Learn practical tips and effective methods to get rid of period stains effortlessly. Stay prepared and confident with our stain-removal guide.
Want to know how to get blood out of your clothes, sheets, or even your bed? You’re not by yourself. You will have to deal with your period and the blood spots that come with it for a very long time. Period marks can be found on pants, jeans, towels, and other things.
You’ll probably ruin almost everything over time. This can happen if your period starts to flow while you’re sleeping or out of the house. You may also have to deal with the feared dried blood stain.
So, who hasn’t woken up to find they had a “bucket of blood” moment like Carrie did the night before?
On the plus side, blood spots are NOT a big deal and DO NOT make you feel bad about yourself. Even better, there are a lot of different ways that really work to get rid of period spots.
Don’t forget that period-wearing women have been perfecting the way to get rid of blood spots for a very long time! Based on how old the stain is, here are tried-and-true ways to get blood out of clothes and other things. You’ll be really surprised by some of these!
1. Run Lightweight Fabrics Under Cold Water.
Before you try to wash period blood out of clothes, especially light fabrics, hold the stained area tight under cold running water. You’ll be amazed at how much stuff a steady stream of water can get out of a fabric!
And if you act quickly, cold water can sometimes get rid of fresh blood spots for good. It is important to act quickly because a blood stain is easier to get out when it is still new.
Say you’re late and can’t deal with a spot right now. At least put the item of clothing in a bowl of cold water to soak. After the fact, it will be a lot easier to handle if the blood didn’t dry out first.
2. Apply Hydrogen Peroxide Or Lemon Juice To The Blood Stain.
For spots that have been there for a while, you might need something stronger than water. Luckily, there are many everyday things that can help you get rid of tough stains!
Lemon juice or hydrogen peroxide are great for clothes that are lighter in color. Keep in mind that they can fade darker items, so test them on an area that won’t be seen to make sure they’re safe. These are how you’ll use them:
- Put hydrogen peroxide or lemon juice on a sponge and let it soak.
- Blot out the blood.
- Use cold water to clean the spot.
-This should be done again and again until the color is gone.
3. Grab An Ice Cube.
The mom of my best friend taught her this trick for getting blood spots out. First, run cold water over the stained cloth to get rid of as much blood as you can. Then, get an ice cube.
For protein spots, like blood, ice cubes work great. After all, they are the coldest form of cold water. To get rid of the mark, just rub it with the edge of the cube.
And while we’re talking about ice, let’s talk about the opposite of it: hot water will not help with blood spots. When you use hot water (or even warm water), it softens up the stain.
If the stain is blood, it makes the blood seep deeper into the materials. Also, you should never use hot water on delicate fabrics because it can stretch or shrink them.
4. Try Sponging The Stain With Aspirin Or Baking Soda.
Aspirin and baking soda, which are also very common things, can also be used to get rid of blood stains. When it comes to aspirin, break up a few pills and mix the powder with water to make a paste that you can use to cover the stain.
The same goes for the baking soda; just mix some with water to make a paste. How much you use depends on how bad the stain is. Let the paste sit on the clothes for at least 30 minutes, or even overnight. Then wash them normally.
5. If Nothing Else, There’s Always Saliva.
If you don’t have any of those things, there is still one last thing that might work: your own spit. Our spit can really help clean things up, even though it’s kind of gross.
The reason for this is that our spit has an enzyme called amylase in it that helps break down food and other organic spots, like blood! When you’re in a hurry and don’t have anything else with you, this hack will come in handy.
6. Up Your Laundry Game With Blood-Removal Products.
You’ve rinsed the stained cloth in cold water and let hydrogen peroxide and other common household items do their thing. If you can still see the stain, use a washing product that gets rid of ugly spots on the fabric before you put it in the washer.
It’s easy to get rid of stains like blood with oxygenated bleaches and chemical cleaners.
7. Remember, If At First You Don’t Succeed …
Do it again! When there are blood spots or any stains, you may need to do it more than once to save your clothes. And now and then you have to try something new! Remember that it’s not the end of the world if you can’t get a spot out the first time.
Don’t put the item in the machine until you’re sure you’ve completely removed the stain. This is your second chance. The heat will make the mark last forever! Give yourself some chocolate when you’re done. You deserve it.
How To Get Dried Blood Stains Out Of Clothing
1. Rub Salt Or Saline Solution On The Stain.
Unfortunately, blood stains can happen when you’re not at home. Soap and washing detergent won’t help you then. In a pinch, salt water or saline can be very helpful.
As soon as the blood has dried, just use table salt and cold water to get it out of your clothes. If you wear contacts, you can do the same thing with your saline solution, which is helpful when you’re moving. What did they know?!
2. Soak It, Then Soak It Some More.
It’s pretty much the only way to get dried blood spots out of clothes. To get rid of stains, fill your sink with cold water and add a teaspoon of an enzyme-based cleaner. Proteases are enzymes that can help break down proteins, like blood stains. Look for goods that have them.
