How do you care for period underwear?

A menstrual panty is all well and good, but isn’t caring for it a bit of a hassle? Taking care of your menstrual underwear is actually very simple! You just need to know a few tips and follow a few steps to ensure a long, happy life for your practical washable and reusable period protection! 

Rinse, wash, dry: follow the right steps to take care of your period panties.

There are a few simple steps and habits to know when caring for your period underwear. Nothing complicated – let’s go through the process together so your period panties, shorties, thongs and strings stay perfectly clean and well maintained! 

You’ve received your order and you’re excited to finally try your period panties? Remember to rinse them well in cold water before first use. Just like regular underwear and new clothes, it’s important to rinse them before wearing to remove any residue and dust. This prewash also helps activate their full absorbent power.

Once you’ve worn and removed your panty, rinse it in cold water and gently squeeze out as much menstrual flow as possible from the absorbent layer. This is an important habit to prevent the blood from drying in the fabric. For those who are squeamish about the sight of blood, it can be a bit unsettling at first. But you’ll quickly get the hang of it, promise. Rinse until the water runs clear, then hang your panty to dry.

Louloucup’s top tip? Get into the habit of taking your underwear into the shower with you. It will rinse itself while you wash and you’ll just need to wring it out when you get out. You can then pop it straight in the washing machine or wait until the end of your period to run a cycle with all your period panties together. 

By hand, in the machine, with homemade or store-bought detergent—several options are available! 

Place your period underwear in the washing machine with the rest of your dirty laundry. Don’t worry, the blood won’t transfer onto your clothes! You can put your underwear in a laundry bag. This will protect your period lingerie from friction.  

Once your panties are in the washing machine drum, choose a **short cycle** at a maximum of 30°C. Your period underwear can be washed along with lightly soiled clothes. The **delicates cycle** or even the **wool cycle** also work very well for washing your period panties. 

You can also hand-wash your period panties with no problem. How should you do it? Just like with a regular washing machine, you can wait until the end of your period to wash all your period panties at once. They’ve been rinsed and some of them may still be damp. Soak them in a basin of cold or lukewarm water with a little hand-wash detergent. Gently rub each panty to remove residue and menstrual flow. Leave to soak for about thirty minutes. Then rinse and gently wring out.  

Overly greasy or overly chemical detergents, acidic cleaners, fabric softeners or stain removers should all be avoided when washing your menstrual panties! 

Choose a truly gentle detergent—minimally processed, non‑aggressive and low in fats. Products that are too harsh can damage the fabrics and reduce their absorption capacity. 

Industrial detergents or DIY detergents made with Marseille or Aleppo soap are not recommended. Detergents made with fats can clog the fibers of the panties. So they’re counterproductive. 

If you’re a fan of homemade laundry detergent, go for a recipe based on ivy, ashes or a soap with little glycerin.

If you used to rely on fabric softener to mask bad smells and tended to be heavy-handed with it, this time leave it neatly on the shelf. Once washed, period panties don’t have any bad odors, so there’s no need to use fabric softener or even essential oils. Plus, this highly concentrated chemical product is actually harmful to the panty’s fabrics. And finally, fabric softeners are really bad for the environment. They’re very resistant to filtration, and polluting residues end up in rivers! So it’s best to skip them. 

Once washed, it’s important to let your period panties air dry on a drying rack, preferably laid flat. Using a tumble dryer is really not recommended. Nor is direct exposure to the sun, or placing them on a radiator, fireplace or stove. In short, as you’ve probably guessed, too much heat damages the fabrics and reduces their absorbency. 

**Air-drying period underwear** takes some time. That’s normal. The absorbent layer is quite thick and needs time to dry. You’ll need a bit of patience and, above all, to plan ahead by having extra pairs of period underwear ready, or another type of protection like a cup, for example. 

To do this, think about our Louloucup panties + cup bundle. Affordable, zero waste and super practical, you can build your own custom set.

A well-cared-for period panty lasts longer and lives longer. A pair of period panties can easily last 5 to 7 years if it’s properly pampered. You save money over the long term. 

Well-cared-for period panties stay absorbent for a long time; they remain reliable, comfortable and provide ideal absorption cycle after cycle, year after year. You’ll feel calm when you put them on. You won’t be afraid of leaks or stains. You’ll feel confident, even at night! 

So take a few minutes to rinse, wring out, wash and dry your panty. 

Remember:

• no dyeing or bleaching,
• no ironing,
• no highly abrasive chemicals or harsh detergents,
• no hot water,
• no drying with a direct heat source.

Once you’re familiar with these few basic rules, looking after your period underwear is not at all a hassle – it’s actually very practical and simple. All Louloucup period panties are made from organic cotton and carry the Oeko-Tex 100 label, so they deserve proper care. Discover our full range in our online shop: organic, chic and pretty period underwear for teens and women, from XXS to XXXL. Shipping is free in France and across Europe, and orders are always dispatched within 48 hours.