

Everyday Household Items That Are Stellar When It Comes To Treating Period Stains
As someone who will be turning 46 in June (shout out to my fellow Geminis) and has made complete peace about not birthing any babies, I must say that every time the third week of the month rolls around, I find myself saying to my body, "Really? So, we're still on this period ish, huh?" More and more, I'm learning to just let things flow—pun intended and not intended—when it comes to things I can't control, though. So instead, as far as my period is concerned, I've been looking for ways to make it a little bit easier on me.
First up—if you want to significantly reduce your PMS-related symptoms, evening primrose oil will totally change your life. Next up—y'all, I don't know what took me so freakin' long, but I finally did get a menstrual cup and whoa. I am totally in love (if you've got a really heavy flow, I recommend investing in a Merula XL). And third, when it comes to those annoying blood stains that are pretty much unavoidable at times, I've found a way to nip them in the bud—quick, fast and in a hurry.
As far as cleaning hacks go, I will say that, more than anything, cold water is your friend. It's always a good idea to soak stained fabric in it and to wash your panties and sheets in it too. Also, until the stain is gone, avoid putting fabrics in the dryer; heat has a way of setting stains, making them close to impossible to get out.
Aside from that, if you want to be as chemical-free as possible, there are some items that I'm pretty sure are already in your house that are pretty darn effective. If you're ready to give a few of them a shot, I've got a list for you to test out below.
1. Salt
If you've got a delicate fabric that you need to get some blood out of, consider trying a salt paste. Since blood is slightly acidic and salt is basic, salt can help neutralize blood and dissolve the stain. The key to making it work is to soak the stained part of the fabric in water and then create a salt paste (one tablespoon of salt with two drops of water should just about do it). Allow the paste to sit on the fabric for about an hour, wash it, boil it in a large pot for 20 minutes, and then wash again. Yeah, this isn't the fastest hack on the planet, but I've checked around and a lot of folks think it is pretty darn effective.
2. Distilled White Vinegar
Something that's really cool about distilled white vinegar is it's able to remove both fresh and dried blood stains. Plus, it's inexpensive, much safer on your fabrics than bleach is and, it has the ability to remove the scent of blood on contact. This is actually a great remedy if you happen to get blood on your sheets. Just mix three parts vinegar with one-part water and soak your sheets in the solution for a couple of hours. Then, with an old toothbrush, gently brush the stain to break up the blood and wash as usual. In order to make your sheets (and the rest of your laundry) extra fresh, add another cup of vinegar to your final rinse. You'll definitely notice the difference.
3. Coke
Hopefully, I don't need to be super specific here, but what I mean by "coke" is Coca-Cola. All of the chemicals combined in the soda (and there are a lot of 'em) help to dissolve blood. Hey, if it can clean a car battery, should we be surprised that it can remove blood stains too?
For it to be truly effective, you'll need to let the fabric soak for 2-3 hours in the soda. But if you do, you should notice that at least most of the stain is gone after you run it through a standard washing cycle.
4. Baking Soda
If you don't have at least a couple of boxes of baking soda in your house, please make sure that you get some ASAP. Baking soda does everything from whiten teeth and freshen your breath to neutralize the odors that are in your fridge and your carpet—and that's just scratching the surface. Something else that baking soda is able to do is not only lift blood stains from fabrics but also remove the odors that it may leave behind. The main reason it works is because another name for baking soda is sodium bicarbonate which is a form of salt (and we've already discussed what salt has the ability to do). Since, like salt, baking soda has a gritty texture to it, it also is able to dislodge the old blood that has set into fabric. You can make this work for you by dampening the stained fabric, sprinkling some baking soda onto it and allowing it to sit for an hour or so. Then wash the fabric as usual.
5. Hydrogen Peroxide
If you've got an older stain that needs to be removed, I'm not sure if anything works faster than hydrogen peroxide. The minute you pour a little on the stain, you will instantly see the fabric get lighter. It works so well because hydrogen peroxide is an oxidizing agent. When it comes in contact with the enzyme catalase that is in our blood, it automatically turns it into a combination of water, oxygen, and heat (you can literally feel your fabric warmer up too!). Just make sure that you only use this remedy on lighter fabrics (because it will change the color of darker ones) and that you also go with the "less is more" mindset. Hydrogen peroxide is pretty powerful and has the ability to weaken fibers if used too often.
