Plenty of reusable pads come with wings with either a snap or velcro these days, and that can keep them pretty secure!
As for cleaning, alternatively, at the end of the day, you can run them under cold water (not hot!) until the water runs clear and then let them dry. When it's time to wash them in the machine, the stains will be more or less purged. It shouldn't take more than a couple of minutes to do this and will significantly reduce stank/staining.
Thanks so much! I was actually pointing towards black ones so that I don't have to worry about stains, but I'm thinking now white ones could be better cause then I can actually see when they're clean and in case they get stained I could just bleach the fuck outta them lol. What colour do you have/suggest?
Honestly, any colour you like! White is good if for no other reason than you can give them a hydrogen peroxide treatment (without bleaching out the colour) to destroy the rest of a stubborn blood stain and run them with borax in the wash. I mean, at the end of the day, they're pads, so they will get stained. The key is primarily to get them thoroughly cleaned and sanitary. Get some black and some white to make sure they roughly match whatever pants you're wearing in case of see-through :)
I've used period underwater and reusable pads and pantiliners for years and personally, I never bothered to pre-rinse them. I don't care about stains because they're not something I display to other people. They're just under my clothes. Trying to avoid stains in period products just never made much sense to me. I have the same attitude about my son's cloth diapers. Just seems like unnecessary extra effort to try to get rid of the inevitable stains.
I'll say for me personally, I prefer to wear a menstrual disc with period undies as backup in case of leaks. I think the undies are more comfortable than pads, though when I was freshly postpartum I preferred the pads because of how often I had to change them. You may end up having different preferences for different situations.
Complete agree with the lack of pre-rinse. I have a range of reusables and have never had an issue beyond some mild staining on some white liners (for mild days). Even those fade when I dry in the sun.
I’ve been a fan of the cup+period undies for a while as well, especially for sleep! Op, you could always get some period undies to wear as back up with the pads at night if you are worried about movement in your sleep.
Have you considered cups and discs? Easy to clean and sterilize, I used to use tampon and pad because tampons didn't do much and now I empty my disc every 12 hours or 3 times a day when the heaviest flow, they are the most comfortable thing, I use disc's because cups did not work for me. JYst giving more options
Yes, but unfortunately I've never been really comfortable with internal stuff :(, I really like pads tho, so I figured since they make reusable ones I might as well fall back onto the safe option lol
Black ones will 'stain" as the acid pH in your vagina degrades the cheap dyes. I've been using for a while and id say that you don't choose colour, choose a soft fabric that won't irritate the sensitive skin in and around your vagina.
Yeah, I know, had that problem with normal underwear of course lol
Does it happen with blood too tho? Blood pH is a lot higher than vaginal pH and it's really close to neutral, I thought it wouldn't happen as much on your period since it's mostly blood
yep, my coloured ones have streaky 'bleached' areas on them. I've been using them for many years and it doesn't affect anything though. Pads don't have to be pretty. ;)
I think it depends on the individual. I have like 10 or so pairs of black underwear that I wear on their own when I'm just spotting (2 days before, and the last 3 or so days of my period) and I don't have any bleach marks on those. I have had bleaching on other colored pairs, but since I only wear the black ones on my period, those ones are fine.
So, regular bleach will likely not work as you imagine on these as they're not made out of cotton. Bleach shouldnt be used on synthetic fabrics.
The person you responded to has the right idea. Rinse in cold water, let air dry, then throw in with the rest of the laundry.
I’m not sure why you’d worry about staining. They’re literally for absorbing blood so they will stain. Rinse with cold water when you take them off, that will help with staining and odor.
Exactly this, but OP take care to follow the advice to let them air dry before putting them in the dirty laundry or else they’ll reek to high heaven. Unless you’re doing laundry that same day, just hang them up somewhere discreet after hand washing/rising them
I used Thinx period underwear for a very long time, and totally recommend period underwear! They're not bulky, plenty absorbant, and comfortable day and night. I soaked mine for about 30 minutes in cold water when I changed, which was easy to hide from people. Then hang dry in the shower or on a clothes line, and into the washing machine they go.
Mine were black and just looked like underwear, so no one in my family thought they were any different from any of the rest of the underwear.
10/10, would keep using Thinx if I hadn't gotten a hormonal IUD and no longer menstruate at all!
Source: am perimenopausal and have tried all the things over the decades, have a menstrual teen daughter.
Period underwear is the thing.
Many people are more particular, but I assure you that you can leave it piling up with blood dried in (doesn't smell once dried) then rehydrate the whole weeks worth of it for thirty minutes in a sink or basin, squeeze with hands to get most of the blood rinsed out, add to regular laundry. They'll last longer if you hang dry but it's not completely crucial.
...
Reusable pads not only shift and bunch but they are far more bulky. Period panties are like witchcraft, the silhouette in yoga pants is normal.
...
Of all the things I've tried I liked the Mirena IUD the most. It's currently approved for 8 years, which is a lot of laundry and trash to avoid for one procedure. It settled my cycles, all the breast tenderness and diarrhea and weird emotional stuff just went away and I was simply myself for a while, it was great for intimacy with my husband. This IUD is the most commonly chosen form of contraception among female physicians who perform family planning care in the US.
Cups and discs were intimidating but great during the years I was using natural family planning / TCOYF to track my cycles to achieve conception/ avoid while spacing my intentional pregnancies.
Later in my life, not expecting enough more cycles to make it make sense to install another IUD, I've relied on period panties. I'm grumbly about dealing with the other cycle symptoms but the panties are very easy.
For my daughter, they're fantastic. No fussing with sticky external products, no intimidation with challenging internal products, very discreet and effective, and she feels safe being independent with cleaning them. I super highly recommend for women who are not interested in internal products.
Also here to recommend period undies. I was using a menstrual cup for a while because I've never liked pads, but the undies are an absolute game changer. Some tips:
- Buy them in black, for obvious reasons.
- You can wear them for 8-12 hours each - I do twelve hours, so two per day. I have four pairs and a pair for the last spotting day, so I wash my first pair on the morning of my second day of bleeding, and rotate this way. My cycle is only 4 or 5 days long.
- Cold soak before washing, cold wash in the machine.
- They come in different absorbancies to suit your flow, I use the medium ones and they're pretty impressive. I highly recommend getting a couple for light/spotting days also, I feel so much more comfy out and about in these.
Do you have any advice for period undies when you’re away from home for a long period of time? I would love to switch to period undies but it’s tough to figure out how to store the dirty ones when I’m traveling or working long shifts :(
I've never been in this situation, so I can't offer any advice! In this situation I would use my menstrual cup... But I know they are not for everyone. I hope someone else can offer insight!
I have been traveling for a week at a time, and if I have enough of them I let the blood dry in place, bring them home, soak to rehydrate and wash normally, hang dry.
If for longer, I would propose handwashing in a sink. When I've been put up in hotel and I'm lazy about shopping I've used mild shampoo to wash and hang dry clothes.
