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AIBU?

Share your dilemmas and get honest opinions from other Mumsnetters.

Original poster

to throw sheets & duvet cover away....

152 replies

postitgirl · 03/08/2021 19:49

Does anyone have trouble getting period blood out of sheets. I've washed my daughter's sheets once at 60 with washing liquid stuff, and then again on a long cold wash with bleach. Hasn't made hardly any difference. Anyone any tips, Im tempted to throw them out but it seems wasteful! They're 100% cotton, but white - I know... have just bought her some dark coloured sheets 😜😏 I mean hotels must be able to get the stains out right

OP posts:
TeaSoakedDisasterMagnet · 03/08/2021 20:06

Cold soak with vanish and then cold wash only. Hang to dry in bright sunlight.

TerribleCustomerCervix · 03/08/2021 20:08

It’s always a cold wash first with blood- something about hot water doing something to the proteins in it and causing the stain to really set.

Maybe get DD some period pants as well for particularly heavy nights- I just wish they were about when I was a teenager!

mrwalkensir · 03/08/2021 20:09

and either keep them for period week (if she has a regular cycle) or maybe dye them?

KatyMac · 03/08/2021 20:12

Washing soda and biological washing powder (not tablets or gel or anything)

A fairly thick mixture and soak over night - it's a biological stain so biological washing powder should work

balancingfigure · 03/08/2021 20:13

Yes sometimes the old theories are best and my mum always said cold water. Soak in sink/bath/bowel in cold water and then hot wash. My daughter has white sheets too

Groovee · 03/08/2021 20:15

Cold water with salt. That's how I used to remove blood stains.

IndanthroneBlue · 03/08/2021 20:15

If you can't get the stains out after the hot wash don't throw them out, you can buy Dylon dye on Amazon in all the colours and it works really well on cotton.

pingittypong · 03/08/2021 20:17

Ace for whites. It's laundry bleach. That stuff gets anything out!!!

pingittypong · 03/08/2021 20:19

Basically review confirms it removes blood!

to throw sheets & duvet cover away....
TodaysFishIsTroutALaCreme · 03/08/2021 20:23

Give up and just use them next month. My poor DD has to have fresh linen after about 5 to 6 hours so I just use old sheets during and put nice ones in after it's finished

ThinWomansBrain · 03/08/2021 20:24

second soda crystals - but agree you may have made it harder by doing a hot wash already and effectively setting the stain.

if all else fails, baking soda and white vinegar?
I've not tried it, but it removes most things.

SweatyBetty20 · 03/08/2021 20:24

I have this problem as I am peri and suffering with heavy periods. I soak overnight in a bath of cold water and Vanish powder, then spray what’s left with Ace bleach before washing in the machine. If it’s a sunny day that helps too and they go on the line. I only have white bedding so I feel your pain…

Biancadelrioisback · 03/08/2021 20:27

I always use a bar of soap and scrub with cold water.
My son is a serial nose picker and often wakes up and his bed looks like a crime scene. Works every time as long as you sort it out the next morning

SlatternIsMyMiddleName · 03/08/2021 20:27

Hot water sets the stain. You have to use cold first.

Personally I didn’t really care about any ‘clean’ stains. I just kept those sheets and only used them on my own bed. I wouldn’t throw out perfectly good clean sheets just because they had a bit of a stain of my own blood on them.

Kokosrieksts · 03/08/2021 20:28

Your mistake was 60c wash. Cold water first, bio powder. You could still try to soak it and add some special blood stain remover.

gavisconismyfriend · 03/08/2021 20:29

Soak in cold salted water for a few hours, rub with vanish, wash at 30/40 degrees. Works like a charm

Thimphu · 03/08/2021 20:29

I just wash my white sheets with blood stains at 60 with a biological washing liquid tab and a scoop of vanish whitener - I only seem to have problems with blood stains if I try and remove or soak the stain first, which is odd!

Garfunkle · 03/08/2021 20:29

Cold soak with vanish and then cold wash only. Hang to dry in bright sunlight

I agree! Soak in cold water. Rub in vanish spray, wash with detergent and vanish powder. Hang out to dry.

Never had a problem with stained sheets using this method. Myself plus 2 DD’s and 2 SDD’s here. We only use white, cotton bedding.

MrsClatterbuck · 03/08/2021 20:31

I put Vanish gel on the stain put in washing machine and leave for half an hour. Then wash with biological washing powder/liquid with Vanish powder and even some Napisan. I would dry outside in the sun.

SeigneurLapindeGrantham · 03/08/2021 20:31

Cold rinse first and then a hot wash at 60c.

Flobbertybillop · 03/08/2021 20:31

Cold water with salt in.

Kite22 · 03/08/2021 20:32
  1. Rinse through with cold water as soon as you (she?) is aware it is there.
  2. put some salt onto the stain and soak overnight is a tiny drop of water.

Then rinse again and wash on a hot wash.

However, let her have dark sheets, or even an old towel to lie on, on top of the sheet makes a lot of sense.

HmmmmmmInteresting · 03/08/2021 20:32

Report back, but I think you're too late because of the hot wash.

AlmostSummer21 · 03/08/2021 20:32

Dr Beckmans 'whites' sachet 40°wash, hang out in the daylight (even if it's not super sunny)

GreatAuntEmily · 03/08/2021 20:33

I soak in cold water then put in a rinse and spin. By then the stain is mostly out. Wash as normal.