Getting Rid of Semen Stains

That, my dear friends, is a semen skid mark across our couch cushion. Did I have something to prevent it? Yes. Did I think to use it?

So, if you accidentally get semen or cum in the wrong spot like I did, there are plenty of ways to fix it. No worries!

First, let’s go through what not to do:

• Don’t use hot water initially. Hot water will actually set organic stains.
• Don’t try to wipe up the semen, always blot. If you wipe, you’ll just spread the semen around and make the stain bigger.
• Don’t use more than directed concentration of detergent on fabrics. Always follow the directions!
• Don’t use bleach or hydrogen peroxide on colors. You’ll bleach them.
• Don’t try to clean the stain if it’s on a cover on a couch cushion. Take the cover off and treat the cover by itself.

Cleaning Methods

• You can have a professional clean it, but it will cost you more and will probably be embarrassing to say what the stain is. I’ve heard to just tell the cleaner that it’s an egg white stain.
• If you can wash the fabric, try to rinse as much of the semen out as possible with cold water. After that, you can stick the fabric in with the rest of your laundry and wash as per usual.
• If you think detergents are too strong for your fabrics, you can use environment-friendly soaps found on the market today. Spray some seltzer water on the stained area, or run plain water on it after washing it with soap.
• Try cleaners for pet stains. They clean up a wide array of organic stains, and should work on semen, too.
• White vinegar has acetic acid that makes it an effective cleaning substance. The acid dissolves any organic compounds in your couch, pillows, towels, bed sheets, underwear, whatever.
• You could try bleach, but I would only use it on white fabrics. Bleach removes colors from fabrics.
• Boric acid, also known as borax, helps to remove organic stains and is environmentally friendly. Create a paste by mixing a small amount of water with a tablespoon of borax. This amount should be enough spread over your semen stain. Let the paste sit for 30 minutes, and then use a scotch pad to brush the semen away. Be careful not to rough up your fabric, or you’ll ruin it.
• Hydrogen peroxide is a non-chlorine bleach that’s known to be milder than pure bleach. A few teaspoons will do. Just rub it on the spot and let the fabric absorb the chemicals before rinsing. Hydrogen peroxide is not color-safe.