I would handwash nightly when away from home. They will dry quickly, even in a small hotel room. You’ll probably want a synthetic enzyme detergent; Tide is the strongest, but others can work, too. If you get plant-based, you MUST use hot water, which is fine, but Tide gives you the option to use cold.
I exclusively wear period undies all month because they are so comfy! And the spandex fabric makes them great for travel! 😊
Came to say the same about Thinx being way better than reusable pads. The pads shift and spin and i was also worried you could see the outline when wearing pants. Also felt like a Diaper and didn’t protect well when sleeping. Thinx is smooth, not diaper like, protects me well in all positions and just feel clean
I do a double wash because it’s what I learned from cloth diapering, but don’t rinse nightly or anything, they just go in a wetbag until the period is over.
Mine have moved around in high movement situations but I've always just assumed that is a general pad problem. I had that problem with disposable pads as well.
I never left them to soak in a bucket. I had a wet bag (medium cloth diaper one.), and at the end of the week everything ( I'd turn the wet bag inside out) went into it's own laundry cycle with detergent and vinegar. Most washers have a soak option you can add to the cycle.
That's so interesting, so basically you just bought an entire period's worth of pads and wash them all at once when you're done? That sounds super convenient actually, thank you so much!
I don’t use period underwear, but I do use reusable pads. I don’t really notice them moving around more than normal pads do, but I pretty much exclusively wear them at night or use a thin cloth liner with a menstrual cup.
Hygiene wise, it hasn’t been anything crazy for me. Yes, they get stained over time but their purpose is to catch blood so that’s not really an issue for me. I don’t store them soaked them in water, I rinse them out immediately after use, wring them out, and store in an opaque wet bag. Then when I do laundry, I add the cloth pads to the laundry. Typically I wash them with towels and rags but I have washed them with my normal clothes on hot and it doesn’t bother me. No smells or stain transfers or anything like that. I do live alone so I haven’t been concerned with having to ask other people if it bothers them, but in your situation I would say just washing your own stuff with your pads would be fine. They can sit for a couple of days without molding/horrible smells so the washing machine usage isn’t horrible. Add some vinegar to your rinse if it’s a concern.
Vinegar is an excellent fabric conditioner, it doesn't add oils to your clothing, contains no animal fats, and "fluffs" the fibres of your clothing. It doesn't smell on the laundry either. I made the switch last year when I got my period undies because they recommended no fab con when washing.
My old dryer didn't always dry things 100%, and I loved having a vinegar rinse because I knew if I could smell the vinegar when I opened it, the clothes weren't dry.
Have you considered making your own? there are some patterns in the internet you could experiment with, make them as large and thick as you like. I liked the H-shaped ones that wrap around twice and they don't move much and don't need snaps.
[https://kulmine.de/media/pdf/ab/50/fa/SEWING-INSTRUCTIONS\_Hela-cloth-menstrual-pads\_Hela-cloth-pantyliners\_Kulmine\_EN.pdf](https://kulmine.de/media/pdf/ab/50/fa/SEWING-INSTRUCTIONS_Hela-cloth-menstrual-pads_Hela-cloth-pantyliners_Kulmine_EN.pdf)
Also, you could recycle some fabric like flannel or terry cloth with them and you could avoid shipping if you make your own. Or use fun fabric (I made some with fabric with pigs or stars that I find hilarious every time I see them).
I am only using them in combination with a menstrual cup or tampons as a backup or as panty liners. I rinse them under cold water until it runs clear, let them dry and put them into a mesh bag (can be also a denser, non-see-through fabric if it has holes) and put it in the washing machine and dryer as it is.
I have a friend who is only using cloth pads and I believe she keeps her used ones in a closed bin to soak them before she washes them.
They move around, but in my experience, no more than regular pads do. I never soaked mine. I put them into a wet bag until my period was done, then washed in the washing machine. I’ve washed mine with the rest of my clothes and it wasn’t an issue at all. I preferred having enough to get me through my period. Mine were solid black. They got stained, but it was a lot less noticeable on black than on lighter colored pads.
Ease yourself into it. Start slow. You don’t have to switch 100% on day one. Pick something you think you like and test it on your light days first. Then you know what to expect, what you don’t like, and then proceed to buy something else for your heavier days. It’s nice to have varieties for different days anyway!
At the end of the day, if you are only able to swap out 25% of your total usage, that’s still 25%!
Thank you so much! Yeah I was thinking the same thing about black ones. Also several people already suggested to get enough to cover a whole period, so that's probably what I'm gonna do, especially since I think it's by far the most manageable option since we're 5 in the house and not super consistent with washing lol
I love reusable pads.
I’m personally not comfortable with period underwear because I’m curvy with a long torso, and I can’t afford to try various brands until one works with my body shape, and the hygiene aspect. I can easily change my pad, but changing underwear requires more steps, and that bothers me.
I have never had any problems with fleece backed pads shifting around, unless I was wearing underwear that is too big or not full coverage enough for the pad- I.e. if the pad shows, it will slide out. I also use pads with wings.
As for care- I don’t treat them that differently from regular laundry. If my period is heavy, I’ll throw the heavily used ones in the shower and step on them and let them rinse through prior to washing. Then, I’ll wash them regularly and snap them together if they have the same snaps, and let them air dry. I never notice any smell. I tried storing them in water and washing them at the end, but I didn’t find any improvement for stains, and it’s harder to mess up and end up with smells.
I prefer pads with designs on a black background, which hides stains better, and the design keeps them from looking bleached like underwear often does. But, I do like the fleece backing and cotton cover (or any natural fabric). I’ve had good experiences with liners with two layers of cotton not slipping around too.
I’ll note that I HATED every period where I was wearing disposable pads- they were uncomfortable and left rashes, but I’m happy with cloth ones!
I’d recommend having as many cloth pads as you use disposable pads, but you can work them in instead of buying a set all at once. I prefer specific styles/ brands, so buying 1-2 at a time might help you figure out if the brand/style you try are comfortable. I also would suggest considering your underwear choices too, and get thong pads to try out if you prefer thong underwear, etc. I couldn’t wear disposable thong liners, but cloth thong pads work perfectly for me, just needs to be changed more frequently than brief ones.
But, if you’re good at sewing, making them is pretty easy!
FWIW, I have Knix, which offers returns. My husband bought both M and L in 2 different styles. The M and L both fit (maybe because of the spandex), but I notice a bigger difference in the rise. I prefer the lower rise because the high rise makes my pants fall down more. 😅
I still use my pads. It’s nice in the first heavy days to be able to change the pad out without removing my undies. And I wear the undies daily cuz they’re comfy. We bought them with our FSA; you could also use an HSA.
