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What in the heck are you supposed to do about these stains?

soap in a clean sink

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How do you wash them?

What products do you use?

And, crucially, is treating a poop stain different than a semen stain?

These are questions Im often asked as a sex educator and coach.

I know a lot aboutcleaning sex toys, but I know very little about cleaning sex stains.

So, I rounded up a few cleaning experts to get you the skinny on post-coital cleanup.

The first thing to know is that semen is a protein stain.

There are other ingredients in there, but protein is the trickiest bit to clean.

In other words, that stain is sticking aroundforevernow.

After youre finished having sex, you may want to wash your sheets.

However, there are a few things you should know before sticking them in the washing machine.

For satin and silk sheets, youll have to clean them differently.

Dont agitate the stain, Gagliardi advises.

Believe it or not, you dont want to use too much detergent.

confirm you add the right amount.

Using too much can cause over-sudsing, which cushions the load and reduces cleaning performance.

If youre engaging inanal play, youre likely going to come in contact with poop.

Youre dealing with the hole that poop comes out of.

Get over it and move on, so you’re able to enjoy yourself.

First, rinse away excess solids with cool water, Gagliardi tells us.

After it’s done, air dry, and check it out.

But remember, semen and bleach don’t mix!

If there is semen mixed with the fecal matter, bleach is a no-go.

Sometimes sex comes along with a littlespotting, or perhaps you simply enjoyperiod sex.

While period sex is normal and healthy, it can do a number on your sheets.

Alas, you cant always prepare for surprises.

Blood happens sometimes, especially in cases where not enough foreplay took place.

Then let it sit.

Wait 10 minutes, and then rinse in cool water, Gagliardi says.

It removes blood stains from wallpaper, painted walls, and drywall like a charm.

Having sex without lubeis like having a Moscow Mule without ginger beernot as good and probably uncomfortable.

Water-based and oil-based lubes are pretty straightforward.

For most oil- and water-based lubricant stains, you might go about your normal laundering process, Miller says.

When it comes to silicone lube, things are a little more complicated but removal is totally doable.

Before you wash your sheets, youll want to pretreat the area.

Lubricant should be cleaned up quickly from fabrics.

For the times when stains leak through your sheets, there are a few options for cleanup.

(Always carefully read labels before mixing chemical ingredients at home.)

He advises that you work from the outer edges of the stain inward.

Blot the area with the paste and the stain should begin to disappear, he says.

A pro tip: Get a mattress protector.

You simply pull it off every few weeks or months months and toss it in the washing machine.

Whatever your sex mess might be, there is a way around it.

Just pay attention to the throw in of stain youre dealing with and have patience with the cleanup.