that offer leak protection, such as the ones at Ruby Love.