They were easy to put on and comfortable.I’ve been using my menstrual cup for a couple years now, and I love it, BUT towards the end of my period, putting it in doesn’t seem like it’s worth the effort considering how light my flow is at the end. Here at Hey Girls, we pride our range on its sustainability and easy-care ethos. If you're now convinced you want to give these a try yourself, here are some pro-tips to help you not make rookie mistakes while saving some money: I had three regular size pads, and three overnight pads, and it was easy to make those last for five days. You can also purchase reusable cloth "wet bags" similar to diaper bags from many cloth pad sellers. Please help us continue to provide you with our trusted how-to guides and videos for free by whitelisting wikiHow on your ad blocker. CUSTOMER SERVICES [email protected] What It's Really Like To Use Reusable Menstrual Pads During Your Period. Love mine. On an average use, your pads can last in good condition for up to 4 years. ", https://ecofemme.org/how-to-wash-cloth-pads-part-1/, https://www.greenchildmagazine.com/making-the-switch-the-benefits-of-cloth-menstrual-pads/, https://menstrualcupreviews.net/reusable-cloth-pads-faqs/, http://cottonmermaid.com/wash-and-care-faq/, https://www.cleanipedia.com/gb/laundry/how-to-remove-dried-blood-stains.html, consider supporting our work with a contribution to wikiHow. Prepare Your Nipple Just as with disposable breast pads, make Musselburgh The sun is also very effective at killing germs- hang your pads out in the sunlight for the day if you're worried about germs. ", wash simultaneously). If you take care of your pads, they’ll take care of you. References Thanks to all authors for creating a page that has been read 127,086 times. You can hide it in your cupboard or under your bed if you don't want others to see it, or you can put it in a decorative cloth bag. This website uses cookies to improve your experience while you navigate through the website. Our pads are paraben free and vegan friendly. Our cloth pads come in day, which are 22cm long and 18cm wide and overnight, which are 27cm long and 18cm wide. Choose a large jar, container, bucket etc for your pads to be soaked in. wikiHow is where trusted research and expert knowledge come together. - YourTango's best articles delivered straight to your inbox. We know ads can be annoying, but they’re what allow us to make all of wikiHow available for free. "I didn't know the pads could be washed with clothes and in the shower, and that vinegar was just as good as bleach, "I love all the details, especially on the shower method (seems environmentally friendly by washing my pads while I, "I recently bought my first cloth pads, and I was curious on how to wash them safely. Absolutely love the reusable pads, so comfortable, no rustling, very absorbent and waste free. You can use whichever method you prefer. Give them a try today! I would like to know the lifespan of the pads that are looked after properly: months or years? These cookies do not store any personal information. If your mother wants you to clean them that way then there is no harm in it. Love them! You will be taken to our signup form on Mailchimp (new window/tab), who handle our email marketing. You should change it if it's full, if you notice an unpleasant smell, or just if you would feel more comfortable with a clean pad. – Julie, Honestly the best ones I’ve had, will definitely be buying from here from now on! They have even been described as “a dressing gown for your lady bits”! Jars are particularly good as they have a lid and therefore won't spill. Whether you’re not ready for tampons or just prefer to wear pads for a break from internal products, our bamboo reusable pads will keep you leak-free and cosy! Newhailes Business Park Don't use bleach. They are made from two layers of micro fibre bamboo. By using our site, you agree to our. They came without washing instructions. But given the fact that cloth pads are eco-friendly, so it was worth a shot. Most pad companies (hannahpad, etc.) Also, it shouldn't stain any worse than any other method of washing. Not that you need to know that. wikiHow marks an article as reader-approved once it receives enough positive feedback. You can iron pads that are completely made of natural materials such as cotton/ flannel, but never iron pads that contain synthetic (eg microfibre) or waterproofing (eg PUL) materials as they will melt. When you are using reusable cloth menstrual pads away from home, the best thing to do is to carry a resealable plastic bag with you. Everything you need to know about our reusable period pads. Wear the plain bamboo charcoal side next to your body and the pattern side against your underwear. They just didn't have my back! This helped, but I was more, "I brought my reusable pads from an online store. Most users of reusable cloth pads go on and on about how comfortable they are compared to disposables, which can chafe or feel bulky and clammy. © 2020 Hey Girls CIC. Cloth pads are a great alternative for anyone who wants to have some options in their period product collection. The top layer that sits against your body has a soft fleece texture, so it’s super cosy and fast drying. In order to get the stains out of these pups, you have to soak them in water and wring them out repeatedly. That will help kill all the bacteria that has stayed on the pad from using it. Some people put it in the garden, but this is inappropriate in some areas as blood and bodily fluids are a danger to other people. If you've ever thought about trying reusable menstrual pads, you might not have talked about it with your friends first. % of people told us that this article helped them. yet I have one pad that looks like the whole thing is bloodish colored no matter how much or how I wash. Despite the revisited feelings of puberty, I haven't written them off. I haven't dreaded the mess that comes with my period in years, and this stuff just feels easier to deal with, since they last longer and work better and I don't have to worry about stuff like toxic shock syndrome (yes this is rare anyway but I'm kinda paranoid). Once your pad is in place, you’re good to