Now, soak the item of clothing for at least three or four hours. If you can still see the stain, add a little more stain remover and scrub the area to free it up. Toothbrushes are useful again for this! Then, wash the item of clothing.
Don’t use hot water to wash it; if the color is still there, soak it again. To keep your best pair of pants from going to the trash, you may have to do the same thing over and over again, even if it’s annoying.
3. It’s Weird, But It Can Actually Work: Meat Tenderizer.
This is a very strange thing that will get rid of blood spots. Are you ready? Meat tenderizer that isn’t seasoned. Add enough water to the tenderizer powder to make a paste, then sprinkle it on the spot. That should work on the spot for about 30 minutes. After that, rinse it off with cold water and wash as usual.
How To Get Blood Out Of Jeans
1. Blot Your Jeans From The Inside.
The steps are a little different if you need to get blood out of jeans. To begin, you will blot the stain from the inside because the cloth is thick. Wet a towel, wring it out, and then wipe away.
Try not to rub the spot because it will make the blood spread. Blot the wound again and again until the towel is clean.
2. Let them Soak.
After dabbing the spot, put your jeans in cold water for at least 30 minutes. You could add salt or a half cup of baking soda to this soak, but you don’t have to. Just use water. It’s important to give the mark time to go away.
3. Spot Treat Away.
Although some of the above home remedies for spot-treating do work on pants, hydrogen peroxide is one you should usually stay away from. Hydrogen peroxide can be used as a mild bleach to change the color of your pants, especially if they are dark or medium wash.
Thank you! Dish soap or even shampoo might work here; put a little on the spot and then use a toothbrush to scrub the area over. Now, put it in the washer (with cold water, of course!).
4. Stain Still Sticking Around? Use Ammonia.
What if your jeans are still stained after being wet and treated for spots? It might be time for an ammonia soak. In Step 2, you soaked your jeans in water. This time, add a teaspoon of washing detergent and a tablespoon of ammonia to the water. Soak it all together for at least a few hours, if not overnight. After that, wash them again.
How To Get Blood Out Of Sheets And Bedding
1. Treat Your Sheets Before Washing Them.
Sometimes those leaks in the middle of the night make it all the way to your sheets. We’ve been there before. You will be glad to know that the steps above for getting blood out of clothes also work for regular sheets.
You should be able to clean your sheets with the same products and methods you use on your clothes. Just be careful to only use hydrogen peroxide on white or lighter-colored sheets, since it can forever change the color of darker fabrics.
In this case, white vinegar can be used instead of soaking. It will also help soften your sheets and get rid of any soap residue. Don’t worry about the smell; it will go away when the sheets are dry.
2. For Mattress Pads And Comforters, Take Care When It Comes To Drying.
For a mattress pad, blanket, or anything else that’s big but can be washed, wash it in cold water like you would with clothes that have a stain on them. Note: If you stain silk sheets or anything else very delicate, read the care sticker to find out what the maker states you should do.
If your washer isn’t big enough, you might have to take some bedding to a laundry. Just remember that you shouldn’t put anything in the dryer until you’re sure it’s stain-free! So, you might want to do a soak or two at home first, that way you won’t have to wait at the’mat for your bedding to go through multiple wash processes.
3. Blood On Your Mattress? Don’t Drink Too Much!
If you want to get blood out of a mattress, you should use as little water as possible. If you do, the mattress won’t dry!
Choose any of the above items to get rid of blood stains and use a cotton ball or a clean cloth to dab them on. Again, it’s important not to soak the mattress. Take your time and use a lot of apps.
After that, let the mattress dry in the air for a while before putting the bed back together. If you live in a wet area, pointing a running fan at the mattress will help it dry faster.
Most things that are stained with blood can be saved if you act quickly, use cold water, and be patient. You can hear your underwear drawer clapping in the background.
FAQ
What Causes Period Stains On Clothes?
Period spots happen when blood from your period leaks out of a pad or tampon and onto your clothes. This can happen for many reasons, like a heavy flow, a pad or tampon that isn’t put properly, or a period that comes on quickly.
How Can I Prevent Period Stains On My Clothes?
You can wear a thicker pad or tampon, change them often, a menstrual cup or period pants, or wear more than one piece of clothing to keep your clothes from getting stained. Period stain removers can also be used on clothes before they are washed.
What Are Some Effective Hacks For Removing Period Stains From Clothes?
Using hydrogen peroxide, baking soda and vinegar, lemon juice and salt, and dish soap are all good ways to get rid of period spots on clothes. You can put these things on the spot, let them sit for a few minutes, and then use cold water to wash them off.
Can washed and dried clothes still be treated for period stains?
The spots may be harder to get out of clothes that have already been washed and dried, but it is still possible. You can use a spot remover or a mix of baking soda and vinegar on the clothes and then wash them again in cold water.
Are there products available to prevent period stains on sheets or mattresses?
Yes, you can keep your sheets and mattress clean during your period with waterproof mattress covers, menstrual pads made to be worn overnight, or period underwear. You can also sleep with a towel or cloth under your hips in case you leak.