Parents can attest that accidental spills and urine stains are hard to deal with, but surprisingly, one of the most common mattress stains isn’t only limited to these. If you’re reading this article, you might be dealing with this stubborn dirt at the moment-period stain.
Aside from cramps, nausea, bloating, mood swings, and overall discomfort, one of the things that we don’t look forward to during our period days is period blood stains.
Bloodstains on your mattress and bedding can happen. Unfortunately, this heavy, cushiony sleep solution cannot be thrown into the washer to get clean. But don’t fret. We have some solutions to help you tackle those stubborn period stains. You only need a few things that are available in your home.
Let’s begin.
How to Remove Period Stains from Your Mattress
Before we start, here are some cleaning supplies that you need:
- Cold water
- Talcum powder
- White vinegar
- Mild detergent
- Baking soda
- Salt
- Cornstarch
- Cola
- Hydrogen peroxide
- Meat tenderizer
- Enzyme cleaner
- Clean cloths or paper towels
- Toothbrush
First of all, you don’t need all of these at once to properly clean your mattress, so don't panic.
We listed various cleaning supplies to provide you with more options and to help you determine which will be most effective in removing bloodstains from your mattress. Depending on the availability of your items, you may use some of these one at a time to fully tackle the deep stains.
Removing Fresh Blood Stains from the Mattress
If the blood stain is fresh, strip off all the bedding accessories from your bed and blot the excess moisture from your mattress surface with paper towels. The key is to blot, not scrub, since this will only spread the stain deeper into your mattress. Once you get rid of the excess liquid, gather the cleaning items that are available at home.
Solution #1: Mix equal parts of white vinegar and cold water in a spray bottle. Mist the solution directly on the bloodstain until fully covered. Let the solution rest for at least 30 minutes so it can dissolve the period stain. You may also try misting pure white vinegar to thoroughly remove the spot. Air out your mattress and let the mixture dry.
Solution #2: Apply some cold water and dish soap directly to the stain and dab it with a clean cloth until the pigment is removed. Do not use hot water, as it will only bond the stain to the mattress. When trying this solution, make sure that you don’t put too much liquid into your mattress because (1) it will take time to dry and (2) it can cause mould buildup inside your mattress.
Solution #3: Create a paste using baking soda and water, then apply the mixture directly on the blood stain. Again, be gentle when dabbing the stain (do not rub) to prevent it from spreading further into your mattress. You can add some cornstarch to your mixture to achieve better results.
Solution #4: Mix talcum powder and cold water to create a paste. Apply the thick paste to the stain and let it dry. Talcum powder can help prevent the liquid stain from solidifying on your mattress.
Solution #5: Cola. Yes, the soda. Cola contains phosphoric acid, which can aid in the removal of stains from your mattress fabric. Carefully dab some cola on the stained part to let it break down the stained part. Blot the cola afterwards with cold water and a clean towel.
Removing Dry Blood Stains from the Mattress
You may still try some of the solutions that we mentioned above to get dry period stains out of your mattress. However, if the blood stain has been sitting on your mattress for hours, the pigment might be more challenging to remove. Here are some more intense cleaning methods that you can still find at home.
Solution #1: Get your meat tenderizer and let it work its magic on removing blood stains from your bed. This can help in breaking down the proteins, which is effective even for dry stains. To make a paste, combine one part meat tenderizer powder with two parts cold water. Using a clean cloth, apply the paste directly to the blood stain and let it sit for an hour or until the stain is removed.
Solution #2: Create a cleaning paste using ½ cup of hydrogen peroxide, ¼ cup of cornstarch and a tablespoon of salt. Let it sit for half an hour and gently rub with a toothbrush before dabbing on the remaining paste.
Solution #3: An enzyme cleaner is one of the most effective ways to get rid of blood stains from your mattress. Spray the enzyme cleaner on a clean cloth and carefully blot the affected area. When using an enzyme cleaner, make sure that you only apply a mattress-safe formulation.
Removing Period Stains from Your Bedding
Luckily, your bedding accessories can be soaked and washed with water and detergent. You can spot clean the blood stain from your sheets and blankets using a detergent and other home-made solutions that we listed above before tossing them in the washer. Just remember to follow the care label to determine what items or chemicals are safe for your fabric.
More Period Stain Removal Tips
- Clean your mattress from the get-go. Fresher blood stains are easier to remove than dry stains.
- As much as possible, choose gentle mattress cleaning materials to prevent mattress damage or discoloration.
- Use a mattress protector to guard your bed from future spills and period stains.
- If it is already too old or damaged, consider replacing your mattress.
- Vacuum your bed after removing the stains. You may also sprinkle some baking soda to fully deodorise the mattress while you’re at it.
Conclusion
Dirt, spills, body oils, and stains can significantly affect the lifespan of your mattress. To maintain the best condition of your mattress, it is necessary to treat any impurities immediately.
If you are looking for high-quality mattresses in Singapore, visit our experience centres or shop your new mattress online.