Prefer to hand wash your period underwear? No problem 🤍
Whether you’re travelling, don’t have access to a washing machine, or simply prefer washing your period undies by hand, they’re really easy to care for.
The trick is making sure you’re cleaning those absorbent layers properly, without using products or washing methods that could affect how well they work.
Your simple hand washing routine
1. Rinse in cold water
After wearing your period underwear, rinse them thoroughly under cold running water until the water runs clear.
You can gently squeeze the gusset as you rinse to help flush blood from the absorbent layers.
Avoid twisting or aggressively wringing them out. A gentle squeeze is all you need.
2. Dilute your detergent first
Fill a clean bucket, basin or laundry sink with warm water (no more that 40°C) and add a small amount of mild laundry detergent.
You can use liquid or powdered detergent, but always dissolve and dilute it in the water first.
We don't recommend putting powdered detergent, concentrated liquid detergent or stain remover directly onto the gusset.
The gusset contains multiple absorbent and waterproof layers. Highly concentrated cleaning products can be harder to rinse completely from these layers and, with repeated use, may affect the fabrics and their performance.
Avoid stain removers altogether.
3. Gently hand wash
Place your rinsed period underwear into your prepared washing water and gently agitate them with your hands.
Pay a little extra attention to the gusset by gently pressing and squeezing the soapy water through the absorbent layers.
You don't need to aggressively scrub them. Let the detergent and water do the work.
4. Rinse really well
Rinse your underwear thoroughly in clean water until all detergent has been removed.
This step is important. Period underwear sits directly against the vulva, so we don't want detergent residue hanging around in those absorbent layers.
5. Air dry
Gently squeeze out excess water and hang your period underwear somewhere with plenty of airflow. We recommend hanging to dry with the gusset facing outwards.
Sunshine is great when you have it and can help neutralise odours and reduce any bacteria. ☀️
Don't tumble dry as high heat can damage the waterproof layer inside the gusset. Avoid placing in front of a heater or fire.
How to wash your period underwear - Use a washing machine.
Period underwear hand washing FAQs
How much detergent should I use for hand washing period underwear?
Less is more!
Remember, you're hand washing one or two pairs of period underwear, not doing a full load in your washing machine. You only need a small amount of detergent, especially if you're using a small basin or bucket of water.
Always dilute your detergent in the water first rather than applying concentrated liquid or powder directly onto the gusset.
Using too much detergent can actually make it harder to rinse out completely, leaving detergent residue trapped within the absorbent layers.
Can I use bleach on period underwear?
No. We don't recommend using bleach on your period underwear.
Bleach is a harsh cleaning agent that can damage the fabrics and specialised absorbent and waterproof layers within the gusset. Over time, this can affect how well your period underwear performs. It will also damage the colour.
A mild laundry detergent is all you need.
What laundry liquids or cleaning products should I avoid when cleaning period underwear?
Avoid:
- Bleach
- Fabric softener
- Stain removers
- Harsh cleaning products
- Highly fragranced detergents
- Detergent applied directly and undiluted onto the gusset
Fabric softeners in particular can coat the fibres within absorbent fabrics, which is exactly what we don't want in period underwear.
We recommend keeping your washing routine simple with a mild detergent, ideally without added fragrances.
How do I remove smells or odours from period underwear?
First, make sure you're rinsing your period underwear really well after wearing them and washing them soon afterwards.
Odours can develop when blood, moisture or detergent residue remains within the absorbent layers, particularly if your underwear has been left wet or damp without enough airflow.
If you're noticing an odour:
- Give the gusset a thorough rinse under cold running water.
- Hand wash in lukewarm water with a small amount of diluted mild detergent.
- Rinse really well to remove all detergent.
- Hang somewhere with plenty of airflow and allow them to dry completely before wearing or storing.
Avoid trying to fix smells by adding more detergent, fabric softener, fragrance or harsh cleaning products. Sometimes more product just means more residue trapped within the absorbent layers.
When should I replace my period underwear?
There's no exact expiry date for period underwear because how long they last depends on how often you wear them and how you care for them.
Over time, you may notice changes such as reduced absorbency, leaking when they previously handled your flow well, deterioration of the fabric or gusset, loss of elasticity, or persistent odours that don't disappear after a thorough wash and dry.
These can all be signs that it's time to replace your period underwear.
Following the recommended washing and drying instructions will help keep them performing at their best for longer.
Can I machine wash my period underwear?
Absolutely!
If hand washing isn't your thing, period underwear can be washed in your washing machine at 40°C or below using a mild detergent.
You can even wash them with your regular clothes once you've rinsed the blood from the gusset.
Read our full guide here: How to clean period underwear.
You can see all our Hey Zomi Period Underwear styles and sizes here at www.heyzomi.com/pages/period-underwear
