How to Prevent Period Stains1 November 2023 | Admin Period Stains can literally be a pain in the bum. Here at Team Cheeky, we’ve been all about ‘Simple Reusables’ since 2008, so we know a thing or two about period stains. And we know how important it is for you to be able to prevent leaks causing stains in the first place and deal with them if they arise! Plus, there’s one key thing you must do to avoid bloodstains setting…read on to find out how! How to Prevent Period Stains
If you’re getting period leaks and stains, it could simply be that your period has arrived a day or two earlier than anticipated and you’ve bled into your knickers. That happens! However it could also be that the period protection you’ve chosen isn’t working best for your body. Maybe you need extra absorbency for heavier flow. Or maybe you’re wearing pads and they have slipped to one side and you have a leak. Perhaps you were sleeping and have rolled onto your side or front in your sleep. Or your menstrual cup has leaked. These things have all happened at some point to most of us. Try changing for higher absorbency products or trying a different product such as period proof undies. And if your periods fall into the ‘bleeding through a maxi pad in an hour’ category, then consider doubling up on period protection and you may also find this article interesting: How to manage heavy periods .jpg)
Wearing Period proof underwear rather than pads or tampons can help prevent stains because the absorbent area covered is much larger (in Cheeky Pants anyway, where absorbency goes from front to rear waistband as standard). This makes them especially good overnight as it doesn’t matter how wriggly a sleeper you are, the pants have you covered! The beginners guide to period undies is a great place to start if you haven’t considered period undies before. Another common cause of period leaks is not changing your period protection often enough. With tampons, always change your tampon every 4 hours at least to avoid the risk of toxic shock syndrome. Don’t be tempted to choose a heavier absorbency so that you can change less often, it’s too risky. In general, reusable pads and period pants should be changed every 4 to 6 hours. It’s possible to get longer out of heavy flow period pants, but you know your flow best. If you’re bleeding through your protection and causing leaks, try changing more frequently. Read our article Period leaks, why they happen and how to stop them for more detailed info. If you happen to get a stain, don’t panic! The MOST critical thing to remember when dealing with period blood stains is to use COLD water to remove the stain. As soon as you put water of hot water of 40c or higher on it, it sets the stain. Here’s how to deal with period blood stains: - Rinse with cold water as soon as possible OR
- Soak overnight for 12 hours in cold water
- Try using a stain remover soap stick to remove as much of the blood stain as possible
- When you’re ready to wash the blood stained item, squirt with stain remover
- Wash in the washing machine at 30c or less
- Air dry
If your period blood stains are dried in, stubborn stains, you can try white vinegar / lemon juice or as a last resort, hydrogen peroxide to remove blood stains. The acid in the white vinegar or lemon juice starts a chemical reaction to break down the blood which is then easier to wash away in the washing machine. Hydrogen Peroxide is also brilliant, but should be used with care on dark coloured materials as it may bleach them. It 'fizzes' in a very satisfactory manner though, which is the haemoglobin in the red blood cells literally be broken apart by the hydrogen peroxide. Just apply a small amount of hydrogen peroxide to the stain. Leave for 5 mins to 30 minutes and dab with a clean cloth. Repeat as necessary and then launder to remove the hydrogen peroxide fully. We hope this article has been useful in giving you some ideas on how to banish stains from our period underwear forever. If you found it useful you may also enjoy: About the Author: Helen Rankin founded Cheeky Wipes, the original reusable wipes kit back in 2008 after disposable wipes caused her eczema to flare up. 4 kids later, internal period protection such as tampons or menstrual cups were no longer an option for her and she went on to develop their range of 'Simple Reusables' to include period pants, reusable panty liners and reusable sanitary pads. The Cheeky customer services team pride themselves on providing honest, friendly advice and just LOVE to chat pee, poo and periods all day long, helping people make the switch to reusables! The Company was recognised for their hard work in developing environmentally friendly products with the Queens Award in Enterprise for Sustainable Development in 2021. | 
