Guest post by Laura Slingo

We’ve all been there. You’ve just woken up and popped to the toilet, or you’ve taken a bathroom break at work, and you’ve discovered another surprise stain in your panties.

As if it isn’t annoying enough to have to deal with cramps, heavy flows and bloating, women also have to deal with period stains in our favorite panties and on white bed sheets. It doesn’t really seem fair, does it?

But before you throw another pair of panties in the trash or add them to your designated only-fit-for-your-period pile of ruined panties, stop!

If you know the right methods, this doesn’t have to be the end of the road for your panties. Below we take a look at the most effective ways to get period stains out of panties. Read on to save that special pair now.

Run your panties under the cold tap

If you’ve got a fresh stain, one of the best and first things you should try is holding the offending underwear under some cold running water. Acting immediately can help to save your panties from being ruined forever!

Hold the stained material taut underneath the cold tap, and make sure the whole area is immersed in water. The force of the water will dissolve and wash away the blood; you should see most of the stain disappear before your very eyes.

It’s very important when you’re using this method to only use cold water. Hot water will actually set bloodstains and make removing the stain almost impossible.

If there is still a faint stain remaining, you can use some hand soap to scrub the stain out. Keep rinsing and repeating until the stain is removed. You can also soak the panties if you want to.

Buy some specific stain remover

If you’re dealing with a slightly older or super stubborn stain, then you can try a spot cleaner that can specifically target bloodstains. There are a few out there that are easily available, such as the Carbona Stain Devils #4.

All you have to do is spray or apply the stain remover to the affected area as instructed, and then pop your panties into the wash as normal.

The only problem with using a strong stain remover like this to remove stains in your panties is that it can’t be used on delicate fabrics like silk, so you’ll have to use another method.

Try hydrogen peroxide
(good for white panties)

Another great way of getting stubborn period stains out of panties is to use hydrogen peroxide. This is best for white or light-colored panties — we wouldn’t recommend using it on darker-colored panties because it will cause color loss.

To use this method, just dip a clean white cloth into the hydrogen peroxide and use it to dab and rub the stained area. Once you’re done, rinse your underwear well with water, and then put the underwear in the washing machine as normal. This should lift the stain right out of the fabric.

If you don’t have any hydrogen peroxide in the house, you can use lemon juice instead. This should have the same effect and is a nice, natural alternative.

Rub salt or a saline solution into the stain
(good for colored panties)

A great alternative to the above cleaning solution — and one that you can use on colored panties — is to rub salt or a saline solution into the stain.

You’ve heard that salt is a quick fix for red wine stains, right? Well, it’s the same for blood stains too.

To make your salty solution, all you have to do is mix two parts cold water and one part salt in a basin. Then, add the stained underwear, and rub the stained area gently; the abrasive salt will help to work the stain out. When you’re done, rinse your underwear until the cold tap and allow to air-dry.

If you’re traveling or away from home, you can also use saline eye drops or contact lens solution to get most of the stain out.

Make a paste with baking soda

Housewives everywhere have long sung the praises of baking soda. Aside from the obvious, baking soda has an assortment of uses, including unclogging drains, cleaning bathrooms, as an air freshener and as a mouth wash. Is there anything baking soda can’t do?

Well, now you can add “removing period stains” to that list too! For this method, simply make a paste using baking soda and water, and apply it to the affected area.

Let the paste sit for at least an hour, then rinse with cold water and pop in the washing machine as normal.

If you’re away from home, try using aspirin

This one sounds weird, but hear us out. if you’re traveling or away from the comfort of your own home for whatever reason and you’ve leaked in your underwear, then aspirin can come to your rescue!

Aspirin is actually great for removing blood stains. Just crush up a few tablets and mix with water to create a paste in the same way that you do with the baking soda method. Add the paste to your panties and leave for an hour, then rinse off with cold water and wash as normal when you get the chance.

Invest in some period underwear instead

If all of the above sounds like a lot of effort to go to every time you leak while you’re menstruating, then why not invest in some period panties instead?

Menstrual underwear, like the collection offered by Knix, are super-absorbent and leakproof, meaning you don’t have to worry about embarrassing stains on the rest of your clothes because your panties do all the hard work for you!

Period proof panties are specifically designed with a built-in pad and leak-resistant backing so that they can be used and washed time and time again without leaving any period stains for you to try to scrub out. Sorted.

As you can see, there is a range of different ways to successfully remove period stains from your panties. So don’t be disheartened the next time you find a stain in your underwear — give one of these methods a go and watch as you bring your panties back to life!

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Laura Slingo is a #girlboss and brand advocate, penning lifestyle and health advice for inspiring organisations around the globe.