Period pants smelling

[Blueowlnight]

i really struggle with period pants smelling after a couple of hours of wearing, sometimes even can catch a smell after washing (if I really smell them).

I have always rinsed until as clear as I can get them but this honestly takes 3-5 mins or so and there always seems to be a slight yellow hint to the water. I don’t think I’ve ever managed to get it clear but I’m there for so long using so much water! And then where do you let them dry? I don’t want unclean pants hanging around the house, have tried to air dry in the bathroom but they never seem to dry properly and then the smell is awful while I wait for a wash to put them in.

help, what is the secret? Is it better not to rinse straight away to avoid them just sitting damp? Or am I doing something wrong that means I’m not able to get them
dry?

Usual practice is wear in day or overnight; rinse them in cold water; hang them to dry (but this smells awful and they never dry); wash them on a 40c for 2.5 hours with a non bio smol tablet and white vinegar instead of softener.

I’ve never used them so I’m not talking from experience but I would be washing them on a hotter wash than 40 with a bio tablet to be honest.

I keep my used pairs unrinsed in a lidded bucket until the end of my period. Then I put them in the machine on a short cold cycle. When that’s done I add detergent and wash them at 40°c for a standard wash (1hr) then l dry them as I would anything else - either in garden on the line or on an airer with the dehumidifier going. Never had any smells and I’ve been doing this for years. And with DDs also.

As above and also, drying them in the sun (not always possible!) can help a lot of odours.

I think a hotter wash would ruin them. They are recommended to be washed at 30. But I agree with bio detergent comment.

I use bio powder on a long 40 degree wash with a splash of Dettol laundry sanitiser and dry them outside in the sun where possible.

How unappealing. I'm not surprised they stink if they're laying around soiled and damp and then get washed on a cool wash.

You'll end up with thrush OP. Is it really worth it?

When I tried these I thought they were really unhygienic.

i only used them for 4 days then went back to sanitary wear.

i don’t understand why people like them, just use normal sanitary wear rather than messing about with these period knickers

You need bio for the enzymes
Ariel 4 in 1 platinum pods are the absolute best with lipase in

Soak in Bio-D nappy sanitiser - worked for my slightly musty (but clean!) reusable pads.

I noticed this too. I now wash them at 40 with bio, no fabric softener but a good slug of Dettol laundry sanitiser and as others have said, dry outside if possible.

They’re only the same as using reusable pads, or nappies

It doesn't sound like you are washing them? I soak and rinse until they go clear and then they go in the machine and air dry

I never used to rinse mine, I think them sitting damp is probably what’s making them smell. I remember them taking ages to dry after washing so I can imagine bacteria will be growing if they are sitting wet with bloody water. I used to put them straight in the washing machine drum after wearing and then put a wash on every couple of days with ecover and vinegar. If they are smelling when dry and smell really bad after a couple of hours I would either try a laundry sanitiser on them or chuck them out and buy new

I've noticed that too and was getting frustrated with it, but last time washed them for an extra long time on the 40 degree 'intensive' cycle in my machine, I use non bio laundry liquid but with a good few capfuls of M&S Sensitive Laundry Cleanser, and did an extra rinse. Air dried but I have a dehumidifier/warm room so they weren't damp for long.

They've been OK so far... fingers crossed!

I don't use period pants but use washable pads and nappies so very similar. I rinse and then keep in a bucket next to the washing machine. Then I was with Bio at 40. Every few washes I chuck in some dettol laundry cleaner. I wouldn't wash with non bio.

just to add my comments- firstly when are rinsing them for 3-5 min are you also squeezing the gusset as the water runs? I do that and it's usually enough to stop after a minute or two.

Also/instead I sometimes take them in the shower and leave them on the bottom and squish them a bit with my feet.

I then wash on a normal 30c wash with other clothing and they're mainly fine.

I do think when wearing there's a bit of a smell when you are on the toilet in the same way as an unscented sanitary towel would have if its a heavy day but not noticeable when they're being worn/through clothes etc.

also I use modibodi...I think some of the cheaper ones are cheap for a reason!

I don't rinse mine once I take them off either. If I have a few pairs I'll put a cold rinse on the machine before washing but mostly wash on a decent cycle at 40 degrees with bio powder and dry outside. Cup of vinegar if they're really bad.

Bio powder, 3.5 hour cottons wash at 40° and hang up to dry on the sock octopus in the airing cupboard.

I soak mine in cold water in a lidded bucket. Then drain and rinse under the cold tap until water runs clear (is much quicker after soaking). Then they go on a normal wash with a bit of Napisan added to my normal powder.

I try to get them washed quite quickly to avoid smells developing in the bucket. If they are going to be there for more than 24 hours I change the water.

Maybe it’s the brand of period knicker. i use both modi bodi and wuka and both say they have odour controls.

Myself and my dd wear them. I’ve never noticed a smell. We just rinse in cool water and wash them on a 40 degree wash.

thank you all so much!
I Use modibodi.
for those who do rinse, what do you do with them once rinsed if you don’t have a wash ready to go?
and do people put them in with regular wash or in their own?

I use them for eco reasons so the thought of using the washing machine for just a small amount of pants feels like it’s defeating the object 🙃

I haven’t tried this but I recently read that rubbing some bicarb paste on the gusset helps

I had the same issue when I changed to the modibodi brand. I now rinse them with a bit of soap (hand soda/showergel) put them in a waterproof bag zipped up until Im ready to put a wash on. Never leave them for more than 3 days.

then I put them in the washing machine on a rinse cycle first. Then add my regular washing to the machine and put on a 2 hr wash at either 30 or 40.

I think the separate rinse cycle is what helps the most in my case.

hopefully that’s helpful!

My dd uses wuka and modibodi pants and swimwear. They get rinsed with cold water then popped in a bucket of cold water. I wait until we have a sports wear wash (usually every day or every other day). They go in a laundry bag on a 40 degree wash with persil purple bio and the dettol laundry sanitiser. They then get dried outside or on drying rack in the house.