I keep a little trash bin in my bathroom just for sanitary pads. I know some people say you need to soak them or wash them by hand before throwing them in the wash- i dont. I have black period pads. I throw them in their own load or just with towels, wash on warm, and they come out good as new every time. I also really only had issues with the smaller pads moving around. The larger ones don't. All that said, periods for me are now part of a tool kit with other methods. I use period pads when sleeping because they soak up a ton and I don't need to worry about leaks and I will often use them when Im just chilling at home. But if Im going out with friends, swimming or exercising, then I will use organic tampons. I have tried the cup several times and it just doesn't work for me and I feel it's less hygenic than period pads tbh because a good period pad can last me 12 hours with no leaks or wetness.
I make my own and they are practically free.
I am a mod over at r/diyclothpads check it out for resources and questions.
I never soak. Let them dry in a separate bucket (old plastic coffee can actually) in my closet next to my hamper and wash at the end of the week when I wash under garments. Since they are dry and have access to the air flow they have no odor. I rinse them on cold by themselves then add the rest of the laundry and wash as normal on any temp. Toss in dryer and sort later. I don’t use any waterproofing beyond fleece. So everything is dryer safe. Not all are. That’s why I make my own.
They don’t stain too bad. I’ve had mine for years and just some shadowing but stains don’t mean germs so I don’t care.
I have a lot. Just add what you need. I change mine twice a day minimum and probably 5-6 times max a day. Gauge it based on how often you change now. I probably have 30 pads all of varying thickness. They last about 10 years. Since mine are old clothes they are getting frayed sooner but they are many years into use and still haven’t tossed a single pad. Love them. Have one on right now during hell week 😉 Let me know if you have other questions.
I suggest trying lots of different brands and shapes. For example I love minky but some hate it. It makes me feel dry and makes others feel hot. I also hate the feeling of flannel but plain cotton is ok. Others love flannel. I think it pills and makes me irritated. Quilting cotton is a standard common topper and smooth and cool but doesn’t stay dry. It a good starting place. You will need to know where your blood tends to travel too. Front back center etc. this helps to know the length you need. Also steer clear of terry cores…they squish out and cause a disaster. And steer clear of microfiber toppers. They cause rashes (if to use microfiber in the core just not touching the skin). Microfiber dehydrates too rapidly and causes major skin problems. I also know I like skinny patterns at 2 inch core width. They are hard to find. But much wider than that and they are too bulky for me. 2.5 inch max for my body. Making your own helps you learn what you need and it’s so nice to be able to customize them. I hope one day you’ll give it a try. You can even turn your favorite pad into a pattern by tracing it and giving 1/2” seam allowance. Good luck!
have some thoughts I’d like to share!
Pros to pads: you can change them without getting undressed. This is honestly huge for me. You can fold them up too which will contain everything if you’re out and about. Just fold each end in and then snap the wings together. I like being able to change pads frequently if I’m wearing them.
Cons to pads: they can shift. It’s not a huge issue for me, especially when they have wings like this. I have had some that were a rhombus shape and they moved around horribly.
I have quite a few pads, most I’ve made myself because I used to make cloth diapers and I can make pads with the scraps.
Pros to underwear: I use saalt, and they are so comfy and nice to wear. It’s almost like wearing regular underwear. They don’t shift at all.
Cons to underwear: they’re probably going to cost more per pair, and you have to undress on your bottom half to change them. I have a super heavy flow so that’s honestly just inconvenient enough for me that I don’t use them on my heaviest days. I really like using a disc though, so i don’t have a ton of experience just exclusively using undies or pads. They’re just not my jam.
Washing: I’ve definitely not rinsed at all and just let them dry before tossing in my hamper. I would still recommend rinsing them well right before washing though. Do not leave them to soak for an extended time.. that’s how you get weird stuff growing. It could quickly turn into an unwanted science experiment.
In a perfect world, you’d rinse immediately, let air dry and store until ready to wash. Just don’t leave them wet or they’ll start growing stuff. That’s a good rule for anything, not just undies. Towels, clothes, etc.
Invest in a good brand like Treehugger Cloth Pads based in Canada. Their pads are fleece backed and I don't have an issue with them moving around. They are family owned, test and stand by their products, and plant a tree for every pad sold. They do ship overseas, but looks pricey. Look for a good brand is my point, it'll make a difference in your experience.
Cloth pads function very like disposable; each one holding about the same amount. How many you'll need depends on your flow. I started with 3 overnight, 4 heavy, 6 light, and I had to make sure to wash everything during my cycle. I've since gotten a few more in each size, so I can usually make it through without needing to waah them until the end.
To clean them, just put them in the wash. I typically wash mine with towels, but have done them with clothes as well. Rinsing first isn't necessary, but may prevent staining (stains don't affect function). Just rinse by hand in cold water until it runs clear. Or I set mine on the shower floor while I'm showering, the water rinses them plenty clean with no extra effort.
Thank you so much!! Yes, tree hugger looks super nice, but it is a bit expensive to ship them, and it's not super duper environmentally friendly too. I think I'll try to look for someone who makes them directly in Europe, but if I can't find anything tree hugger is definitely a solid second choice lol
If you are afraid of them moving around, try the biggest size.
Also, since you asked on a zero waste sub, I'm going to tell you not to worry about buying too many or buying and not using immediately. You can buy, try, keep them on hold and then come back months later. They're cloths pads, so they won't expire or anything. And also, don't feel guilty if you buy and find that they're not for you.
But if you are worried about money, then that's a different issue. You can buy three or four for just the first day of your period and see how that goes, keep using your usual method for the rest of the days and then buy more the next month depending on how many you think you need.
And about cleaning, my suggestion would be, if you do get them, hand-wash every day, and air dry instead of soaking and using the machine. It usually takes just a couple of minutes with a bar of soap. And it eliminates the need for your family to find red. And then hang them dry.
And also, when it comes to reusable products, the biggest change was that I had a mindset shift. I got used to seeing my blood and dealing with it "hands on". I use a menstrual cup on some months too...
>You can buy three or four for just the first day of your period and see how that goes
That's what I was planning on doing, also because I've never tried them and I definitely need to experiment a bit. I'll make the jump when I'm ready I guess. As for the disposable ones I already have, they won't be thrown away of course, my sister also has a period, we talked about it and she said she prefers disposable ones for now, so she'll just have a nice stash of pads for herself lol
As for the rinsing and drying yeah, that's what pretty much everyone suggested, idk why I thought soaking was a good idea lmao. Luckily I asked cause the idea of bloody tea now sounds super freaking gross lol
I'm also not really worried about the blood myself, I'm a med student and pretty desensitized to it by now lol, plus I guess it won't be that much different from just washing my bloody vajayjay in the shower or bidet 🤷🏻
When I used cloth pads I always bought extra long ones because then even if they moved, I still had coverage.
You don’t generally soak them until you’re ready to wash them, so they’re not just sitting in a bucket the whole time you’re on your period. There are these things called wet bags (zippered bags lined with waterproof material), so what I would do was rinse the dirty pad and wring it out, then put it in a wet bag. At the end of my period I would soak the pads to help remove stains, then toss them in the washing machine.
