Okay, let’s talk about washing these period underwear things. It’s actually pretty straightforward once you get the hang of it, not some big mystery. Here’s the drill I follow, what works for me after using them for a while.
Rinse Right Away
First thing I do, literally the moment I take them off, is give them a good rinse. I head straight to the bathroom sink. Turn on the cold water – and yeah, it really should be cold. Hot water is bad news, it just sets the stains in, makes life harder later. Learned that lesson pretty quick.
So, I just hold the underwear under the running cold tap. I kinda squish and rub the fabric gently under the water until the water starts running mostly clear. Doesn’t take long, maybe a minute or two. Gets the worst of it out immediately.
Washing Time
After the rinse, it’s time for a proper wash. Now, you can hand wash them right then and there if you want. Sometimes I do if I only have one pair to deal with. Just use a bit of mild soap or detergent, cold water again, gentle rub, rinse well.
But most days? Honestly, I toss them in the washing machine with my other delicates or dark clothes. Who has time for daily handwashing rituals? Not me. I make sure to put them in one of those mesh laundry bags first, though. Helps protect them from getting stretched out or snagged on hooks or zippers from other clothes in the load.
The key things for machine washing: stick to a cold wash cycle. Or lukewarm at most, but cold is safest. I use my regular laundry detergent, nothing fancy, but I try not to overdo it. And this is important: absolutely no fabric softener and no bleach. That stuff clogs up the special absorbent layers and ruins the waterproof bits. They just won’t work properly anymore if you use that stuff. It completely messes them up.
Drying – Patience is Key
Once the washing machine is done, get them out and it’s time to dry. And the best way? Just hang them up. Seriously. Hang them on a clothesline, a drying rack, even over the shower rod. Let the air do the work.
Do not, I repeat, do not put them in the tumble dryer. The heat from the dryer is terrible for the elastic and the special fabrics. It’ll degrade them super fast, they might lose their shape, leak, the whole deal. Just hang them up to air dry. It might take a day or so, especially for the thicker pairs, but it keeps them in good shape for way longer.
Ready for Next Time
Once they’re completely dry – make sure they are fully dry, especially in the absorbent crotch area – just fold them up and put them away with your regular undies. That’s it. Done. Ready for when you need them next month.
So yeah, rinse cold, wash cold (no softener!), and air dry. That’s basically my whole process. Keeps them clean and working like they should.
