Protein family: cold water first
How to get period stains out
Menstrual blood is protein plus mucus. Cold water, enzymes, patience. Very common and very fixable.
Do this first
Rinse cold from the back as soon as possible
Fresh stain
- Rinse cold from the back as soon as possible
- Gently work in enzyme detergent or a laundry bar
- Peroxide or peroxide and dish soap on whites
- Wash cold
Dried or old
- Soak overnight in cold water with enzyme detergent
- Wash
- Repeat
- Fabric care
- Never hot water. Keep a stain stick in the bathroom.
- Time
- 15 min to overnight
- How to tell
- Look: red to brown; Feel: stiff when dry; Smell: metallic
Where this fix comes from
- Tide, Blood stains
- American Cleaning Institute, Stain Removal Chart
- Household folk practice, checked against the guides above
We check every fix against these published guides. We do not run a test lab of our own.
Before you start
- Test on a hidden seam first.
- Never mix cleaners.
- Keep it out of the dryer until the stain is gone.