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Returns Can You Wash Period Pants with Other Clothes?
Here at Team Cheeky we’ve been specialists in Simple Reusables since 2008 when we launched our reusable wet wipes kit. We expanded our range to include reusable period pads back in 2013 and then period pants in 2018.
This question comes up time and time again by email and online and we've got a quick video about it here on youtube.
It also comes up at exhibitions, usually from men saying 'I don't want those filthy jam rags washed with my work shirts!' (Yes, that is actually word for word....)
The answer is yes, you can wash your period pants with other clothes and underwear in the washing machine. There's no need to hand wash period underwear. And you can leave your period underwear to dry naturally too.
However to remove blood stains it's vital that you wash at a maximum temperature of 30c. That’s because blood is a protein stain and applying heat to it ‘sets’ the stain. Think about an egg white for example!
Over time, we’ve found that the best way to wash your period pants is:
- rinse or pre wash your period underwear in cold water immediately after wearing until water runs clear OR
- cold soak after wearing (with stain remover ideally)
- wash your period underwear within 48 hours of use
- wash in cool water, 30c or below in your washing machine
- use bio powder, don't use fabric conditioner or fabric softener
- use a decent wash length of at least an hour
- leave your underwear to air dry or line dry, no tumble drying to protect the outer layer which is waterproof
Read our care instructions for period pants and reusable period pads for more detail.
"Amazing. I’ve been put off buying period pants for the ‘ick’ factor, but thought I’d try some that were on sale. It was as though I wasn’t on my period! No odour, wetness, leakage and maybe it was a fluke, but less pain too. I was worried about washing them, but I just put them in with my normal load and they were fine.
I have since bought some more from a high street retailer - pr1m**k - and they don’t compare. They felt damp, had an odour and were no where near as absorbent. I will be buying more from cheeky wipes this month so I have enough for a whole cycle.
I’m not one for writing many reviews, but these are life changing!" Customer via Trustpilot
Will Blood Stain Other Clothes in the Wash?
No, the blood should not stain other clothes in the wash. That’s because there’s such a small amount of blood compared to the amount of water used in an average wash cycle.
In the entirety of an normal period, you’ll only lose around 85ml of blood which is around 6 tablespoons.
Even if you washed all your reusable period protection or period pants at one time, you’d be diluting this with 50 litres of water. You can see that this means your period blood stains won't soil any other clothing in the wash.
Not even your partner’s shirts…
"Cheeky Wipes are Amazing! I love the period pants, and have enough to last me throughout my period, with some to spare, just in case of those very heavy days. They all have cute designs, comfortable, and fit really well.
I found that buying the mucky bucket helped so much. I put the period pants into the mucky bucket which contains cold water, then I leave for a few hours, wash off the stains, then pop straight into the washing machine. At the end of my period cycle, I then put my load of period pants that are in the washing machine on hand wash mode, easy peasy!" Lee, Via Trustpilot
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We hope that was useful and interesting for you. You may also be interested in:
About the Author: Helen Rankin founded Cheeky Wipes, the original reusable wipes kit back in 2008 after disposable wipes caused her eczema to flare up. 4 kids later, internal period protection was no longer an option for her and she went on to develop their range of 'Simple Reusables' to include period pants, reusable sanitary pads and reusable makeup removing pads. Her customer services team pride themselves on providing honest, friendly advice and just LOVE to chat pee, poo and periods all day long, helping people make the switch to reusables! The Company was recognised for their hard work in developing environmentally friendly products with the Queens Award in Enterprise for Sustainable Development in 2021.
