Ultimate Washing Guide for Period Underwear and Reusable Pads
Ok, you've made the switch to reusable period underwear and pads—but how do you keep them clean?
Reusable period products are a fantastic way to reduce your waste and avoid exposing yourself to a range of nasty toxic ingredients found in most disposable options.
After making the switch to reusable period products, the biggest part of sticking with the change is having a simple and reliable way of getting them clean that fits easily into your existing routine.
A solid washing routine doesn't need to be complicated or time consuming - but it does need to be suited for what you're washing - and that's period blood from multiple layers of fabric.
Our complete how-to guide is here to help you keep your period underwear & reusable pads clean, using simple and effective ingredients that are gentle on your body and the planet – so you can wash with confidence, knowing your pads and underwear are truly clean, without exposing you to any hidden nasty chemicals.
What you need to know about reusable period products
Before we look at how to clean your reusable period underwear and pads, there’s a few things we need to understand..
Let's first cover off why having a good washing routine is important.
Period underwear and reusable pad construction
Period products are constructed with layers of fabric to absorb your flow. These are sewn together so they don't bunch which means it's difficult for blood to be thoroughly washed out of the innermost layers. Without a reliable washing method - you can be left with a build up of biologically active stains, this can result in staining and odour.
By incorporating initial rinsing and pre-washing as part of your regular washing routine, you can ensure all the layers of fabric are getting cleaned. Skipping this step and just relying on your washing machine may mean soiling gets trapped.
Odour-reducing technology is not the benefit you might think it is
Unfortunately, many reusable period product manufactures know that odour build up is very off putting, but instead of supporting a good wash routine, they use 'odour-fighting' and 'odour-eating' technology - this is means constructing your period items with fabrics that are impregnated with anti-bacterial chemicals that remain, wash after wash. Gross!
Odour-proof textiles utilise odor-neutralizing treatments, such as Triclosan and other toxic chemicals that are antibacterial and antifungal, which means they are great for preventing the growth of bacteria, fungi and mildew in textiles. What isn’t talked about with these chemicals is the potential cost to your health (and the environment).
Why a good wash routine is better for you and the planet
The chemicals used to produce ‘odour-free’ fabrics have been found to affect hormone function, damage the liver and kidneys and many are suspected carcinogens.
· They can persist in the environment and have been found in soil, water, and even human breast milk.
· They are not only toxic to bacteria, but also algae and fish, negatively impacting our aquatic life and their food chains.
· Repeated exposure to these antimicrobial substances can lead to antibiotic-resistant bacteria - a problem being treated as a global public health emergency.
Odour-proof undies are really just knickers full of yet more chemics we don't need near our bodies!
Why laundering period blood is different to washing other blood
Here's a couple of the do's and don'ts of washing blood out of a textile - in particular period blood, as it is different to the blood you may get from a blood nose.
What's collected on our reusable period products is not just blood. It's a mix of blood, uterine lining and cells, secretions and bacteria from our skin. It's quite the biological mix - in fact, it has been that found period blood contains not just blood cells but also stem cells, the cells that create life - these very special cells have the all the knowledge within them to become different kinds of cells that form the human body! How cool is that!
So your period might sometimes feel like a monthly drag, but it's also pretty amazing!
Here's a couple of the do's and don'ts of washing period blood out of textiles
Timing matter for best results
Back to washing 101: Because what collects is a mix of blood, sticky stuff and bacteria you will need to decide from the outset if you are going to wash each day OR wash at the end of the week once your period is finished.
This is because as soon as you start washing and adding water to your period products the washing must be completed in a timely fashion.
When you wear your underwear and pads, bacteria is transferred from your skin, and the nutrient factor of the menstrual blood means that prolonged soaking in water will result in the growth of bacteria. Lot's of bacteria is smelly and unhygienic.
This needs to be avoided - after all were cleaning here, not doing a science experiment.
Another important thing to note is that we don’t recommend using fabric softener when cleaning your period underwear or pads (or anything else for that matter). Here is a great blog you can read for more information on why we recommend strong white vinegar instead of fabric softener
The best washing guide to get your reusable period underwear properly clean!
Daily washing routine for Period pads and underwear
1. Initial Rinse and Pre-Wash
- At the end of the day or each time you change your period item rinse under the cold tap or in the shower until the water runs clear
- Now pre wash with either Figgy bar soap or by soaking, this is to ensure all the layers of your period gear get enough cleaning contact time to be washed thoroughly.
