Cleaning care

I'm not sure where to put this, since I can't find a section on cleaning, so I guess it's off topic. Anyways, I am in the process of making my own pads. They will be made completely from flannel. I'm planning to soak them after use and before washing and I'm wondering what would be the best to put in the water to keep the stains at bay. I've heard of everything from salt to borax, from vinegar to baking soda. I'm wondering what most people are using, what works and what doesn't.

Thanks!

I moved the post to Red Tent.

it seems that different women have different results with staining and what products to use. I found I didn't get staining at all if I let the pads soak in plain water (basically so long as they stayed wet), until I went on the pill and now I do get some staining. So I'm not sure what the change has been there, perhaps because my periods are lighter and they get a chance to dry out more.

So I'd recommend giving it a go with plain water, and see if you get staining to begin with, then work out what to do from there. You may be lucky and not need to use anything.

if I do get stains, I find pouring some baking soda onto the pad (that's been rinsed out) and scrubbing it a bit with my hand, will get some of it out, and the sunlight when they hang up to dry usually gets the rest, if not the first time, by the second time it's washed they are gone.

Baking soda in a soak works great for stains in a soak, but something that is absolutely amazing for stains is an oxygen based bleach e.g. Napisan, Oxyclean