Strange Blood Stains

[frolicnaked.livejournal.com]

I noticed this while I was clearing out some of my clothes for Goodwill or other destinations yesterday.

Some of my dark pants -- the ones that end up being my "period pants" precisely because blood stains don't show on the outside -- have strange stains in the crotch and inner thigh regions. They're the same kind of "bleached out"-looking stains that are on my black underwear. The ones on my underwear I know come from the bacteria in healthy vaginal fluid creating hydrogen peroxide, which can end up bleaching the material.

But. Is it the same bacteria present in menstrual blood... and in large enough concentrations for them to be bleaching my pants? Or is something else the cause here? (I'll note here that when it comes to laundering my pants, the bloody ones get soaked in cold water for 20 minutes as soon as I can, then get washed on cold with dye/perfume free detergent. I don't think either of those steps is causing the bleaching.)

More importantly, is there a way I can keep this from continuing to happen to my pants? They are more expensive to replace than underwear. Also, while it does not seem to happen to my dark jeans, I cannot wear jeans every day of my life. (Also too, and maybe more interestingly, it does not happen to my dark colored cloth pads, which often sit for a day or so before I start soaking them.)

I realize that the optimal solution is never to bleed on my pants. However, until my uterus gets on board with that plan, it is not going to happen. Same thing with the next best option, soaking while the stain is fresh: I soak as soon as I can, but that's routinely several hours from when the stain occurs.

Solutions for preventing bleaching blood stains? Thanks!

Cross posted to vaginapagina and menstrualhut.

Comments

[helenkacan.livejournal.com]

I don't know if this is applicable but, when I was growing up, there were no synthetics except for nylon. So I remember sweat bleaching out colour (though that was generally under the arms). It could be the same principle with the pants, especially if they're of a good quality. Have you heard about trouser slips (that's the only name I can think of)? They're trousers made of nylon that you wear as a lining underneath your trousers. The first thing they do is protect your skin from the possible harshness of the fabric. The second thing they do is prolong the life of the clothing. Because, if you sweat or bleed through, you're going to be able to throw the liner into the washing machine.

The only other thing I can suggest (because I sometimes get white patches in the crotch area after wearing my fave cotton/lycra leggings) is to blot the area with COLD water.