6. Toothpaste
OK, I've tried my best to tell you how these hacks work, but though there are all kinds of links that shout out toothpaste as an awesome way to pre-treat blood stains, I couldn't really get to the science behind it. All I can tell you is folks rave about how the chemicals in it and the textures of it create a paste that, once it is placed on the fabric, dries, is rinsed out in cold water, and then washed per usual, works like a charm.
The important thing is to not put toothpaste on your mattress. The smell of it has a way of lingering for weeks, even months. So, unless you want to fall asleep on a minty fresh bed, use one of these other hacks if blood on your bed is what you've got going on.
7. Lemon Juice
There is something about the acid in lemon juice that, if you mix it with a little salt and rub it directly onto a blood stain, it will help to remove it. When it comes to this particular remedy, the main things to remember are 1) it needs to be applied to a fresh stain and 2) you need to use the combination of a half lemon juice and half salt. If you apply the solution, let it sit for 15 minutes, and then use a cloth that has been saturated in cold water to dab the area, the friction of the cloth should help to draw the blood stain out.
8. Meat Tenderizer
Even if you're a vegan, here's a good reason to have a bottle of meat tenderizer around. Yep. It's just one more way to get out blood stains. It might sound crazy at first, but just think about the purpose of using tenderizer—it's to make meat less tough and more tender, right? It's able to do that because it contains an enzyme that ultimately breaks down some of the protein that is in the meat itself. So, if you have quite a period spill on your hands and you wet the fabric, pour some tenderizer onto it, let the tenderizer penetrate the fabric for 30 minutes and rinse in cold water—there's a really good chance that your fabric will look as good as new.
9. Aspirin
If you've got a bottle of aspirin in your bathroom cabinet, pull it out; it is another way to remove period stains. How? Well, you've probably heard that some people take aspirin as a way to prevent a heart attack. It works because it has the ability to prevent blood from clotting. When you apply aspirin to a blood stain, the salicylic acid that's in it is able to neutralize the stain. All you need to do is crush a couple of aspirin, let it sit in some warm water and then apply it directly onto the stain. For the record, it'll need to penetrate the fabric for a couple of hours, but if you let that happen and then put it into the wash, you should notice that at least most of the stain is gone once you take it out of the washing machine.
10. Spit
It might sound gross, but just like your blood, your spit is a part of you so…it's whatever. Anyway, if it's a small stain, believe it or not, spit does work. The long short of it is, there is a digestive enzyme in spit that breaks blood down. Again, this isn't the solution for a blood stain on your sheets or anything, but if you got a drop of blood on your panties while pulling out your menstrual cup (or something like that), a little of your spit (sitting on the stain overnight and then washed in cold water), just might remove it. Definitely the cheapest hack on the list so…why not give it a shot?
Want more stories like this? Sign up for our newsletter here and check out the related reads below:
These Foods Will Make Your Period So Much Easier To Handle
Hack Your Way To Making Your Period The Best Time Of The Month
Overcome Premenstrual Dysphoric Disorder With These Natural Remedies
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Different puzzle pieces are creating bigger pictures these days. 2024 will mark a milestone on a few different levels, including the release of my third book next June (yay!).
I am also a Professional Certified Coach. My main mission for attaining that particular goal is to use my formal credentials to help people navigate through the sometimes tumultuous waters, both on and offline, when it comes to information about marriage, sex and relationships that is oftentimes misinformation (because "coach" is a word that gets thrown around a lot, oftentimes quite poorly).
I am also still super devoted to helping to bring life into this world as a doula, marriage life coaching will always be my first love (next to writing, of course), a platform that advocates for good Black men is currently in the works and my keystrokes continue to be devoted to HEALTHY over HAPPY in the areas of holistic intimacy, spiritual evolution, purpose manifestation and self-love...because maturity teaches that it's impossible to be happy all of the time when it comes to reaching goals yet healthy is a choice that can be made on a daily basis (amen?).
If you have any PERSONAL QUESTIONS (please do not contact me with any story pitches; that is an *editorial* need), feel free to reach out at missnosipho@gmail.com. A sistah will certainly do what she can. ;)
Smile, Sis! These Five Improvements Can Upgrade Your Oral Hygiene Instantly
This article is in partnership with Sensodyne.
