Washed my cloth for the first time and it's NOT CLEAN!

[*Devon*]

Hi mamas!

First of all, I heart Ama'z Padz. They are so cute and comfy, I hate the idea of bleeding on them. But I did it, and followed the advice of the care instructions-- I rinsed in cold water and soaked in cold water with lemon juice (I didn't have peroxide). I washed after 2 days, delicate cycle, cold water, little bit of Tide, and they're not clean

I have fleece and fabric types -- the fleece got clean but I can tell it's stained underneath, and the fabric is just all stained.

What am I doing wrong?

Can I get the stains out?

Can I use Oxi-clean on them? My friend swears by it.

Thanks!!

[Sumaiyah]

Devonc: have you tried washing them again? I had this problem with my Mom and Me pads (I have some Amaz but have yet to try them) and I washed them again with baking soda and line dried them in the sun. No stains and all clean. I would say wash them again with baking soda.

I have heard some women using Oxi-clean on their cloth pads with great success. I am guessing it wouldn't be that much of a problem since it whitens with the use of oxygen, unlike colorox.

May be some other mamas/women will chime in to give advice.
HTH
Sumaiyah

[naturalmaman]

Using straight peroxide on the stains works like a charm!! Just pour it on there and wash as soon as the stains are very faint or gone.

[peverroad]

I think oxyclean will work and you may try sunning them. I have even heard that you can use cream of tater and lemon juice and it will get stains out. But don't forget they are pads. They are there to catch blood and there is always a change with pads that they will get stained. Don't worry no one will know you have stained pads

[LovemyBoo]

The stains don't necessarily mean they are not clean. Some of my pads are stained and they come out of the wash smelling just fine.

Stains on mentrual pads are not a hang-up of mine - I have several others , so if it's yours that is totally understandable. But keep in mind they are clean, just stained.

[*Devon*]

I know that's what they're for, and I'm sure after a while it won't bother me, but they're so pretty and new!

Thanks for the tips, I will definitely try them!!

[PikkuMyy]

Hi Devon! Our first on-MDC conversation!

I soak mine in cold water and a bit of non-chlorine bleach for a little while, then lightly handwash before throwing into the laundry on HOT HOT water. At first I was concerned about the stains because they weren't clean either (I could still smell the blood) so I began to use Ecover's natural stain remover, which is AMAZING!!!! But then I realized that although it worked to get the stains out, it was the handwashing that helped them to get all the way clean and I stopped using the stain remover because...is anyone really going to see my pads? no. However, if you are uncomfortable washing them by hand because of all the blood (some people are), I'd soak and then use a little stain remover before putting in the wash with hot water. I think hot is the key, too.

[*Devon*]

Originally Posted by PikkuMyy

Hi Devon! Our first on-MDC conversation!

Thanks for the tips!! I have been meaning to stop by your blog, by the way... I put you on my protected list. I'll definitely check out that stain remover. I thought you were supposed to use cold though, because hot water would set the stains?

[prana]

e

[Mountain Chick]

I'm a regular blood donor, and my blood bank worker told me to use straight bathroom strength Peroxide on blood stains, both old and new. It will pull them right up. I tried it on an old blood stain on a white t-shirt, and it worked. It bubbled right up, like it does on cuts, and pulled the blood with it. Then I just rinsed it in cold water.
Worth a try if you want the stains out.

[LISSA~K]

But won't peroxide have a bleaching effect?

[EricaLeigh]

I find a nice long soak in the machine or in a bucket with COLD water & your detergent helps a ton, if anything is still stained I also use peroxide directly on the spot. Then I wash a 2nd time. HTH

[LaLa]

You could go so far as laundry grade hydrogen peroxide if you're really wanting to attack the stains!

I spray BacOut onto the pads while they soak (before washing) and this helps the stains from setting.

[tessamami]

Yep

Peroxide can put holes in cotton fabrics. Don't know about fleece. It's happened to me. IMHO stained is NOT dirty, just stained. I've learned to live with stains, but if you can't, I suggest using black

[rootzdawta]

As soon as I can, I soak pads in cold water with a tablespoon or so of Clorox 2. Before I put them in the machine, I agitate them by hand and squeeze as much water out. Then I wash them (low water to make sure there's enough friction) on regular (not gentle) with regular old Costco detergent on steaming hot (which is already set for ds's diapers) followed by a cold rinse. Very occasionally, I get a stain but they don't bother me all that much butI do sometimes use a capful of the oxygen bleach or hang in the sun--both take care of stains pretty completely.