Alongside the other annoyances that a monthly period brings, period blood stains are also there to ensure your monthly cycle is as inconvenient as possible!
This is a normal occurrence for any menstruating woman, but it can lead to unsightly stains that will not budge!
Thankfully, with the right cleaning products, it is possible to remove these blood stains. Read on to find out how to get period blood out of clothes using our tried and tested methods.
You should have your clothing back to normal in no time with these cleaning methods, meaning you’ll have one less thing to worry about when it’s you’re time of the month.
Period Blood Removal Methods for Clothes
Understanding how to effectively remove a period blood stain is a must for anyone that has to suffer through a monthly menstrual cycle.
Not only is blood leakage common on clothes, but it can also get onto other items like mattresses, sheets, and chairs as well!
As with all stains, it is imperative to act fast when removing period blood from clothes. Although the stains can be removed later, the cleaning process will be much more challenging.
Therefore, before trying out any of our cleaning methods below, we suggest you rinse the stain with water first. To properly rinse your clothes, you need to:
- Run the fabric under the cold tap and lightly rub at the blood mark
- Use hand soap to clean away any residual blood
For fresh stains, this may be enough to remove the blood altogether. It probably won’t remove dried blood, however.
In any case, leaving the fabric to soak in the cold water and then using soap will loosen up the stain, so our other cleaning methods will be more effective.
If you need something a bit stronger, try one of the following methods.
1. Hydrogen peroxide or lemon juice
You probably already have loads of items in your home that are great at removing period blood from clothes. Two such products are hydrogen peroxide and lemon juice.
However, be aware that hydrogen peroxide and lemon juice can cause colour loss, so it’s best to use this method when getting blood out of white clothes or lighter garments.
For this method, all you need to do is blot at the blood stain using a sponge or cloth that has been soaked in one of the two items.
After you’ve blotted the stain, rinse the item of clothing in cold water and repeat if necessary.
2. White vinegar
White vinegar is another option that is incredibly effective at removing stains. There are two ways you can use vinegar to remove period blood stains.
The quickest way is to pour white vinegar onto the stain and then wash the item of clothing as usual in the washing machine.
If you are dealing with delicate clothes or underwear that must be hand washed, an alternative option is to soak the blood stain in the white vinegar for 10 minutes and then blot the area with a cloth or paper towel.
This can be repeated as many times as needed to remove the stain, and then the clothing can be washed in the sink.
3. Bicarbonate of soda and water
Next up, we have bicarbonate of soda and water. This combination is excellent at removing stains of all kinds and eliminates odours too!
When you mix the two ingredients, the powder will froth up slightly, which allows the bicarbonate to soak into the stain and work its magic.
Simply combine bicarbonate of soda and water to create a paste that can easily be applied to the stain.
Ensure all the period blood is covered, and then leave the mixture to dry for 30 minutes.
Once fully dry, brush the paste off the fabric to see if the stain has been removed. Repeat as needed, then put the clothing in the washing machine or wash your garments by hand.
4. Salt and water
This next cleaning method also makes use of something nearly everyone has in their homes: table salt.
Many people swear by this method, as salt is incredibly dehydrating and causes the blood to be lifted out of the fabric effortlessly.
To use, mix one part water with one part salt to form a watery paste. Soak the blood stain in cold water, then rub the salt scrub into the fabric using an old toothbrush.
The period blood will come out fairly easily, and any residue will be removed after the clothing has been put through the wash.
5. Unseasoned meat tenderiser
This cleaning method is a bit out there, but we promise it’s fantastic at eliminating blood stains. This is because unseasoned meat tenderiser contains enzymes that can quickly break down the proteins in the period blood, meaning it can easily be removed from the fabric. It sounds loopy, but you’ll have to trust us on this one!
To use this product, you first need to soak the blood stain in cold water, so the fabric is wet all the way through.
Then, sprinkle a tablespoon of unseasoned tenderiser (like this product from Rajah) onto the stain and rub it in to form a paste. Leave that to sit for up to an hour, rinse the clothing, and then wash as usual.
6. Enzymatic cleaner
If you’d rather use a store-bought cleaner over one of our natural remedies, we recommend investing in a good enzymatic cleaner.
Of course, your typical stain remover will also work, but enzymatic cleaners contain proteases, enzymes that are amazing at breaking down proteins like blood.
All you need to do is apply a small amount of the cleaner to both sides of the stain, leave it to soak in for 10 minutes, and then rinse the fabric in cold water.
Alternatively, add a teaspoon of the cleaner to a bowl of cold water and soak the item of clothing for up to four hours.
If your period stain is on a woolly fabric or other delicate material, you may want to use a milder cleaner to ensure the item isn’t damaged.
Do You Wash Period Blood With Cold or Hot Water?
When washing clothes and removing stains, many believe hot water is better than cold water. Although this may be true in some instances, it certainly isn’t true when removing period blood from your clothes.
In fact, you may have noticed that any of the cleaning methods above that include water specify that the water must be cold. This is because hot water actually makes the stain worse!
Why? Blood is an organic stain as the liquid contains high amounts of protein. When heated, these proteins bind to the fabric, making them harder to remove.
Bear this in mind when laundering your clothes after using one of our cleaning methods. Unless the stain is 100% removed, wash your clothes on a cold cycle to avoid risking the stain setting deeper into the material.
If you want to go one step further than cold water, many people swear by using ice cubes to remove period blood stains.
Rub an ice cube over the stain for several minutes, and the blood will come out.
This may sound strange, but the freezing temperatures of the ice cause the blood to separate from the clothing, meaning it can be washed right off.
Hannah has a passion for cleaning. She worked her way around Australia by cleaning hostels in exchange for free accommodation and used her cleaning skills to bag a job as a chalet host for a luxury ski company in France.