Our teeth are connected to so many things - our nutrition, our confidence, and our overall mood. We often take for granted how important healthy teeth are, until issues like tooth sensitivity or gum recession come to remind us. Like most things related to our bodies, prevention is the best medicine. Here are five things you can do immediately to improve your oral hygiene, prevent tooth sensitivity, and avoid dental issues down the road.
1) Go Easy On the Rough Brushing: Brushing your teeth is and always will be priority number one in the oral hygiene department. No surprises there! However, there is such a thing as applying too much pressure when brushing…and that can lead to problems over time. Use a toothbrush with soft bristles and brush in smooth, circular motions. It may seem counterintuitive, but a gentle approach to brushing is the most effective way to clean those pearly whites without wearing away enamel and exposing sensitive areas of the teeth.
2) Use A Desensitizing Toothpaste: As everyone knows, mouth pain can be highly uncomfortable; but tooth sensitivity is a whole different beast. Hot weather favorites like ice cream and popsicles have the ability to trigger tooth sensitivity, which might make you want to stay away from icy foods altogether. But as always, prevention is the best medicine here. Switching to a toothpaste like Sensodyne’s Sensitivity & Gum toothpaste specifically designed for sensitive teeth will help build a protective layer over sensitive areas of the tooth. Over time, those sharp sensations that occur with extremely cold foods will subside, and you’ll be back to treating yourself to your icy faves like this one!
3) Floss, Rinse, Brush. (And In That Order!): Have you ever heard the saying, “It’s not what you do, but how you do it”? Well, the same thing applies to taking care of your teeth. Even if you are flossing and brushing religiously, you could be missing out on some of the benefits simply because you aren’t doing so in the right order. Flossing is best to do before brushing because it removes food particles and plaque from places your toothbrush can’t reach. After a proper flossing sesh, it is important to rinse out your mouth with water after. Finally, you can whip out your toothbrush and get to brushing. Though many of us commonly rinse with water after brushing to remove excess toothpaste, it may not be the best thing for our teeth. That’s because fluoride, the active ingredient in toothpaste that protects your enamel, works best when it gets to sit on the teeth and continue working its magic. Rinsing with water after brushing doesn’t let the toothpaste go to work like it really can. Changing up your order may take some getting used to, but over time, you’ll see the difference.
4) Stay Hydrated: Upping your water supply is a no-fail way to level up your health overall, and your teeth are no exception to this rule. Drinking water not only helps maintain a healthy pH balance in your mouth, but it also washes away residue and acids that can cause enamel erosion. It also helps you steer clear of dry mouth, which is a gateway to bad breath. And who needs that?
5) Show Your Gums Some Love: When it comes to improving your smile, you may be laser-focused on getting your teeth whiter, straighter, and overall healthier. Rightfully so, as these are all attributes of a megawatt smile; but you certainly don’t want to leave gum health out of the equation. If you neglect your gums, you’ll start to notice the effects of plaque buildup, which can irritate the gums and cause gingivitis, the earliest stage of gum disease. Seeing blood while brushing and flossing is a tell-tale sign that your gums are suffering. You may also experience gum recession — a condition where the gum tissue surrounding your teeth pulls back, exposing more of your tooth. Brushing at least twice a day with a gum-protecting toothpaste like Sensodyne Sensitivity and Gum, coupled with regular dentist visits, will keep your gums shining as bright as those pearly whites.
Masturdating: A TikTok Dating Trend That We Should Totally Get Behind
Imma tell y’all what — it seems like not one week goes by when I don’t see some sort of so-called term that has me like, “What in the world?” For instance, when I first stumbled upon “self-partnering,” honestly, I laughed. Then shared it with some other single people as well as married folks I know. And I kid you not, every individual was like, “What the heck does that mean?” When I told them that it was yet, one more way to seemingly define single living, basically everyone’s follow-up was, “Oh, brother.”
Why can’t (more) singles just be single and be okay with that? Good Lord. Why does there need to be some sort of relational play-on-words to make it sound like we’re with someone — even if we’re not?
