Washing your period underwear: tips and advice
Period panties are reusable sanitary protection with many advantages. One of the main ones is that they’re washable and reusable!
Whatever your menstrual flow and however you use your period panties, there are a few key steps to know in order to properly care for your menstrual lingerie. Properly washed period panties will last over the long term.
A well-washed pair of period panties can be worn and reused for several years: 5 to 7 years. So they have the same lifespan as regular panties. So what should you do to wash your period panties properly? What washing and care routine should you follow to take proper care of your menstrual lingerie?
Hand wash or **machine wash**, tumble dryer or **air‑drying**, **homemade detergent** or store‑bought detergent? Louloucup tells you everything you need to know to care for your Loulou panties and give them the longest life possible!
The 3 steps to gently care for your panties
Period panties are a very specific type of underwear that need proper care. If you want your Loulou panties to last a long time, we invite you to read the key steps for washing your period panties.
1 – Pre-wash or rinse
The importance of rinsing your period panties
You’re taking off your panties, thong or shorty to put on another pair? You’re not about to run a wash cycle right away? The reflex: rinse it in water.
Pre-washing your period panties is important. It helps remove the blood that has been trapped in the different fabric layers of your underwear. What does it involve?
How to pre-rinse your period panties
Simply rinse your period underwear under clear, cold water. Let it soak up the water, then gently squeeze it out. Ideally, press it between your two hands to remove as much water as possible. This way, you avoid wringing it.
Repeat the process until the water runs clear and there is no more **trace of blood**. We want to stress how important it is to use cold, not hot, water. Hot or very hot water damages your **period lingerie** and its optimal absorbent capacity. Hot water will also set the blood into the fabric—which is exactly what we don’t want!
And what if my flow is heavy?
Have you lost a lot of blood or do you tend to have a heavy or even hemorrhagic flow? Don’t hesitate to soak your panties. You can also leave them to soak in a basin of clear (but always cold) water.
2 – Washing your period underwear
A 30°C wash, short cycle
Your period is over, you can make a load and put all the panties you wore during your **period** in the washing machine. Don’t worry, you can absolutely wash your used period panties together with the rest of your laundry.
Instead, opt for a 30°C wash cycle to avoid damaging and weakening your panties. Even better, pop them into a lingerie wash bag! You can also choose the delicate cycle (still at 30°C) and wash your panties with your most fragile items.
You’d rather hand-wash your period underwear and avoid machine washing?
You can absolutely wash your period underwear by hand. Gently rub the most exposed areas of your panties with a mild detergent, then rinse thoroughly in cold water.
Is there a laundry detergent that’s better than others for washing your period panties?
We strongly encourage you to choose a natural detergent, gentle and with the cleanest possible ingredients. For your intimate health, your panties, and the environment, it’s important to use more respectful, responsible products. We also recommend avoiding glycerin-based detergents, which tend to clog the absorbent part of Loulou panties.
Likewise, fabric softeners, although very fragrant, are highly chemical and should be avoided. Opt instead for a little white vinegar, which has anti-limescale properties.
What about Marseille soap?
It’s in almost every recipe for homemade laundry detergent! Cheap and handy, the famous scouring soap is, however, quite greasy and contains a lot of glycerin. Using it to wash your period panties is not the best idea. Wash after wash, the glycerin clogs the fabrics, making them less absorbent and less effective.
However—and fortunately for all **homemade laundry** fans—**real Marseille soap** is normally made from **olive oil**. Today, it’s harder to find, but not impossible. The key is to use the right amount of soap and always choose detergents with less than 15% glycerin.
If you make your own laundry detergent, look into fat-free recipes such as ivy detergent or ash detergent.
3 – Air drying
Avoid all sources of heat
We say no to the tumble dryer. Its hot air can seriously damage the fabric of your period panties. Once washed, simply hang your panties up to dry in the fresh air. Avoid direct exposure to strong sunlight and don’t place your panties on a radiator or near a fireplace. You’ve got it: your period panties don’t like heat!
Flat drying
Finally, it’s best to lay your panty flat to dry. To avoid any bacterial growth or bad smells, we recommend waiting until your panty is completely dry before wearing it again.
Mini FAQ: how to wash your period panties
You’ve noticed some discoloration stains that won’t budge?
It’s most likely the acidity of your blood or your vaginal discharge that is bleaching the fabric of your panties. It’s not serious, but it’s very hard to remove. You can safely use sodium percarbonate (available in hardware stores) during the pre-wash. However, we can’t guarantee your panties will return to their original state.
Do you notice a persistent smell of blood?
Don’t hesitate, during a pre‑wash, to soak your period panties for several minutes with a few drops of lavender essential oil or tea tree oil. Thanks to their antibacterial and antiseptic properties, bad odors will be eliminated.
Did you run a 40°C or 60°C cycle?
Remember, it’s repeated washing with fabric softener or at too high a temperature that will cause irreversible damage. So a 40°C wash is not the end of the world, don’t panic! Just avoid doing it too often.
You can now wash our Mia period underwear without damaging it!
You now have everything you need to wash your Louloucup period panties properly. Still unsure or have questions? We’re here to answer all your questions.