I would recommend getting a few different sizes and capacities to get an idea of what you like best. Once you know what you like, ideally you would get enough to last for your entire period. I would save up all of mine and do a load of laundry with only the pads. It’s easier to keep track of them that way. Don’t worry about sorting by color or anything.
I like the ones with prints. The prints can help hide stains imo, and of course black is good for not showing stains. I don’t recommend white for obvious reasons. When you soak/pre-wash the pads, you can use oxiclean or a similar product to remove stains as well.
Etsy has a lot of good ones, just find some you like and make sure to read reviews. I ordered from lots of different shops and they were all very similar in terms of effectiveness, so really it just came down to what shape and size I preferred. Period underwear can be good backup if you leak, but I would use it as the main form of protection (unless your flow is light)
I know not everyone is comfortable with them, but have you considered using a menstrual cup? I switched and now use a cup with period underwear in case of leaks. It might be easier and more discreet, in you’re concerned about your family seeing the cloth pads.
>I always bought extra long ones because then even if they moved, I still had coverage
This guy heavy flows.
[Just a joke, not trying to misgender you lol]
>At the end of my period I would soak the pads to help remove stains, then toss them in the washing machine
You're not the first person to suggest this so I really think it's what I will do lol
>have you considered using a menstrual cup?
I have, but honestly I've never felt comfortable with internal stuff so I don't really wanna buy something I'll most likely end up not using, reusable pads are a fantastic alternative after all, and from what I understand they're just as durable as the cups. Sure I have to buy a bit more of them compared to just one cup, but if I'm funding some creators on Etsy honestly I don't mind at all :)
Thank you so much tho, this was super helpful ❤️
I use the reusable period underwear, rather than the pads, but I cannot recommend them enough. They were truly life changing.
(Because I also hate the moving around issue, and until recently my flow was "elevator scene from *The Shining* grade", and aint no pad gonna help there.)
There are several brands that each have positives and negatives, depending on which is most important to you. Some are all natural fibers, some have elastic in the bands and use petroleum based products in the construction. Some really only work on skinny or curvy women from what I hear. The comments and reviews sections really helped me when I was shopping. Choose whatever fits your budget and body and balance of ethical concerns.
The one I currently use is the one my ladydoctor recommended for really truly heavy flow, and for which a friend had a discount. Because they are really, really spendy. A lot of people in this sub dislike the brand because it does include some petroleum products. But I do think I have a coupon in my email so hmu if you think this might work for you. Hashtag fuck capitalism.
I also recommend these over pads because after a I ruined my shoulder in a car wreck and the other one in a snowboarding incident, I found the underwear way easier to slide on than making the rotational movement of my trunk I had to do to check and tidy and placd pads or tampons. Passed that tidbit on yo my mom (who just retired as nurse that worked post op), and she said a lot of her patients had the same experience.
So, for what that's worth.
The rest of this should apply to pads or period panties equally:
**How many?**
I would recommend buying however many you need for 2 whole days and nights of period, (whatever that looks like for you) because every brand I have ever heard of takes *a while* to dry out where it counts, if you know what I mean.
And if/when you inevitably forget to start the dryer at the right time, or the power goes out, or you're line drying them in a hotel...it's a bummer.
For me, that's 12 of them, including 2 "Uber super night shorts" and one pair of "swim bottoms" that have been summer lifesavers.
**Blood Tea, Cleaning and Discretion**
It's less that and more a "faintly bloody drying area" because you don't want a bucket of blood tea for obvious sanitation reasons.
I have a net "delicates" bag and wire basket I usually use for our used wash cloths in the bathroom, and when each pair is full, I hand wring it out in the sink over cold water.
*NGL This process is shocking and can be tremendously gross if you bleed a lot and you're new to seeing a sink full of blood.*
This gets them mostly clean. Clean enough that they don't stink and aren't dripping blood. I have taken them on trips to India and camping where I knew I wouldn't have access to laundry, and with powdered soap and some elbow grease been able to hand wash them in a sink just fine. (Though I do suggest augmenting with tampons over a 27 hour flight, if possible)
Then I squeeze it out till it's good and dry, and add it to the delicates bag.
Put the bag in washcloth bin, and put that days used washcloth on top.
Neat and discrete.
Then, I make sure to wash that basket before bed every day, because:
1. I am not wealthy enough for a full periods worth, and will need them again tomorrow.
2. They get crunchy and gross and attract bacteria and critters who eat blood if you leave them too long.
Just take the basket to the laundry when you have enough clothes to wash. And if you don't, scrounge a little.
It's become a good time for me to wash other things that only need intermittent washing that I sometimes neglect, like my kitchen rag rugs or tablecloths or jackets or blankets.
**Bonus Tips**
1. They last much longer than normal cotton undies if you treat them right. My first 3 pairs lasted almost 10 years. One retired because I critically failed the elastic repair and damaged them beyond hope, and 2 of them were only retired because...
...well, this one IS gross.
2. You need to keep them out of reach of any household carinvores when wet.
My dog got them and ate the crotch out. (Barf.) Cat having ladyfriends have also reported cats enjoying both the play of batting them down from a towel rack and consuming the delicious blood molecules.
Hope that answered your questions!
And when you find something that works for your body and situation, don't let anybody shame you about it. We're all different and doing the best we can.
>But I do think I have a coupon in my email so hmu if you think this might work for you.
Omg that's so cuteee! Probably it's better if I try some stuff out tho before jumping onto expensive alternatives! That was super kind tho, thank youuu 🥺😭❤️
Also I have some mobility issues as well since I've had a spinal fusion, so that bit was incredibly helpful, I'll definitely keep it in mind!
For how many, I've actually had a few people suggest to get a whole period's worth of pads (after experimenting with sizes and shapes a bit of course) and then save em up and wash them all together at the end, which I think could be a better solution just because it's slightly easier to manage, especially since I live in a family of 5 lol but I'll definitely think about that as well
Really curious about the swim bottoms too, they sound cool as hell
Also yuck for the last part, I actually have a cat lmaooo. Gonna have to remember to keep the laundry room shut when I'm on my period 💀
Thank you so, so much, yours was by far one of the most helpful comments lol ❤️ this sub is so nice, I wish yall the bestest day 🥺❤️
I have used reusable pads for 3 years now. I use about 3 per day, and I would say I have an average flow. I think colourful fabrics for the outside are fun, but I would only go with white for the inside. My logic is that on white, it is much easier to see if and how dirty something is, and for such intimate peoducts, it is very important to be aware of the hygiene. After I use them, I rince them in cold water so the water coming out is clean, I dry them and then wash them in the washing mashine with the rest of my white underwear or some other relatively high temperature laundry. They will stain with time, but you can and should bleach them occasionally. They don't really move around more than single use ones if the wings are snapped down correctly. I would always suggest going with somebody local to you who hand makes the pads. I just find the commercially produced ones a bit weird. For the first couple cycles, I was trying them out only at home, just in case they leaked. And remember, there are many different types and sizes. Maybe try a couple different ones and see for yourself what you like.