- It's pretty quick to use Figgy bar soap to pre wash your underwear or pad. Do this by giving it a good suds up by rubbing with the bar of soap and then rubbing the fabric together to make a lather - you want to pay special attention to getting the soapy water into all layers of the fabric where your period blood collects. An easy way to do this is to hold at the edges of the gusset padding and then move your hands in opposite directions & alternate between forward and back - this agitates the fabric and makes space between the fabric layers for the soapy water to get in. Rinse and check your progress and suds up again if needed.
- If you prefer to use a soak, add 2 tablespoons of Figgy Laundry powder to half a bucket (or other container) of warm water and submerge your pads or underwear. Remember, pay special attention that you have saturated all the layers of the fabric, give them some movement under the water, then leave them to soak for a few hours before rinsing. Here we are using more laundry powder because it helps with the quicker cleaning timeframe.
2. Main wash
- Add your pre washed items to your normal daily wash or finish with a hand wash and rinse well.
3. Drying
- Dry on the line or in the dryer on low.
Weekly washing routine for reusable period products
This is my preferred way to launder and is ideal if you have stash to last your cycle. I find batching up the cleaning takes less time overall and the cleaning results are just as good. Win win!
1. Dry pail
- After changing your pad or underwear store them in an open bag or hamper, you can wash them all together at the end of your cycle. Reusable pads can be folded in thirds and the snaps used to hold them closed. A cotton bag works well, but don't use a sealed bag plastic bag that sweats.
2. Cold soak
- On wash day unfold your pads/underwear and submerge them into a bucket of cold water. Leave to soak for about an hour. This is to rehydrate and dilute the blood - this requires a lot less effort than trying to manually rinse all the blood from your items - blood will naturally dissolve into water via osmosis. This step is the hands off way to deal with the bulk of the soiling and makes the rest of the cleaning easier. The water can be tipped down the toilet, drain, or around a tree in the garden.
- Next rinse your cloth/underwear under a cool running water, agitate the gusset padding from side to side to further dislodge the blood, and aim to rinse until the water runs clear. At this point you have removed all the blood that will rinse away easily and only be left with what needs to be washed out.
3.Pre-wash
- Dissolve 1 tablespoon of Figgy & Co laundry powder into half a bucket of warm (not hot) water, submerge your cloth/underwear and soak for a couple of hours to overnight. This will make sure all the layers of your pad or underwear are getting enough contact time with the laundry powder to get properly clean - the multiple layers of period products can make sufficient laundering difficult.
2. Main wash
- The next morning do a quick rinse and squeeze all the water out, then inspect for any lingering stains – if everything is looking clean you can either pop your items into your next machine wash or rinse thoroughly by hand. If any stains linger at this point see the stains section below.
3. Drying
- Dry thoroughly on the line or in the dryer on low.
Treating stains on your reusable period underwear and pads
If you have noticed some stubborn marks after initially rinsing and pre washing don't fret - that's just the nature of period blood being a mix of different things - there are two easy options that do a great job of deep cleaning.
Soak with Oxi-action
Option one is to soak with oxygen bleach or Figgy & Co. laundry soaker – 2 tablespoons in half a bucket of hot water soak for a minimum of 2 hours, 6+ hours is better. Oxygen bleach is oxi active and releases hydrogen peroxide to break down blood and stains.
Target the stain with Soap
The second option is to rub with Figgy & Co. bar soap directly on the stain and rub the fabric on itself until the stain lifts - using a bar soap is a way of targeting stubborn marks with a concentrated amount of cleaning powder.
You can even do a combo of these two options - suds up with soap working it into all the layers, then add them straight into a bucket of oxygen bleach or laundry soaker to soak.
Long-Term Care and Maintenance to Keep Stains Away
It's important to deal with stains at this step for two reasons.
Firstly in order to remove stubborn stains you'll need a higher concentration of cleaning chemicals, by dealing with stains in a bucket you won't need to run a full wash with this increased amount of cleaning product - this saves cleaning product, but it also saves treating clothes that don't need the extra cleaning oomph.
Second, blood has protein in it, so once you dry it, especially if you use a dryer, the stain can set because the proteins react to the heat and become very clingy, this means they difficult to remove - it's always best to treat blood stains the first time.
The Figgy range of laundry powder and soaker does a great job of getting textiles clean. Free from detergent, enzymes, chlorine, dyes and synthetic fragrance, it is safe for you and our waterways
10 reasons to use the Figgy & Co routine for washing your reusable period cloth pads and underwear
- By utilizing batch cleaning, the actual time spent laundering is very little.