Now masturdating? Even though it’s not even close to being a “real” word, it’s something that also brought a laugh outta me — although it was then followed by a genuine smile. The laugh because I almost immediately caught the play-on-words. The smile was due to the intention behind it all.
If you’re not familiar with what masturdating is and you’re curious about why you should even care, take a few moments to at least skim through what it’s about and why I think participating, as a single person, is a pretty cool (and effective) concept.
@knotlukas Masturdate: a date w oneself
What’s Masturdating All About?
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Masturdating. Okay, so let the word marinate for just a moment. What does it sound like? Yeah…exactly. And since a huge part of masturbation centers around self-pleasure, it’s cool to explore how “self-dating” could produce similar (as far as pleasure is concerned in a broader sense) results. Because masturdating is all about spending quality time with yourself, pampering yourself, treating yourself— and yes, taking yourself out on dates.
Any of you who may think that masturdating is a consolation prize — and a pitiful one at that — for not being able to go out with another human being or get that dream $200 first date that social media was all in a tizzy about last year (bookmark that) — personally, I think that you’re the demographic who needs to try out masturdating first and the most. Why? Off top, I’ll share my three good reasons.
3 Reasons To Strongly Consider Masturdating
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1. It’s an intimate way to get to know yourself better. I’ve been working with couples for a pretty long time at this point and if there’s a pattern that I see arise, OFTEN, it’s that two people are oftentimes so busy trying to “find their person” that they didn’t even know who they were. As a direct result, they found themselves in a relationship with someone who only complemented the “kiddie pool version” of who they were.
That’s why it can be so beneficial to spend time getting to know yourself on the “deep end” of things: what makes you tick, what your passions are, what you want most out of life, what are your interests beyond obvious things — and masturdating can help you to discover all of this. Whether it’s traveling alone or taking out a weekend to drink some wine and journal, the more you get to know yourself, the clearer you’ll be about who complements you on a romantic and friendship level.
2. It will definitely help to boost your confidence levels. I guess since I’m an ambivert, I don’t really get why people freak out at the mere thought of going to a restaurant or movie alone. Personally, I think it requires a helluva lot more energy and gumption to wait around and plan stuff with other people (#Elmoshrug). However, whether you’re an introvert, extrovert, or ambivert, there’s no way around the fact that the more comfortable you get with doing things alone, the more your confidence levels will increase — no, soar — because of it.
One article that I read on the topic said that doing things alone can make you more creative, improve your mental health, and help you to be totally okay with being alone (so that you’re not “needy” for other people’s attention). A psychotherapist from a New York Times article on the benefits of spending time alone said, “Getting better at identifying moments when we need solitude to recharge and reflect can help us better handle negative emotions and experiences, like stress and burnout.” And when you’re able to stare negativity in its face without flinching, how could that not make you bolder, more self-secure, and hopeful about your life?
3. It will teach you to value your time more effectively. In every facet of your world, you’re gonna operate from a healthier place if you’re operating from a “full cup” rather than an empty one. When it comes to this topic, think about it — if you’re constantly waiting on someone to call you to go out or wishing for a dream date with some guy, all you’re doing is wasting precious time that you could be spending taking a cooking class or hell, hiring a chef to make you dinner at your own home.
Indeed, waiting has two sides to it: when it’s in the form of patience, it is indeed a virtue, yet when it’s wrapped up in the notion that you’re not really living life unless you have an audience…it is totally working against you. Choose wisely.
10 Solo Date Ideas To Help You To “Master” Masturdating
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So, what if you’re someone who has either never considered actually masturdating before or you don’t really know what to do beyond dinner and the movies? Here are a few ideas to consider:
1. Attend a workshop or masterclass that you’re interested in. If there’s something that you’ve always wanted to learn, sign up for a workshop or masterclass. The cool thing about this option is there are probably some in your city, as well as some that you can find online (like here) that are convenient and affordable.
2. Binge-read at a local coffee shop. Aside from their coziness and oftentimes inviting scents, I once read that a lot of us gravitate to coffee shops because we can be around people without having to actually socialize with them. So, if you want to “hang out” while still being able to enjoy a bit of solitude, take a book that you’ve been trying to finish to a local coffee shop, order your favorite latte, and sit in a big-ass comfy chair. Usually, you can sit there for hours, and the staff will be just fine with it (another bonus).