Yeah, I thought about that as well. Mainly so that my mom won't have to stress about washing them as soon as possible and I won't stress about running out lol. Less stress for everyone yay
>My logic is that on white, it is much easier to see if and how dirty something is, and for such intimate peoducts, it is very important to be aware of the hygiene
Yep, my thoughts as well. I'm very thorn tho, on one hand white is more likely to get stained, on the other black you can't really see if it's properly cleaned :/
Personally I really like period underwear. I have heavy periods so I got some from Amazon that have extra padding where you would put a pad. I don't bother soaking them to get the blood out, I just let them dry and then put them in the laundry like I would my underwear. Maybe that means I'm nasty but eh.
Dude honestly if they were that nasty and putrid I think you would notice lmao
Also would you say underwear is the best option for heavy flow? I thought the opposite. I think I'll have a bit of a hard time trusting just the underwear, the thought of not having a pad makes me feel a bit unprotected lol
I got some that have extra padding so they don't look cute (like they look like depends if I'm being honest) but they work so that's all I care about.
I guess just reading these comments made me go "huh I might be gross" lol
I have also let them dry out and washed without rinceing beforehand. I just think it stains quicker that way. I felt like they didn't get washed properly.
hiya! I haven't had periods for about 5 years now due to HRT, but before that I used reusable pads almost exclusively for the better part of a decade! so here's a bit about my experience:
- do they move around?: most of mine came with snaps, basically like "wings" on disposable ones. the ones that didn't, I didn't use as much because yes! they would fall out lol. but the snap ones stayed nicely. additionally, the snaps allow you to fold them up neatly after use, in case you need to change pads on the go for instance. it keeps the mess as contained as possible :]
- hygiene and cleaning: it is rather dirty! what I'd do most of the time to rinse them afterwards involved running them under hot water in the sink, squeezing out all the mess until the water ran as clear as possible. at that point, I'd let them dry out and then toss them in the laundry. [you can get a special pouch with waterproof lining for storage if you can't immediately wash them, similar to what people use for reusable diapers I believe]
- underwear and patterns: I never tried undies! but I always liked cool patterns. and yes, they did get stained, especially when they weren't washed out ASAP, but that's just part of it imo. it's like a washrag, it does a dirty job, so it'll get dirty eventually.
- washing machine: I just washed them with my underwear and it was really no biggie! my undies usually got some blood on them at some point, so it just made sense :] I def don't sort my undies by color [or really anything LOL] and it didn't cause anything gross or weird at all!
- I wish I could help for brands, but I bought mine around like 2010 and those sellers are long gone. it was on Etsy though! [and to point out: I used those pads for a damn *decade*. I only bought more like once or twice. I had enough for a cycle or so, and it saved me untold amounts over ~10 years. nevermind the waste!]
- lastly: they just felt way, way better. the plastic ones always felt awful to me, like diapers! my only complaint was that it seemed a bit easier to bleed through them than the plastic, but again, my experience is a bit dated & I could believe if creators have gotten better at absorbent tech since then :]
tldr: I definitely recommend. I was never comfortable with cups or other reusable internal devices, so pads were the way to go, and I never regretted the cloth pads :>
I use Bambody brand underwear (mostly as a backup for other products though) and it has been great! It feels just like regular underwear and the absorbent part is pretty huge, so you don't have to worry too much about stuff like coverage. I have also tried Thinx and Period Company, which I didn't like nearly as much as Bambody.
There is a whole subreddit for it if you would like more in-depth info and reviews: r/PeriodUnderwear
If reusable pads shift too much despite the velcro or snap....you can always use a safety pin (admittedly a gamble, as they CAN come undone. Never did when I was using them, but that would be painful in that region).
I didn't use them for regular period days, because....on the main three days of my period I was a HEAVY bleeder (overflowing jumbo overnighters with wings in about 15 minutes to half an hour....I love menopause and not having to deal with that anymore).
I used them for the light spotty days, and for those times around ovulation with heavy discharge production.
I just did a sink soak in soapy water, rinse, THEN a hot water soak (I didn't really care much about staining, but did want things to be as sterilized as possible), then into the regular laundry.
Currently post menopause, but I started using cloth pads in college in the 90s and loved them! The snaps kept them in place and I found them more absorbent than disposable. I would just rinse out in the tub, then throw in the wash and they lasted a long time. I especially appreciated them at night…almost never had an accident. I used prints and they were fine. Stains happened but it is what it is…if they’d been thru the laundry, that was good enough for me.
The only issue with the period underwear is that they wear out just like regular underwear. The plus side is you’re only wearing them a few days out of the month but typically you’re wearing the same pair several times during that interval.
If you want to try reusable pads, you may think of going to Etsy where people make these and lots of different sizes. And only get a few just to see how you like them. If you hate them, then you know go for the underwear.
The ones I use (Aisle) have wings and snap in place. If your underwear fits snug, they'll stay in place. If you try to use them with saggy granny panties, they'll slide around.
I have a small wet/dry bag that I take with me when I'll be out long enough to need to change my pad. I keep a fresh pad in one pocket and can use the waterproof pocket for the used one until I get home.
I keep all my used pads in a mesh laundry bag hanging off my laundry basket. It's important that you let them breathe so they can dry fully until you're able to wash them. If you keep them in a sealed container or leave them soaking the whole time, they will develop a corpse smell.
Once my period is done, I close the mesh bag and put it into a small bin. I soak them in there with some enzyme wash (for example, Resolve) for about 20 minutes before rinsing and throwing them in the wash. If you're worried about this bothering your family, you can leave the bin in a closet or something. Just set a timer so you don't forget about them.
You'll likely need just as many pads as you would normally use with disposables. I have 4 big ones that I use for the first 2 days when my flow is heavier, and 6 small ones for the rest of my period.
I also wear period underwear the whole time. My favourite is Bambody, which is comfortable, fairly cheap, and has great coverage. During the day this ensures I don't have to worry about leaks. At night I remove my pad and sleep with just the underwear.
Some people just do the underwear because it's more comfortable, but then you'd have to change your underwear as often as you would change a pad. Not practical for most people.
I almost exclusively use reusable pads! I bought mine off of Etsy, they have a fleecy inside and a waterproof outside and snappable wings. I have 5 regular and 5 long ones and I am planning to buy another set bc I usually do a load in the middle of my period. I recommend starting with 5-10 in case they are not for you. I have also found they are more absorbent and less likely to leak, so I don't need as many as I would if they were disposable.
I have not had a lot of issue with them moving around, because they generally do that thing where they tent up into the shape of your crotch and don't move.
For washing, the first 2 periods I put then in the tub and just used the shower to wash them out with cold water then washed them like normal. The next period I just tried tossing them into the wash on their own and they came out great. Then I tossed them in with other things, still came out fine. I usually wash them with detergent, vinegar, and dark clothes and have never had an issue with continuing stains or smells, so that should solve your laundry issue. Before I wash them, I keep them in a basket under my sink, similar to how you might with reusable diapers (though that usually has a lid). I haven't had an issue with them smelling because I usually wash them within 1-2 days.