- Bucket soaking allows you to divert your period blood away from your regular washing.
- By first soaking your cloth/underwear in cold water you effectively reduce the cleaning to be done in the next step – this has the benefit of better cleaning results with less cleaning product required. Using cold water for this step is critical as blood contains protein and heat from the hot water will denature it, like egg white protein in hot water. Heat denatured protein is harder to wash away, this is known as setting a stain. Bad!
- Soaking in laundry powder is very accessible. It is a regular cleaning supply that you will have to hand. Very little cleaning chemicals are needed, and the results are excellent.
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Figgy bar soap is a pure soap, made from coconut oil specifically for cleaning up. Rub directly on stains and marks as part of your laundry routine.
- Pads/underwear respond well to being soaked as it is gentle on the fabric. These products are multi-layered giving them their absorbency, the time soaking effectively cleans through all the layers, dissolving and lifting away blood
- Using a soaking method trades time for chemicals. Less cleaning chemicals are needed to do the job if you give the ones there longer to do the work. This is great for reducing your daily chemical exposure. This is especially important for female reproductive health.
- Soaking gives a more thorough deeper clean, this is beneficial for dark coloured cloth/underwear where inadequate cleaning or stains can be missed due to the fabric colour hiding the remaining soiling.
- Two options are given to treat lingering stains, both work well and are easy to do – stains don’t happen often, but everyone's yoni is a little different and some of us are more prone to staining than others – that’s life!
- You don’t actually need to use a bucket, a small container will do the trick like a ice cream container. Reduce the cleaning products accordingly.
- When you have a reliable cleaning routine like this, you know your reusable products will be clean and fresh just from laundering. You can avoid reusable products that tout ‘odour reducing technology’ this is fabric impregnated with chemicals to kill bacteria. Bad!
FAQ: Ultimate Washing Guide for Period Underwear & Reusable Pads
How often should I wash my period underwear and reusable pads?
You can choose whether you prefer to wash your period underwear or reusable pads daily, or if you prefer to store them and do them all together at the end of your cycle.
Should I soak my period underwear or pads before washing?
Soaking your reusable period products helps to lift blood out gently, reducing staining and minimising the need for stronger chemicals during the washing process.
What temperature should I use to wash my period underwear?
Blood contains protein, which hot water can “set”, like cooking eggs —we recommend using cold water to prevent stains from becoming permanent.
Do I need to use a soaker as well as laundry powder?
No! A simple soak in Figgy laundry powder does the trick.
Can I use my Figgy bar soap on my reusable period products?
Our bar soap is perfect for pre-treatment. Rub directly on stains and marks as part of your laundry routine
Does soaking damage multi-layered fabrics?
Nope! In fact, soaking is ideal—it’s gentle on absorbent layers and allows cleaning agents to penetrate deeply without mechanical wear.
Why do I need to soak my period underwear and reusable pads?
Soaking trades longer soak time for lower chemical use—great for reducing your everyday chemical exposure, which is key for reproductive health. Dark fabrics can also hide lingering stains, so a good soak removes hidden soiling that might otherwise slip through, allowing bacteria to grow.
What if there are still stains after soaking?
Stains don’t happen often, but everyone's yoni is a little different and some of us are more prone to staining than others – that’s life! Our ultimate guide to cleaning your reusable period products offers two options to treat lingering stains, both work well and are easy to do.
Should I look for odour-reducing fabrics?
No, we think you should avoid these altogether. When your reusables are reliably clean and fresh, you can skip “odour‑reducing technology” (chemical treatments embedded in fabric). They aren’t necessary—and with good laundering, you won’t miss them!
Can I use Fabric softener on my period undies?
We don’t recommend using fabric softener when cleaning your period underwear or pads (or anything else for that matter). You can read our blog on why we recommend strong white vinegar instead of fabric softener here.
A quick guide to cleaning your period underwear:
- Batch soak your used items in a container with cold water (just enough to cover) and a splash of laundry powder.
- Pre-treat any stains with Figgy bar soap.
- Let soak for a few hours—or overnight if needed.
- Machine or hand-wash in cold water with Figgy Laundry Powder.
- Air-dry—no heat, no fabric softener.
You've invested money in your stash of reusable period products, so you want them to be well maintained for years of sustainable service! A solid washing routine that uses safe, effective laundry products is the best way to avoid chemical coated fabrics while making sure they are clean and cared for, just as they should be - your health will thank you for it.
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