3. Have a spa day in the next town. You can never go wrong with a spa day. And while going with a friend can be fun, sometimes there’s too much talking transpiring to be able to fully chill out and relax. So, go off of the grid, get a change of scenery, and hit up a spa in the next city (or town). There are lots of studies out here supporting that day trips or “daycations” can actually be really good for your long-term health and well-being.
4. See a community play. Some of the best solo dates that I’ve ever been on consisted of taking in some of the local arts in my city. What’s really cool about this particular option is, oftentimes, they are extremely inexpensive, if not totally free of charge (in exchange for making a donation or putting money into a tip jar).
5. Plan a trip. Whenever people say something along the lines of, “If you don’t expect anything, you won’t be disappointed,” I know that they low-key have some (additional) healing to do from past disappointments. There’s simply too much intel out here to support that anticipation (of good stuff) makes us more motivated and optimistic, keeps our dopamine levels up, and makes life more exciting overall.
Since traveling alone is more cost-effective, gives you the freedom to do whatever you want (when you want), and increases the possibility of meeting new people and having new experiences on your journey — why not devote a day this weekend to planning a solo trip? All the way around, it’s good for you.
6. Try your hand at your own “$200 date.” Uh-huh. Roll your eyes if you want to, but it’s real easy to talk left about how a man should be able to just drop $200 like it’s nothing…until you actually try to do it. So yes, while taking yourself out on this type of date could serve as a bit of a reality check, it can also “scratch the itch” of waiting on some dude to do it for you. It’s also way less emotionally draining because, at least when you’re taking your own self out, it’s guaranteed that you’ll enjoy the company…right?
7. DIY some pampering. When you get a chance, check out “5 Reasons You Should Unapologetically Pamper Yourself,” “Want To Love On Yourself? Try These 10 Things At Home.,” “I’ve Got Some Ways For You To Start Pampering Your Soul,” and “When's The Last Time You Actually Pampered Your Vagina?” The bottom line here is pampering is all about, not mere self-maintenance; it’s all about treating yourself to levels of EXTREME SELF-INDULGENCE. So, if nothing else tickles your fancy on this list, at least consider doing that, chile.
8. Feed your creativity. Something that I used to be really good at is art. That said, one of my goddaughters is insanely talented, so she has reminded me to tap back into it. Also, a big part of what got me into the writing world is poetry; I actually used to be a house poet at a local spot. Sometimes, my best quality time moments with myself have been revisiting these creative sides of me — and this is definitely easier to do (and enjoy) alone.
9. Try some stargazing. When’s the last time you took a blanket into your backyard, laid down on it, and just stared at the stars for hours on end? While some say that stargazing can teach you to be mindful, others say that being in that form of nature reduces stress, while others believe that looking up at the universe at night can increase your attention span. All solid reasons to give it a shot, if you ask me.
10. DO. ABSOLUTELY. NOTHING. Let me tell you something that nobody will ever be able to make me feel bad about: doing absolutely nothing. I’ve got data to back me up. Good Housekeeping shares that doing nothing can help you decide how you want to respond or react to certain things. I like howThe Guardian says that taking this approach helps you to regain control of what you give your attention to.
TIME magazine says that it can ultimately make you more productive.BBC offers up that it can help you tap into your ingenuity.Henry Ford Health says that it can make you kinder and a better problem-solver. So, if you want to invest in yourself, do nothing sometimes.
Closing Thoughts from the Lovely Javicia Leslie
While some of y'all may know Javicia Leslie from being the former Batwoman, I discovered her back in the day from the indie series Chef Julian (and yes, "Julian" was right to say that "Mo" looks like Tatyana Ali...the real ones know). Sometimes I'll hop on her IG to see what she's got going on and this story popped up within a few hours of me penning this...so, I took it as hella confirmation.
TREAT YO SELF. WAIT FOR NO ONE.
WAIT FOR NO ONE. TREAT YO SELF.
RINSE AND REPEAT.
_____
Sooo…what kind of masturdating plans do you have for this coming weekend? While going out with others has its perks, hanging out with yourself has a ton of ‘em too. Enjoy!
No…for real. ENJOY!
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