Protein family: cold water first
How to get period stains on sheets out
Larger stains on sheets and mattress pads. Same method, bigger soak.
Do this first
Strip the bed and rinse the stain cold from the back
Fresh stain
- Strip the bed and rinse the stain cold from the back
- Enzyme pretreat
- Soak cold in enzyme detergent
- Wash cold to warm
Dried or old
- Overnight soak
- Peroxide and dish soap on white sheets
- Fabric care
- Mattress: see Urine on a mattress, using cold water.
- Time
- 1 h to overnight
- How to tell
- Look: red to brown patches; Feel: stiff; Smell: metallic
Where this fix comes from
We check every fix against these published guides. We do not run a test lab of our own.
Before you start
- Test on a hidden seam first.
- Never mix cleaners.
- Keep it out of the dryer until the stain is gone.