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Best Period Underwear for 2025

Best Period Underwear for 2025

CNETa day ago
I'm no stranger to period underwear and other "alternative" period products (where my menstrual cup fans at?), so I jumped at the chance to write this guide. When you're on your period, staying dry and comfortable are the top priorities, so I judged every pair of these underwear through that lens.
I first tested all of the above underwear for fit, to determine if they are true to size. That mostly involved a lot of trying them on, wearing them under pants to see how bulky or slim they were and if you could see panty lines.
Next, I tested the absorbency to see if it lived up to the claims. Since it would take me well over a year to test each one of them while on my period, I developed an easily repeatable method in my home lab (also called the kitchen).
I washed each pair of underwear according to the label and air dried. You'll want to wash your period underwear before you wear them for the first time to remove any starch or other chemicals used in the manufacturing process. Air drying is important to preserving the underwear's absorbency -- fabric softener or dryer sheets can leave behind a film that doesn't allow moisture to pass through.
Next, for every pair, I checked how many tampons' worth of fluid they can hold and converted that amount into millimeters. This is not exact because there's some variation in tampons across brands, but in general, one regular tampon can hold 5ml of liquid.
I slowly poured that amount of water over the gusset of the underwear to see how quickly it absorbed and if any water leaked. I left them for 30 minutes and then checked to see how dry they were after absorbing the water. Some were just as wet as when I started the test, others were dry enough to comfortably keep wearing.
I will caveat that this is not a perfect test. Menstrual fluid usually leaves your body slowly over the course of a few hours, though some people experience short gushes throughout the day. Some of the underwear I tested didn't absorb the entire amount of water right away and/or leaked, but that doesn't mean they wouldn't work for your period. If your flow is steady over the course of a day, period underwear will have time to absorb it slowly, which will minimize leaks.
If you pass multiple clots during your period or experience repeated gushing/flooding, period underwear might struggle to absorb fluid and keep you feeling dry.
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NIAID acting director's view of ‘risky research'
NIAID acting director's view of ‘risky research'

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NIAID acting director's view of ‘risky research'

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In May, Trump signed an executive order banning all 'present and all future' federal funding for gain-of-function research in countries like China,which Trump said has insufficient research oversight. He also ordered the National Institutes of Health to review and possibly halt experiments the administration believes could endanger Americans' lives. In Congress, Sen. Rand Paul's (R-Ky.) Risky Research Review Act, which hasn't yet been taken up by the full Senate, would create a panel to review funding for gain-of-function research. Not black and white: During the podcast, Bhattacharya asked Taubenberger how the institute should approach gain-of-function research. 'It's not a simple black-and-white issue,' replied Taubenberger, a senior investigator in virology who's a leading expert on the 1918 flu pandemic and sequenced the virus that caused it. He's also co-leading the effort to develop a universal flu vaccine, backed with $500 million from the Trump administration. 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If You Haven't Washed Your Sheets Lately, You're Sleeping With Millions of Bacteria
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CNET

time10 hours ago

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If You Haven't Washed Your Sheets Lately, You're Sleeping With Millions of Bacteria

