(no subject)

[slemslempike]

One of the things I imagine would make me feel properly grown-up is going a whole period without bleeding on any items of clothing or bedding. Eventually I'll just stop bleeding, which is kind of grown-up in itself, so one way or another I can achieve adulthood. I think menopause is going to be the winner, though. It's especially annoying at the moment because my landlady has provided white sheets that are frankly over-absorbent, yet no detergents that are any good at bloodstain removal. I don't know the right products here, and I am afraid that my patented combination of mime and bad french in supermarkets might lead to potentially dangerous misunderstandings. Still, I'm back in the UK a couple of time in the next two months, and what airport/international railway station doesn't sell blood removers? Surely an essential for all truly successful holidays.

(I know some people have wonderful experiences with hormonal contraception stopping menstruation. I don't, it doesn't work for me. So comments about how brilliant it is will not be particularly well-received.)

Comments

[katlinel.livejournal.com]

If you can recognise bicarbonate of soda in the supermarket, you could try that. Or else try wetting the stain and rubbing ordinary soap into it, then washing it. I've done the latter at work when I've spilt tea and coffee down myself.

[slemslempike.livejournal.com]

Don't those only work if the stain hasn't been washed? If not, that's great, thanks!

[blue-monday.livejournal.com]

Bicarb will normally help even if it's been washed already. Maybe try soaking overnight before washing if the stain seems to have set in.

[nineveh-uk.livejournal.com]

White cotton sheets are the one thing for which experimental bleaching cannot possibly make the situation worse. I'd try a bucket of cold water and soaking for several hours, repeated if necessary. It costs peanuts so there's not much to lose.

[jekesta]

No clare. Bleeding on things is making you a grown up, when you didn't bleed on things you were a child. You will make the feminists of the seventies cry by not taking PRIDE IN WHAT YOU BLEED ON AND PROBABLY MAKING IT INTO FLAGS OR SOMETHING. Bleeding on things is great and means you aren't all weak and pale and tragic. Being messy and liquidy is THE MOST FEMININE.

(I'm not actually questioning your feminist credentials, obviously. You are a LADY and therefore all the choices you make are feminist, I understand that. And I'm properly not saying that you should leave your landlady's stuff covered in blood, but she's probably given you white sheets so that all the bleaching in the world will be fine, so it's okay.)

[slemslempike.livejournal.com]

But it's so unpleasant for the MEN, Jen. Think of the poor men, admittedly none live in my flat, but the very scent and aura of unmannerly bleeding might cause an unsettling disturbance in the block of flats. WOMEN MUST CONTROL THEMSELVES. I shall also try to get some bleach.

[notmarcie.livejournal.com]

Soak in cold water with lots of salt when new-ish. Also shampoo works wonders at removing blood. Even when it's been washed. You might have to scrub a bit but it does work

[zoje-george.livejournal.com]

Soak with hydrogen peroxide. That's what they use in hospitals, and I have found it works very very well, especially if I treat it with a stain removing spray as follow up just before washing.

[thereyougothen.livejournal.com]

Before they are washed make a paste of cornflour and water and spread it on. Scrape off when dry with a sharp Knife.

Who the hell taught me that? I can't remember but I recall it did work.