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Housekeeping

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Original poster

Underwear laundry

32 replies

FelixTheHamster · 30/11/2023 18:18

Dad, recently divorced, with 50% custody of teenage daughter.

My daughter's underwear is significantly stained due to her periods.
It never seemed to bother my ex-wife when we all lived in the same home, and I didn't feel in a position to raise it. (And yes, I pulled more than my weight with domestic chores.) Now I'm responsible for these things in my own house, I feel obliged to address at least the laundry, even if personal hygiene is a suicidal minefield.

So how the hell do you get serious menstrual stains out of underwear?

OP posts:
ramonaquimby · 30/11/2023 18:19

Just buy new pants.
also odd. You can google these things

Tempytempy · 30/11/2023 18:21

Oxy white stain remover, ideally scrub it in then wash on hot with other pale clothes. Their stain remover bar is good too.

Always washing stained clothes on 40 with bio powder is good practise going forward.

Thor’s option - buy her dark pants.

CloverHilla · 30/11/2023 18:25

Buy her new underwear in a dark colour.
However, she should be using appropriately sized pads, tampons, cup (whatever she uses) so that she doesn't leak & also, change it often enough.

marshmallowfinder · 30/11/2023 18:28

Biological powder is so much better than non bio, for this.

nicknamehelp · 30/11/2023 18:29

Soak in cold salty water for a good few hours.

Combusting · 30/11/2023 18:29

I just feel like simple google would yield plenty answers on this instead of a detailed discussion on blood stained tennage undies stories from numerous women. Sorry

AliMonkey · 30/11/2023 18:29

Vanish Gold gets out blood stains that I never thought would be removed. In fact I've never yet found a stain it didn't remove! But yes black underwear is the best idea for hiding stains next time new underwear is purchased (though it took until my DD was old enough to be buying and washing her own underwear for her to admit I was right about that!)

Kerrie1973 · 30/11/2023 18:31

This reply has been deleted

This has been deleted by MNHQ for breaking our Talk Guidelines.

Original poster
FelixTheHamster · 01/12/2023 18:35

Thanks for the help.

I asked here because I figured I'd get answers that real people had used and had worked. Asking the Web on this sort of thing usually yields contradictory answers (eg mix vinegar and bicarb is chemically nonsensical.)

@ramonaquimby Buying her new pants might not help when her mum still does her laundry 50% of the time.

She only has black underwear and that's still badly stained. I'll try Vanish amd Oxy. Thanks @AliMonkey & @Tempytempy

@nicknamehelp Noted for future reference. Though if @Kerrie1973 is right, that ship may have sailed.

@CloverHilla That's not an easy conversation between a 15yr old and her father, especially when her mother hasn't adequately addressed the issue before.

OP posts:
Coconutter24 · 01/12/2023 19:47

I swear by ‘the pink stuff’ it’s a powder similar thing to Vanish. My daughter leaked on her light coloured PJs so I soaked them for an hour then put on a 40deg wash and it had gone!! Blood is very hard to wash out so I was surprised it worked

CatsForLife · 01/12/2023 19:56

Cold water as heat “sets” blood in fabric. Can she rinse through with cold water and a bit of soap? Then wash as normal in machine? Heat is the worst thing for bloodstains.

madeinmanc · 01/12/2023 20:00

It strikes me as a bit odd as I would always have dealt with this myself.

But anyway, the first thing is to handwash them in cold water. Hot water sets the bloodstain.

Jk987 · 01/12/2023 20:15

There's a problem if she leaks every month so I'd try and get to the bottom of that if you're both comfortable enough in your relationship. Or ask her Mum if they've already discussed it.
There's a sanitary product for almost every scenario so she should have to leak.

Ps. I'm glad times have changed. I used to be so ashamed as a teenager that I'd hide my underwear under the bed if it was stained!

Jk987 · 01/12/2023 20:15

*should not have to leak

madeinmanc · 01/12/2023 20:39

Try handwashing with this or just a generic soap a few times in cold water and getting as much out as you can before anything else:

https://www.therange.co.uk/household/laundry/laundry-detergents-and-fabric-conditioners/stain-remover-and-whiteners/elbow-grease-stain-remover-bar-100g/

Shinyandnew1 · 01/12/2023 20:48

How stained are black knickers getting?

CherryBlossom321 · 01/12/2023 20:52

It’s amazing what cold water soaking does to remove blood before putting through the wash with biological powder.

AdoraBell · 01/12/2023 20:54

Cold water and heaps of salt. Soak and the rinse until the stain is gone before washing.

GrannyAchingsShepherdsHut · 01/12/2023 21:16

If she's having problems with her period products not working well, has she tried period pants? M&S ones are reasonably priced if she wants to give them a try without spending loads. They absolutely must never be washed with fabric softener though, or they won't work.

I'm bemused that black pants are visibly stained though - how is that possible?! Are they actually grey / washed to greyness?

Coconutts · 01/12/2023 21:57

How does blood stain black pants? Are you sure it isn't bleaching? That happens to black pants but it's not due to periods

CyberCritical · 01/12/2023 22:07

FelixTheHamster · 01/12/2023 18:35

Thanks for the help.

I asked here because I figured I'd get answers that real people had used and had worked. Asking the Web on this sort of thing usually yields contradictory answers (eg mix vinegar and bicarb is chemically nonsensical.)

@ramonaquimby Buying her new pants might not help when her mum still does her laundry 50% of the time.

She only has black underwear and that's still badly stained. I'll try Vanish amd Oxy. Thanks @AliMonkey & @Tempytempy

@nicknamehelp Noted for future reference. Though if @Kerrie1973 is right, that ship may have sailed.

@CloverHilla That's not an easy conversation between a 15yr old and her father, especially when her mother hasn't adequately addressed the issue before.

Final comment was unnecessary OP, you don't know what conversations your ex may have had with your daughter, your daughter may have unusually bad periods and flood unexpectedly which could even be a medical problem. 1/10 women are estimated to have PCOS, 1/10 to have endometriosis, 1/5 to have heavy periods.

Laurelsmum · 01/12/2023 22:08

Use biological powder on a prewash in your machine. No need for any other faff, sorts it all out.

How can you see stains in black material though?

PP who questioned why some people have stains: some people have heavy periods and/ or are irregular.

Also, your DD is old enough to be doing her own washing and you would be doing a favour by showing her how. Then all the embarrassment is bypassed.

GettinChillyHereFFS · 01/12/2023 22:27

Why do you care if they are stained? No one sees them.

Buy her some period pants if this I real and teach her how to look after them herself, she's plenty old enough.

Gingertam · 01/12/2023 22:37

I second soaking in cold water with salt before washing. Must be cold or you set the stain. The blood just comes out.

Silverstag · 01/12/2023 23:38

Are you sure it isn't bleached patches. They will look a sort of orange colour?

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