How to wash period panties: complete care guide

Period underwear has revolutionized periods for so many women! Practical, reliable, eco-friendly, soft, absorbent, discreet, and comfortable, menstrual underwear has so many great qualities! To keep them for a long time and maintain their absorbency, proper care is essential. How should you wash period underwear? What are the right steps and products to thoroughly clean them without causing damage? As we know, period underwear is as absorbent as it is delicate. You need to take good care of it to make it last! Care, rinsing, washing, drying—here’s a complete guide to caring for period underwear. Detergent, soap, water temperature, machine cycle length—we’ve tried to be as detailed as possible and give you lots of info! You’ll know absolutely EVERYTHING about keeping these precious everyday allies effective and comfortable, cycle after cycle. 🌸

Period panties are truly revolutionary in how we experience our periods. These special underwear, made with absorbent materials like organic cotton, collect menstrual flow without leaking or overflowing, while offering unmatched comfort.

Healthier than a tampon, more comfortable than a pad, period underwear lets us have a calmer, more peaceful period. You feel protected and pretty in this lingerie that’s as soft as it is absorbent.
Unlike disposable products (tampons and pads), these reusable menstrual products can last over 5 years with proper care. It’s not only economical, but also eco-friendly. By using reusable products, we drastically reduce our menstrual waste.

To keep your period panties as absorbent and soft as possible, cycle after cycle, proper care is essential. Good washing ensures perfect hygiene and significantly extends the life of your protection.

On the other hand, poorly cared-for panties are unhygienic. Dried menstrual flow gets trapped in the absorbent layer and will block absorption for future uses.

Before we talk about washing, it’s important to understand the differences between models that can affect how you care for them. At Louloucup, we offer several ranges to suit different needs.

Depending on the absorbency level:

• for light flow (equivalent to 1-2 tampons);
• for medium flow (equivalent to 2–3 tampons);
• for heavy or very heavy flow (equivalent to 4-5 tampons).

Depending on the materials:

• organic cotton inside and out (like our Lucie model, which is very breathable);
• organic cotton + various fabrics and materials (nylon, elastane, bamboo, etc.).
  
  

The composition of your period underwear partly determines how to care for it. Organic cotton models like those from Louloucup are especially easy to clean while being extremely gentle on sensitive skin.

Washing period underwear requires a bit more attention than regular underwear, but it’s not complicated! Here’s our step-by-step method:

For old stains, apply a paste of baking soda and water directly to the area. Hydrogen peroxide can be used on light-colored fabrics after a prior test, as an exception. Odors usually come from soaking for too long or storing the underwear while still damp, so avoid leaving it to soak for hours. Rinsing in cold water right after use limits bacterial growth responsible for unpleasant smells.

There’s always something better to do than rinsing your period panties. It’s probably the least appealing part of using menstrual underwear. But this step is really important!

Putting this step off and waiting before rinsing sets the blood into the fibres. An immediate rinse in cold water is essential to avoid stains and damage. And don’t forget: hot water is a no-go. It cooks the blood, making stains permanent and damaging the technical layers.

A long, too-hot wash cycle or a spin that’s too fast shortens the lifespan of the elastics and affects absorbency. Always choose a delicate cycle at a maximum of 30°C, use a laundry bag, and protect the seams.

• Fabric softeners create a greasy film that cancels out absorbency.
• Bleach or hydrogen peroxide damage the fibres and reduce effectiveness.
• **Detergents** rich in glycerin or vegetable oils clog the fabric’s pores.
• Traditional **Marseille soap** often contains glycerin, which harms the technical performance of the fabric.

Air‑drying is the only recommended method, away from direct sunlight. Ironing and vigorous spin‑drying weaken the fabrics.

Blood contains proteins that coagulate with heat. Hot water sets stains and damages the absorbent fibres. The result: stubborn stains that won’t come out and a loss of effectiveness and absorbency.

Louloucup tip: Once you take it off, rinse your period panties straight away in cold water. Rinse out the blood by running cold water over your underwear and gently pressing the inside of the panty with back-and-forth motions.

Fabric softeners, harsh chemical detergents, conditioners – pay close attention to what’s in your laundry products. Softeners leave a greasy film that blocks absorption. Marseille soap that contains glycerin clogs the fibers. Bleach destroys the waterproof membrane. Avoid enzyme-based detergents, which damage the fibers over time.

Louloucup tip: Sodium percarbonate or bicarbonate of soda are excellent natural cleaning agents and perfect for period lingerie. Whenever possible, choose a detergent that’s as natural as possible, low in fats and with a formula that isn’t too chemical or processed.

Excessive heat is very damaging for period panties. When it comes to drying after washing, the tumble dryer, radiator, fireplace, hairdryer or even direct sunlight are really not a good idea! Did you know that after 5 tumble-dryer cycles, a washable period panty can lose 40% of its waterproofing?

Louloucup tip: lay your period panties flat to dry on a drying rack, in the open air. Choose a well‑ventilated spot in front of a window or outside if you like, but not in direct sunlight, especially in summer!

Every 6 months, it’s helpful to soak your period underwear to deep-clean it. However, soaking for more than 12 hours encourages bacterial growth and unpleasant odors.

Louloucup tip: A 30-minute to 1-hour soak is enough. Remember to rinse in cold water. For stubborn stains, soak for 15–20 minutes in a mix of white vinegar + cold water.

It’s tempting to choose a high-temperature wash cycle to thoroughly clean period underwear. However, a 30°C cycle and a short programme (30 or 45 minutes) is more than enough! Technical fabrics are sensitive to heat. Washing above 30°C damages the leak-proof layer. Fibres lose 25% of their elasticity after several high-temperature washes.

Louloucup tip: use a delicate cycle at a maximum of 30°C and pop your absorbent, hygienic lingerie into a laundry bag. You can wash your period panties with the rest of your dirty laundry, no need to worry!

The enzymes in laundry detergents attack blood proteins too aggressively. Over time, this kind of washing damages the fabric.

Louloucup tip: choose enzyme-free detergents or DIY options like white vinegar + baking soda. Enzymatic detergents reduce a panty’s lifespan by 20%.

Again, it’s tempting to choose a strong spin cycle. Period panties can take a while to dry. However, high-speed spinning weakens the seams and waterproofing. After several washes, leaks become inevitable. A spin speed of 800 rpm is already too harsh.

Louloucup tip: always choose the lowest spin setting