Period stains can be a pain. When you’re dealing with cramps and cravings, you’re not in the mood to clean blood off your bed. Luckily, the solution is usually simple.
At GhostBed, we know a thing or two about keeping mattresses in tip-top shape. We’re showing you how to remove period blood from your mattress, so you can get back to your heating pad ASAP.
Hydrogen Peroxide + Water: Use This For Fresh Blood
Woke up to a fresh spot on the bed? Now’s the time to tackle it before a stain sets in. Grab some hydrogen peroxide to tackle this baby quickly. Then move on with your day.
Here’s what you’ll need:
- Hydrogen peroxide
- Cold water
- Cloth or paper towels
- Liquid dish soap – this is optional, but can boost the stain-fighting power!
To remove the blood:
- Soak up as much blood as you can with a cloth or paper towel. Remember what your mom taught you; blot, don’t rub!
- Mix one part hydrogen peroxide with two parts cold water.
- Dab a cloth or paper towel in the solution, then dab it on the stain. (Again, no rubbing.)
- If the stain isn’t starting to disappear, add a couple drops of liquid dish soap to your solution and try again. Otherwise, keep blotting until the area is as light as possible.
- Dab what’s left with cool water to remove any residual solution, then let your mattress dry. Phew!
Vinegar, Baking Soda + Water: A DIY for Set-In Stains
We’ll be honest with you: set-in stains are hard to get out of your mattress. Sometimes they require bringing in the big guns (AKA store-bought cleaners). We’ll get to that approach in a minute, but if you’d like to try DIY first, here’s what you’ll do.
Start with these supplies:
- White vinegar
- Baking soda
- Cold water
- Cloth or paper towels
- Liquid dish soap – optional, but can be helpful for stubborn stains.
Start with these supplies:
- Remove any loose debris from the area.
- Make a paste of baking soda and water. It should be thick, but spreadable.
- Spread the baking soda mix on the stain, and let it sit for 30 minutes.
- Use a cloth to remove the baking soda (or vacuum it up).
- Mix one part white vinegar to two parts water. Dip your cloth in the solution and blot (don’t rub!) the stain.
- If the stain isn’t fading as you blot, add a couple of drops of dish soap to your solution and try again.
- Once the stain is gone, blot the area with cold water and allow your mattress to dry. All done!
When The DIY’s Don’t Work: Enzymatic Cleaners
If that stain’s gotten too cozy on your mattress, you can’t coax it out with stuff from your pantry. Instead, it’s time to hit the store for an enzymatic cleaner. (And grab yourself some chocolate while you’re at it.)
These special cleaners contain enzymes that break down blood. Look for a cleaner designed to remove “organic stains.” Then you’ll simply follow the instructions on the package! Bear in mind, these types of cleaners need to sit for a while, so don’t start this project right before bed.
How to Keep Blood off Your Mattress in the Future
Look, accidents happen. No matter how hard you try, things can get messy on your period. But you know what they say: the best defense is a good offense. Get a good mattress protector now and you won’t have to worry about stains when Aunt Flo visits.