go! Learn more... Reusable cloth menstrual pads are a great way to go green and treat your body and your wallet better. I usually use it with my colored clothes. Of course, as with all things good, there were some cons to using cloth. Great quality way easier to wash that some brands, comfortable and better for the environment! Rubber gloves definitely would have made the situation less gross for me, but I still can’t say I’m a fan of using any kind of pad on my heavy days. Soak the pads and ring them dry until the water runs clear. How often do I need to change my reusable sanitary napkin? To carry the pads when away from home, get a reusable wet bag. Use Clean, Dry Pads Because bacteria can grow in moist environments, make sure the breast pad you select is completely dry. It was one of the big reasons I traded in my tampons for my menstrual cups, and it seems to be the same case for pads. These cookies will be stored in your browser only with your consent. Here are the main points, including a few pro-tips: If you’re like me, you don’t like noticeable stains, even on things that no one else will have to see. This article was very, "This is nice and simple. Cuteness makes everything better. They were messy and risky. To create this article, 19 people, some anonymous, worked to edit and improve it over time. If they weren’t finished drying, I’d leave them to dry for the rest of the day. Air drying is recommended – this is a tumble free zone! Stains may lead to odor and discomfort, and the purpose of a reusable pad is to use it more than once after all. Since the pads I used wouldn't sop up the mess as instantaneously as I would have liked, it would spread throughout the pad so the stain looked HUGE, which used to gross me out back in the day. Bleach is bad for the environment and it can harm your pad's hardware. Pads and I rarely got along. They both have the same levels of absorbency, but the overnight pads are a bit longer to prevent any pesky leaks when you’re catching some beauty sleep. So if you feel like you can, do, if you feel like you can't, consider/try, if you feel like you absolutely can't, then you just do you, boo. I haven't worn a pad since my early-menstruation days, but I figure: hey, there's got to be SOME reason why plenty of women still choose them over tampons! Blood, gooey uterus slough, and heat make a great breeding ground for some stinky stuff. We also use third-party cookies that help us analyze and understand how you use this website. Periods stink, literally and figuratively, with disposable menstrual products. I had THOUGHT that I would want the patterned side up so the blood would blend in with the design, and the directions said "smooth side up" which was both sides... but then I took a minute to actually rethink it and realized that even though it was working fine, it was wrong. No matter what, I always had two pads available. Too little to justify a whole cup, too much to go unprotected. Welcome to the #ReusableRevolution! WHATEVER! Ensure soaking water is disposed of safely. A ton of you are probably thinking: EW YOU DIDNT USE RUBBER GLOVES? Select a tub. So I’ll be switching up my routine. I would have blood leak through my jeans and not notice until one of the lovely girls in my class would whisper: code red. It is not recommended to use hospital grade disinfectant soaps such as Dettol as these can encourage "antibiotic resistant bacteria" to flourish. It's not uncommon to grow up with people who act disgusted or freaked out by them as if they're NOT one of the most normal things in the world. Tampons were my first menstrual revolution. I was really out of it, okay?? Then when you are ready, wash and hang the pad out to dry. Unit 3 You can hand or machine wash the pads, stick to a 40’ cycle and avoid using heavy fabric conditioner – this can affect the absorbency of the material inside the pads. Do not rinse the pads after use- put them in the plastic bag and rinse or soak them when you get home. It can be warm. I've tried all methods. Read their privacy policy here. Are cloth pads comfortable? Another point for reusable pads! The sooner pads are rinsed after they are used, the less staining they will have. It was a simple cycle, so don't think you need 20 pads for one cycle the way you normally would with regular ones. If you really can’t stand to see another ad again, then please consider supporting our work with a contribution to wikiHow. My mom always puts pads in jars and heats them for 20 minutes to sterilize them, is that something I should be doing? +44 (0)7754 759775, MEDIA ENQUIRIES And just being aware of every time something leaked out was enough to make me run to the bathroom to make sure these things were working. The soft material is really comfortable and the wings with poppers keep the pad in place. Most pads take 24 hours or so to dry in the sun. This category only includes cookies that ensures basic functionalities and security features of the website. Rinse the pad right after it is used, otherwise it stains. I was alone and confused and just wanted to take a shower and sleep! I carried a sweatshirt with me every day just in case. Menstrual cups were my second menstrual revolution, and I haven’t turned back since. Going to get the cloth pads for my girls. A top tip is to wrap your pads round a bathroom radiator if you have one, as this is a great way to keep your pads in shape and help them dry quickly. Nothing works, my pads are from Wish. The rinsing method results in fewer stains. Yes. Include your email address to get a message when this question is answered. I have not used pads since my early period days, and I really had no intention of ever going back since they were total failures for my inexperienced flowing youth. RELATED:  5 Reasons Periods Are Literally The Bloody WORST. This article has been viewed 127,086 times. ", curious about detergents, water temp, etc. Most pads when rinsed or washed correctly, will not stain. It made me feel like I needed to jump into a shower immediately. If a woman has a heavy menstrual flow, they may not even be practical. I always needed a sweatshirt to feel safe so I could wrap it around my waist in case of an emergency.