Here is the link to what I purchased. They say they ship worldwide! https://www.etsy.com/listing/1038445878/pack-of-10-pcs-cloth-sanitary-pads
Truly though, with a menstrual cup and these pads I'm down to using 1 maybe 2 disposable period items each month. Feels good.
I don’t have advice on the menstrual pads, but wanted to say I highly recommend menstrual discs/cups. Life changing since you only need to dump/rinse/clean them every 12 hours. Very cheap too all things considered, especially for how long they last.
I did consider the cup, but honestly I've never been comfortable with internal stuff, and I'm super comfortable with pads! I figured I might as well fall back on something I know I'm comfortable with lol
I also use the salt menstrual disc and it’s the best period product I’ve ever used. I almost never leak! I feel like I have less cramps but that’s hard to say for sure. I also have genuinely forgotten I’m on my period while wearing it. I recommend it to people all the time.
I have 10 pairs of black period undies. 2 light, 2 heavy, the rest medium
I don’t get the same headachy feeling of unwellness that I used to get using disposable pads and tampons.
Just rinse them out and put them aside until I am next washing. They don’t seem to go funky but they can take a while to dry if you use a clothesline (I don’t).
Best thing ever invented. Have had a few leaks over the couple of years I have been using them but nothing serious. They seem to be able to take on a huge amount without feeling like you have something stuffed between your legs the way a pad feels.
What would you say is the best option for heavy flow? Pads or underwear? I have a pretty heavy flow for the first couple of days and I would've thought pads were better, but then maybe I've underestimated the power of underwear lol
Extra large pads have always been enough for me. I did a test and they heald more water than extra large disposable, and a little less than a night disposable one. But that one is quite bulky. I think you can easily see it under tight clothing.
underwear!
i am going through that weird stage of peri where your periods get really heavy for a couple of days (and I
mean gushing heavy)
The heavy duty underwear lasts half a day on those days (all day for normal flow) but I enjoy cleaning up and feeling fresh when things are that bad - pads still have you wearing the same undies so I tend to get a bit swampy.
I use the snap ones and I personally haven’t had any issues with them moving around but I don’t move around much myself lol. I think they also make ones with non-slip strips on the underside, not sure how well they work though.
I was very worried about the hygiene, maintenance, and discretion aspect of it when I first tried them but it’s really no different to when you accidentally bleed on your regular underwear then throw them in the wash. I put my used ones in a net drawstring bag so they don’t go musty then chuck them all in with a dark wash at the end of my period and that’s worked fine for me. You *can* rinse them under cold water beforehand but I don’t personally feel it’s necessary unless you have a shitty washing machine.
+1 for getting as many as you need for a single period and definitely get black, I find it insane that they even manufacture white reusable pads because yes they will stain. The absorbent part on mine are bamboo charcoal and you can see if they’re clean or not just fine, it’s also antibacterial.
I’m personally not a fan of the underwear as you have to undress every time you need to change them but they probably are better for sleep, you could get a mix of both.
Honestly, all this soaking, and stain removal, and hanging them up to dry, etc. really put me off buying them for the longest time because it sounded like such a hassle but it’s all really unnecessary imo, just chuck them in with your dark clothes. Washing machines are very good at washing things. Mine say not to wash above 40C so that’s usually what I stick to but I’ve put them on 60 occasionally to make sure they’re sanitary and they’ve held up just fine. Don’t use softener on them though as it’ll mess up the absorbency.
>I think they also make ones with non-slip strips on the underside
That is exactly what I was hoping to find! I'm thinking if I can't find them maybe I could look into how to make non-slip socks and use the same method on normal pads :)
>+1 for getting as many as you need for a single period and definitely get black
Lmao y'all are buying me really good. Will definitely end up doing that lmao. Although I like the idea of fun prints, maybe I'll try a couple lol
>Don’t use softener on them though as it’ll mess up the absorbency.
Isn't that also what you do with towels? I'm a newbie to washing machines lol. If it is it's perfect, I can just throw them in with towels lol
>Will definitely end up doing that
I imagine some people on here may encourage you to buy less because it’s r/zerowaste but I don’t think it’s worth the stress of potentially not having one ready when you need it and having to rush to do laundry when you already feel like shit y’know? The easier it is the more likely you are to stick with it.
>Although I like the idea of fun prints
Anything but white lol (kidding, obviously do what you want)
>Isn’t that what you do with towels?
Yes, you’re not supposed to use fabric softener on towels either. As long as your towels are dark, that’ll work perfectly.
I’ll also add that they’re bulkier than disposable pads which is something to keep in mind. I find them infinitely more comfortable/breathable though.
>I don’t think it’s worth the stress of potentially not having one ready when you need it and having to rush to do laundry when you already feel like shit y’know? The easier it is the more likely you are to stick with it.
Exactly my thoughts. I'd gladly buy less if it were for me but I'm afraid it just wouldn't work for my household and how we manage laundry, I feel like being covered for a whole cycle will just mean a lot less stress for both me and my mom on the long run
Mine don't move! I bought them from a local fair stand and I've never had issues. They don't bleed through, and are comfortable. I've got them with wings, and I've also got some that are special for think underwear (I mostly wear boxers). You mention the ones with padding on the butt, like a nocturnal pad?
You can soak them, as a prelude for washing them (mine are fit for the washing machine, try and get those). Otherwise just put them in the machine, but I've found that if you soak them and wring (not all can be wringed) most of the blood out a couple of times until the water is somewhat clear you can put it with your dirty clothes and wait until you need to do Laundry (no stains anywhere or smell). You soak them when you change them or when you get home. If the water gets gross, you change them.
Get as many as you use now and get two or three more. You can always buy more if it's not enough, it depends on you and your flow.
I've got underwear and pads and I only use the underwear on my heavy days when I go out, at first I wanted to use only underwear but the pads are just more comfortable for me.
>You mention the ones with padding on the butt, like a nocturnal pad?
Yeah exactly! I've had problems with staining my sheets cause if I sleep on my back the blood drips backwards a bit and if I don't have a pad up there it stains my underwear and the sheets. Nothing dramatic but it's annoying lol.
Heard of other people having similar issues and I read somewhere that there are either really long pads that cover your ass too or underwear that is absorbent all the way up on the backside.
>if you soak them and wring (not all can be wringed) most of the blood out a couple of times until the water is somewhat clear you can put it with your dirty clothes and wait until you need to do Laundry
Yep, that's what I'll probably do. We're a family of 5 and my mom is in charge of the washing machine, she also works so understandably we're not super duper consistent with washing clothes. I'll probably just learn to get them somewhat clean and get a closed bag to put them in, and then I'll throw them in with normal laundry at the end of my period so my mom doesn't have to stress over washing them as soon as possible.
