Emergency stain removal: camping edition
July 13, 2019 5:47 AM   Subscribe

I brought pretty bleached-out jeans as my only pants on a camping trip even though I am also starting my period. After an evening of peeing outside I realize I have a crazy stain on the crotch. What can I do? This campsite has a washing machine and I might have access to detergent or peroxide. Also looking for advice for if this needs to wait until I’m home Sunday.
posted by anonymous to Clothing, Beauty, & Fashion (6 answers total)
 
If you can find hydrogen peroxide, that would be good. I've poured it directly on bloodstains in the past (holding a paper towel underneath to absorb) and watched the stain completely disappear.
posted by pinochiette at 5:56 AM on July 13, 2019


For the most accessible solution, you can wet with cold water, rub on some soap, and scrub scrub scrub with salt before rinsing.

Whatever you do, do not tumble dry as that will set the stain.
posted by DarlingBri at 6:04 AM on July 13, 2019 [2 favorites]


Contact lens solution (the saline kind) also works really well. Maybe salted water also?
posted by stillmoving at 6:04 AM on July 13, 2019


Cold water and salt do a pretty good job, if you think they’ll dry acceptably overnight. I’d put a towel packed against the underside of the material to absorb excess water, dribble some cold water onto the stain, pour plenty of salt onto it, user the salt to scrub (pay particular attention to the edges of the stain - it’s like you want to ‘break’ the edges of the stain to allow the rest of it to flow away). Then a bit more cold water to rinse, blot as much away as you can with another bit of towel, repeat as necessary. Cold water’s always better on protein stains (egg, blood) as hot water will set it.
posted by penguin pie at 6:08 AM on July 13, 2019 [1 favorite]


I have had luck removing blood from fabric with cold water and shampoo!
posted by Juniper Toast at 6:10 AM on July 13, 2019


Seconding shampoo. I always use it to get blood stains out. Something about the fact that shampoo has a neutral Ph. Works a charm.
posted by amusebuche at 11:16 AM on July 13, 2019


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