HEALTH

Every girl knows how annoying periods can be. For many girls, being on your period means facing days of cramping, bloating, headaches and other inconvenient side effects. Dressing during a period can be especially frustrating. Many girls, worried about period stains, choose to avoid light-colored or tight-fitting clothing during their periods. 

However, despite the precautionary steps girls take, period stains always seem to happen. In the best case scenario, only a pair of PJs or sweatpants gets stained; in the worst scenario, a favorite outfit gets ruined. But there's no need to worry. There are plenty of simple steps you can take to remove period stains from your clothes. 

Soak the clothing in cold water.
Fill a sink or bucket with water. Be sure the water you're using is as cold as possible for the best results. Let the clothing soak for about 10 minutes. Then, check back. Sometimes, that's all you have to do!

Try using a stain remover.
For stains that won't come out using only cold water, try out a stain remover like Shout or Oxiclean. Apply the stain remover to the stained area; each brand has its own specific set of instructions, so be sure to read the label. After you've let the clothing soak, wash it in cold water.

For light-colored fabrics, use bleach.
Pour 5 or 6 cups of cold water in a sink or large bucket. Add 1/2 a cup of bleach. Be careful not to spill the bleach on any delicate surfaces (carpets, other clothes, wood floors, etc.). Place the stained clothing in the container, and let it sit. About 10 minutes later, see if the stain has been fully removed.     

For white fabrics, use hydrogen peroxide.
Chances are you already have a bottle of hydrogen peroxide somewhere in your house. The solution is extremely versatile. You can use it to treat minor cuts and wounds, ear infections, etc. If you can't find a bottle at home, most drugstores carry small bottles of it. Pour enough of the solution onto a cotton ball, so that the cotton ball is saturated, but not dripping. Then, gently dab the stained area to help lift the stain. 

When in doubt, try salt water.
In a sink or bucket, add 5 or 6 cups of cool water and 1/2 a cup of table salt. Mix the salt into the water until most of the salt dissolves. Put the clothing in the salt water, and let it soak for 10 minutes. If the stain is still there after 10 minutes pass, try rubbing the stain with a washcloth and a small amount of salt.  

Do you have your own way of removing period stains? Let us know in the comments below! 

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by GL | 6/5/2019