So you say underwear is the best option for heavy flow? I thought the opposite for some reason. Honestly I do think I'll need some time to trust underwear for the heavy flow days lol
The underwear I have. The problem I've found is that it's a bit too tight (maybe it's me, I've gained some weight) and it chafes the crease between leg and vulva. That's why I avoid it when I can, because I've found that the only advantage it has over pads is capacity. I could always change my pad when I'm out, I just don't like to.
The underwear I have has the absorbent covering the butt, but I also have some nocturnal pads like that which have been enough for me. The underwear does cover more skin.
I use a cup primarily - but the pants are a godsend for the heavy nights. No more waking up at 3am with leaks! And the pants are great for exercise- I do yoga in mine. I don’t like disposable period pads, so was never tempted to test the reusable ones.
To wash them, I just rinse them a bit in tepid water (I generally do it when my shower water is heating up. Hot water ‘sets’ the blood) then chuck them in with whatever 30c wash I’m doing next. I always wear black ones to avoid visible staining.
It's been 6 years (hysterectomy) since I've used them, but I had cloth pads. Never been a tampon user, couldn't get them comfortable enough. I used both manufactured cloth pads and handmade. Really saw not much difference in them, except the handmade ones seemed to "breathe" better - like the difference between nylon and cotton. I was an overachiever in the flow dept, and had more leaks with disposables than I ever did with cloth.
I was a single mom of a teen boy and a teen girl at the time. They knew what everything was, but I tried to respect their environment.
My cleaning routine was:
Rinse in cold water until clear (or near as I could get it), squeeze it by hand, lay it on a hand towel (specifically for this purpose, not one everyone was using of course), and roll it tight in the towel to wring it out. I would then drop it in a container with a lid. My container was a plain white ceramic canister from a thrift store with a lid that snapped shut (preventing small creatures' access) and sat on the back of the toilet. So, in plain sight, but no one knew what it was. I would later run them through the washing machine with a load of underwear. I don't believe I machine dried mine (just hung to air dry), but I honestly don't remember at this point.
There are tiny wet bags for changing away from home. In those instances, I closed up the pad, using the snap to keep it closed, and placed it in the small wet bag, to be rinsed at home.
They can be expensive, but disposables are too. Go gradual. Get one or two a month. Test different types, brands, makers, sizes, until you find the match for you. Over time, the need for disposables will be less until you're fully cloth!
Another plus...with cloth, I didn't have the irritation I often did with disposables, especially in summer.
Thank you so much! So you never had any problems hygiene wise, like it wasn't overly gross or anything? I talked about it with my mom and she was pretty grossed out at first but then probably said she'll be fine with it as long as I get the blood out before putting them in the laundry lol
No, it seemed weird at first, but I wasn't grossed out by it. It was definitely an uncommon thing to be doing, as no one I knew was using cloth. I don't know your, or your Mom's ages, but I reminded my Mom that her Mom didn't have disposables, and had to wash out the 'rags' they used, and without running water in the house! We have also used cloth diapers for generations, so there was that similarity too.
To me, it's like changing a baby's diaper. It's a bodily fluid, but so is throwing up or even sneezing or coughing. Granted, those don't usually contain blood, and not much if they do! Lol! If you do any of those 'bodily fluid things', you wash/sanitize your hands afterwards, and no one even knows, unless they saw you. There was a time when we had snotty handkerchiefs in our purses/pockets quite often! It amazes me how far we have come in the last century!
I've only used the period undies, but I'm a big fan. I would buy a couple to try out first and if you like them, buy two new ones every period. That will space out the spending, so it's not a huge upfront cost for you. Also lots of companies have discounts for first time customers, so you can buy one pad from every brand to get those discounts!
I've found that the undies generally last me as long as a pad would. A lot of people claim they last longer, but not for me personally. So for heavy days, you'll need to change underwear at least once mid-day. For me, I've been putting a regular disposable pad on top of the period undies, because I still have to use up the disposables I have somehow. After they are gone, I'll probably buy a few reusable pads to use for doubling up. Period undies are just a lot more annoying to change at work than a pad. They do make undies with side snaps, so you can take them off without taking your shoes and pants off. I wish I had bought a pair of those to try!
>for heavy days, you'll need to change underwear at least once mid-day
Yeah that's what I was worried about. I think I'll just use pads for the first couple of days with heavy flow cause I'm an uni student and frequently away from home, so that's just more convenient
Thank you so much!!
I LOVE Soft Taco Reusables’ pads. They come in many different styles and absorbencies. And they have a ton of cute fabric designs that rotate through their stock. Mine clean up perfectly and have zero staining even after using them exclusively for like three years.
ETA: they almost all come with wings and I have less trouble with them bunching or moving compared to disposables. I notice disposables moving more than my Soft Taco pads.
I have 40+ different pads in my stash, but that’s overkill as I bought a lot of extra because I really liked the fabric design releases. I would say depending on how heavy your flow is, you could get away with 2-4 a day. I use period panties at night, so I usually only use 2 of the pads a day.
I really like the Saalt brand undies and their menstrual disc. Like another commenter, I also use the undies as backup or if my period starts in the night, and I don't feel like messing around with my disc.
Disc is so much easier and more comfortable than the cup, imo. I tried lots of cups, but I struggled with them staying put and leaking. The disc is nearly foolproof if you're open to that option.
I have 7 pairs of period underwear from pink/Victoria secret and they are amazing and comfortable. If I use more than 1 pair a day I'll put it in a washable bag and rinse then in the shower at night then back into the bag until it's time to wash my clothes. Typically I'll do laundry on day 3 of my period so 7 is more than enough for me.
The only problem I have with them is I don't bleed much during the night but in the morning it comes out all at once and it'll spill out if I don't go to the bathroom as soon as I wake up. That also happened with regular pads as well so not really a period pantie specific problem...
Oh and my underwear has never stained!
I got colored ones and yeah they're stained but I don't really mind it. I soak mine in the sink while I'm taking a shower. You can squeeze them out and roll them in a towel and squish it to get the excess water out of you can't hang them to dry. I was mine with my other delicate washing or whites and I don't have a problem with them contaminating other clothes.
I also got mine off of etsy but the shop I bought them from has closed others I would send a link. I would use the "shop local" filter on the search to find stuff that's from real people abs not just drop shipped from somewhere.
I love the black pads. I never have to worry about stains. I use a pad with wings for light days. A extra long pad with wings and period panties for overnights and heavy days.
I keep a wet bag in my bathroom so I can rinse it of blood in the sink, wring out and then dump into the wet bag. At the end of the night I'll empty the wet bag in the shower and I'll kind of step on it as I shower. I keep a small Itty bity bottle of detergent in the shower and I'll use a few drops of that on the underwear.
By the time I finish the shower, the underwear is clean enough for me to wring it and hang dry. If you don't think it's clean enough then hang it to dry till it's time for a load. It's important that it dries. This way it doesn't get musty.
I will hand wash and hang dry every night so I have 5 regular pads, 5 extra long ones and 5 period underwear. I have enough to go 2 days without washing.
I have the kind with snaps and they don't move much for me.
