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Original poster

Washing period pants

61 replies

CheshireSplat · 29/09/2021 07:32

I've bought DD period pants from Primark. They are fab!

Question is, they say to wash out all of the blood before washing them as normal in the washing machine. Is that necessary, do you think, or is it to help people who feel a bit squeamish about them going in with the rest of the washing. We used reusable nappies so very happy not to prewash, so want to understand why it is recommended.

Thank you!

OP posts:
00100001 · 29/09/2021 07:38

I think a quick rinse makes sense. I use pads and rinse them out in the sink after use, then they go in the wash as normal.

Whiffle77 · 29/09/2021 07:38

You need to rinse the blood out with cold water, it won't come out properly if it goes straight in a warm wash

DobbyTheHouseElk · 29/09/2021 07:39

When I wash reusable pads I rinse in the sink first. Or run then in the machine on a speed wash if I have a few. My machine does a 15 mins speed wash. Then I add the rest of the washing for a normal wash.

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pisspants · 29/09/2021 07:41

not the point but ooh didn't realise primark were doing them now? Can I ask how much they are?

purpledagger · 29/09/2021 07:49

I've always given mine a quick rinse. I once tried not rinsing mine and putting it straight into the washing machine on a 15 minute quick wash by themselves and they were still dirty.

rosesandsalvia · 29/09/2021 07:53

Cold water gets the blood stains out.

ASEAskeptic · 29/09/2021 07:59

Does anyone know if/why you aren't supposed to soak them? I put mine in a bucket of cold water with a bit of gentle laundry liquid until I'm ready to do a wash, so a pair might soak in that for up to 12 hours say. Then I rinse them out and put them in the wash with the rest of the laundry. I read somewhere recently that you aren't supposed to soak them though. Does anyone know why? They still seem to work fine after soaking. They're Modibodi

Queenoftheashes · 29/09/2021 08:01

@pisspants I got some this weekend. They were £6 and a bit tighter than the primark pants I usually get.

HPandTheNeverEndingBedtime · 29/09/2021 08:03

@pisspants I've just bought some Primark ones for my Dd, 3 pairs £13, 1 pair had the lining all the way up the back, 2 were only part lined. We normally use Cheeky wipes ones.

When you rinse cheeky wipe ones under cold water absolutely nothing comes out but when I rinse reusable pads the sink looks like somethings been attacked by a shark. I keep an old ice cream tub in the bathroom and put any period items in there to soak in cold water until ready to be washed. If you put them in the laundry basket I've found they can leave staining on other clothes waiting to be washed so I keep them separate now.

Original poster
CheshireSplat · 29/09/2021 22:13

Thanks all. Didn't know about the effect of cold water. Thanks for replying.

OP posts:
Login89 · 29/09/2021 22:15

Have wondered the same. Thanks for the tips. Sounds like a bucket is a good idea until they are ready to go in that wash.

modgepodge · 29/09/2021 22:16

@ASEAskeptic

Does anyone know if/why you aren't supposed to soak them? I put mine in a bucket of cold water with a bit of gentle laundry liquid until I'm ready to do a wash, so a pair might soak in that for up to 12 hours say. Then I rinse them out and put them in the wash with the rest of the laundry. I read somewhere recently that you aren't supposed to soak them though. Does anyone know why? They still seem to work fine after soaking. They're Modibodi
Reuseable nappy companies advise against soaking as the elastic can degrade, particularly if there’s detergent in the water.
GunsNMoses · 29/09/2021 23:27

I picked up a pair of the primark ones last week, they were £6.
In front of the display were two women loudly exclaimh ING ow utterly u hygienic and disgusting the whole idea was. Performance periods if you will. I smiled, found my size and walked away.

I bought a cheapish 3 pack on amazon that are ok as well. Think they were about £15.

GunsNMoses · 29/09/2021 23:29

Also, Tesco were recently selling a little caddy, which I guess is designed for food waste, but it's a small plastic lidded box that is the perfect size for throwing these in. I use one for my cloth makeup wipes and chuck the pants in as well after rinsing in the bathroom sink.

Spikeyplants · 29/09/2021 23:31

@CheshireSplat- blood is a protein, so adding heat to it, will essentially set and cook it!!!

Washing blood stains in cold water will get most of the stain out quickly- or so my mum told me age 12 with my 1st periods.

ASEAskeptic · 29/09/2021 23:35

@modgepodge Thank you! That's very helpful to know

TonyThreePies · 29/09/2021 23:41

[quote Spikeyplants]@CheshireSplat- blood is a protein, so adding heat to it, will essentially set and cook it!!!

Washing blood stains in cold water will get most of the stain out quickly- or so my mum told me age 12 with my 1st periods.[/quote]
Thanks Spikey, that makes sense.
I'm wearing them for the first time this week and I'm converted! Only at the end of my cycle, I'm really heavy and not brave enough to wear them for the first couple of days. I think I will wear them with a pad then as I always flood through.
Thing is... tmi here... they smell a bit now I've been wearing them all day. I'm very light, and would only need a liner rather than a pad. Has anyone else noticed this with the Primark ones?

Verbena87 · 29/09/2021 23:43

If I don’t rinse mine til the water runs clear before a machine wash, they don’t seem to get properly clean (cool machine wash as they’re merino and I don’t want to shrink them) - they dry just slightly stiff where the blood was, and smell less fresh.

I’ve got some cheap floweret ones that I’m more lax about rinsing fully because they don’t have any wool, so I just chuck them in a normal wash, not cool/delicate, and they always smell and feel clean. Can’t tell about stains because most of mine are black.

Driftingblue · 29/09/2021 23:49

Long soaks deteriorate the fibers.

I’ve been using cloth for me for years because of allergies. I just do a cold wash with an extra water setting and an extra rinse. No soap on that round.

Then you can wash as normal, but no fabric softener. It destroys the absorbency.

Driftingblue · 29/09/2021 23:53

If you do ever run into odor problems, add a bit of white vinegar to a round of washing.

Nefelibata86 · 29/09/2021 23:57

I’ve been following the modbodi instructions too but find they still have a kind of musty smell. I just don’t see how a cold wash cleans them adequately.

Rocket1982 · 29/09/2021 23:57

Yeah i find i need to rinse thoroughly or they might leak next time I wear them

Nefelibata86 · 29/09/2021 23:59

@Driftingblue read my mind. Thank you. I’ll give it a try

Notcontent · 30/09/2021 00:01

Having to wash and dry them is the only negative really!

Does anyone find they take ages to dry?

pollyroo · 30/09/2021 00:12

Mine are from M&S, love them! I put all 4 pairs ( which accumulate at end of day 2 ) straight in the washer & I've never had any issues with them smelling or not coming out clean. That being said I don't think that I bleed too heavily.

M&S do them buy 3 get 4th pair free. They aren't cheap but quality is fantastic & they are really comfortable : ) so far they've been used & washed a few times & still look like new.

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