There's something satisfying about climbing into bed after a long day. The mattress matters, and so does the comforter, but clean sheets can make or break that cozy feeling. If it has been a while since you last changed them, you might not be curling up in just fabric. Sheets quietly collect things you would probably rather not think about - sweat, skin cells, body oils, and dust mites. All of that can add up and start to bother your skin or make sleep less restful. So, how often should you actually wash them? Most sleep experts suggest about once a week, though some people might need to do it a little more or less often depending on their routines. If you are unsure where to start or want to make the process faster, a few small adjustments can help. These tips walk you through washing sheets the right way so your bed feels fresh and your sleep space stays healthy. How often should I change or wash my sheets? The common rule of thumb is to wash sheets every other week. Ideally, sleep experts recommend changing sheets every week but agree that every two weeks is the absolute longest one should go sleeping on the same set of sheets. When to wash all bedding Bedding type Frequency Sheets Once a week or every other week Pillowcases Once a week or every other week Duvet covers Once a week or every other week Comforters Once a month or every other month (or more frequently if you sleep with pets) Duvet inserts Once or twice a year Mattress pads Every three to four months Why do we wash our sheets and bedding? Hygiene is always important, even with our bedding. If you can't see stains or smell any odor, it doesn't mean your sheets are clean. Sheets can accumulate dead skin, mites, animal dander, pollen, makeup, bodily secretions and more grime, which may cause discomfort or skin rashes. One of the biggest reasons to regularly clean sheets is because of sweat. In a May study, 41% of participants reported experiencing night sweats in a month and generally, people tend to run hot when covered in blankets or living in warmer climates. Sweat can soak into the sheets which can clog up the fibers and make the sheets smell. You should wash your sheets more often if you tend to sleep with your pet. Elena Grigorovich/EyeEm/Getty Images You should also wash your sheets more often if: You have allergies or asthma You have sensitive skin You sweat or overheat frequently You sleep naked You sleep with a pet You eat in bed You get in bed before showering You lay in bed wearing clothes you wore out in public You have an infection or open wound that touches the bedding What's the best way to machine-wash my sheets? Most bedsheets are machine washable and aren't much of a hassle to clean. Cotton and linen bedsheets are especially easy, while silk and satin are a bit more temperamental, requiring cold temperatures and slow spin cycles. 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Too much detergent can lead to the machine using excess water or cause buildup in the washing machine's pipes. Most detergents are acceptable to use on cotton and linen sheets but choose a detergent for delicate fabrics to wash silk and satin sheets. There are many silk or satin-friendly detergents on the market. A good rule of thumb is to use 2 ounces (1/4 cup) or half a cap full of liquid laundry detergent for a regular-sized load of bedding. You can also use 4 ounces (1/2 cup) or 1 full cap of liquid laundry detergent for a larger load of bulkier items. I also recommend skipping the fabric softener because it can weaken the fabric. 6. Dry completely For most sheets, you can use the dryer on low to medium heat. Satin and silk sheets would do best to air dry because they can be easily damaged even on a low-heat dryer cycle. 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Sheets may also have different washing instructions from clothes so washing them separately can help preserve the different fabrics and prevent damage. Does making your bed keep the sheets clean longer? Making the bed is an important part of many people's morning routine, and can make your room appear cleaner and more put together, but it won't necessarily extend the freshness of your sheets. In fact, letting your sheets air out for awhile after you wake up can actually keep them cleaner, especially if you tend to sweat at night. When you immediately pull your comforter or duvet over your sheets in the morning, it can restrict airflow and trap any moisture or odors that've built up throughout the night. This can create a warm, damp environment that is ideal for dust mites and bacteria growth. Instead, many experts recommend letting your sheets air out in the morning before making the bed. Try pulling your duvet down and letting them breathe for a bit while you go about your morning routine. Then, you can circle back and make the bed before you leave the house, if desired. Though you should still be washing your bedsheets regularly regardless of whether you make the bed daily. More cleaning and laundry tips

Best Period Underwear for 2025
Best Period Underwear for 2025

CNET

timea day ago

  • CNET

Best Period Underwear for 2025

I'm no stranger to period underwear and other "alternative" period products (where my menstrual cup fans at?), so I jumped at the chance to write this guide. When you're on your period, staying dry and comfortable are the top priorities, so I judged every pair of these underwear through that lens. I first tested all of the above underwear for fit, to determine if they are true to size. That mostly involved a lot of trying them on, wearing them under pants to see how bulky or slim they were and if you could see panty lines. Next, I tested the absorbency to see if it lived up to the claims. Since it would take me well over a year to test each one of them while on my period, I developed an easily repeatable method in my home lab (also called the kitchen). I washed each pair of underwear according to the label and air dried. You'll want to wash your period underwear before you wear them for the first time to remove any starch or other chemicals used in the manufacturing process. Air drying is important to preserving the underwear's absorbency -- fabric softener or dryer sheets can leave behind a film that doesn't allow moisture to pass through. Next, for every pair, I checked how many tampons' worth of fluid they can hold and converted that amount into millimeters. This is not exact because there's some variation in tampons across brands, but in general, one regular tampon can hold 5ml of liquid. I slowly poured that amount of water over the gusset of the underwear to see how quickly it absorbed and if any water leaked. I left them for 30 minutes and then checked to see how dry they were after absorbing the water. Some were just as wet as when I started the test, others were dry enough to comfortably keep wearing. I will caveat that this is not a perfect test. Menstrual fluid usually leaves your body slowly over the course of a few hours, though some people experience short gushes throughout the day. Some of the underwear I tested didn't absorb the entire amount of water right away and/or leaked, but that doesn't mean they wouldn't work for your period. If your flow is steady over the course of a day, period underwear will have time to absorb it slowly, which will minimize leaks. If you pass multiple clots during your period or experience repeated gushing/flooding, period underwear might struggle to absorb fluid and keep you feeling dry.

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