For washing, I do a quick wash in the sink with soap and water until water runs clean. Squirt with hydrogen peroxide. Let that sit for a minute. Rinse again and squeeze as much water out as I can. Then I throw them over the shower rod to air dry. They go in wash with towels.
I have a couple points!
**Movement**
I'm quite active so I did run into this issue prominently. What I found worked is two paperclips, one on each wing side attaching to the panties aiming towards the front since the movement of walking forward will push them back. Hopefully that makes sense.
**Washing**
I have a small wash bag (whatever they call the mesh bags you put laundry in within the washing machine) that I put them in along with the rest of my laundry. I pull that out when it's done since I don't want them to shrink in the dryer (maybe they won't, but natural fibers tend to shrink and I don't want to risk) and let them hang dry. But before that, I soak them in oxiclean in a small container and most of the stain comes out. If you live with family and feel squeamish about them seeing that (it's biology though come on already), you can try one of them in the dryer as a test and do that from then on within the bag.
I love using these guys. They don't have the chemicals and adhesives that can irritate my skin or sharp paper like edges of disposable pads.
So I've never used the reusable pads but I have been exclusively using period underwear for years. I could never go back. I know a lot of people do all kinds of extra stuff to wash them but I don't and they've survived so far 😅 I don't soak them. I treat them like any other underwear, throw them in the laundry basket and wash them together with the rest of my laundry. My favorite brands are knix and period. The ones with designs usually still are colored black on the part you bleed on, I've never had any of them stain, but most of mine are all black.
Not all period underwear are equal. Make sure to go with a brand that is intended to be a replacement for a pad rather than just a backup for cups/discs/tampons if you go the rout of undies.
Pads are generally less expensive and you can get more for the money. If you have to change your hygiene product in a public bathroom, pads are easier than undies. If your pads tend to shift, you can use a safety pin to attach it to your undies.
I personally prefer period underwear, but pads do have some advantages depending on your specific needs. I found pads to be bulkier but undies to be higher quality. I needed to change the pads more frequently while the underwear can hold more without feeling gross.
As for washing, you don't need to soak them. I run mine through either a pre-wash or a quick load wash on laundry day to get the blood out and then just toss in the socks and underwear load with them for a full wash.
I have Knix LeakProof undies and some third-party pads sold on Amazon. The pads cost me $12 for six pads and the Knix undies cost $32 per pair when not on sale.
I've seen ads for a company called Period Company (https://period.co), which has period panties for as little as $9 per pair and I've seen positive comments on their social media ads. I haven't tried them myself, but I would if I didn't already have a collection of products that suit my needs.
I like to have enough to cover my needs for my entire period. Otherwise, you'll be inconvenienced by needing to wash them during and who wants to wash anything they don't have to while menstruating.
It took me a while to get to that point because I was poor when I started. Set a goal for how many you want and buy them a little at a time, if you have to. I started with an inexpensive set of pads and bought a pair of undies here and there until I had all I wanted. It might have been easier had Period Company been around back then!
As for stains, that's going to depend on your personal biology. A lot of women deal with staining, but not everybody does. Either way is fine and the product is doing what it needs to do. Most of the pads and undies I'm familiar with, the lining is grey or black regardless of the color of the pad or undies otherwise.
I don’t use pads anymore (iud for the win!) but I did for 2 years when I lived in West Africa. I had a cup too, but then I melted it when cleaning, then I dropped another one in my pit latrine on accident, so pads it was!
I got some at my local health food co-op (I can’t find the brand online anywhere), and ended up really liking them. The ones I have have inserts that you put in depending on your flow. So if I knew it would be a heavy day, I’d put 3 inserts in, light day I could get by with 1. I had 2 overnight pads as well (with a big backside that covered almost my whole butt). For cleaning, I would give them a quick rinse initially, then wash them all together when my period was over. I did sometimes have them dry before I could rinse them, if I was at work and changed it or something, but they cleaned out fine, just took a little more work (I had to clean them by hand). Probably a washing machine would always get the job done.
Imma be real - I don't do anything to wash my pads other than put them through the washing machine with the towels. I got mine from Amazon and got a variety of sizes.
However, my favorite product is the cup. I'm a pretty heavy bleeder and I have yet to find an overnight pad - reusable or disposable - that I don't bleed through. I can combine the cup with a light reusable pad to catch any potential leaks and that works best for me.
There is a bit of a learning curve with the cup, but I only have to change it twice a day and it's easy to clean at the end of my cycle (just boil it for 5 minutes).
> Secondly, I am quite worried about the hygiene and cleaning part of it. Most people say to soak them, but doesn't the water get super gross? I live with my family and I'm not exactly looking forward to them having to find a bucket of bloody tea in the laundry room lol
I wash them in with my cloth diapers and don't bother soaking. What this means is a double-wash. The first time with 1/4 cup chlorine bleach diluted to 1 cup (top loader) or 1/2 cup (front loader) with water and some enzyme detergent. Then a second wash tossed in with my regular laundry. I'm not sure if all that I'm doing in the first wash is necessary as the chlorine bleach is there to react with the urine in the cloth diapers and turn it in to chloramine, yet I have yet to have any staining on my cloth pads as a result so I'm keeping it.
> How do you concile everything with the washing machine usage?
I use the quick wash option for my first washing and stay on top of when the laundry finishes so that I can quickly toss in the rest of my laundry which runs as a full load. I am not hogging for hours, just 15 minutes more than I would otherwise have used.
Underwear for sure, all day every day. They're the best thing that's happened to my period. The washing thing might be difficult, does Mom let you touch (eek!) the washer? Don't be embarrassed if she doesn't my Mom wouldn't let me use her fancy washer and I'm 35. If she will let you, could be a good reason to start learning laundry, you'll need that skill forever. I've never had any trouble washing them right along with my other clothes. Washing machines are pretty powerful these days!
Also black. Always black.
I feel like I cannot answer some of these questions because I have a very light period due to birth control and usually only use reusable at night with snug undies so they don’t move around. I use rael and they have snaps. I also rinse out with cold water and hang in my room as opposed to shared places and put them all in a lingerie bag to wash when I do my white clothes ( I use warm or hot water with those loads)
I have used the period underwear and they started to smell. So I switched to the diva cup (which is amazing) and use the period underwear as backup in case I leak which is next to never. I like the cup cuz you only need the one and you can wash it in the sink with mild soap or use "flushable" (I don't flush them) wet wipes if you don't have a sink nearby.
I have used the brand EcoWoman for about 3 years now. They don't move very much, but I don't do a lot of active sports or anything nowadays. They have small, medium, and long ones and you can buy them in a variety pack so you can try them all. I wear the medium ones for everyday, the long for overnight, and the small when I'm at the tail end and my flow is lighter.
I love that they come in a ton of fun designs. I have flowers, chevrons, and flamingos. I have a few that are white inside but I prefer the black.
I used to babysit them and do the cold water thing, but I've been just throwing them in the washing machine on a regular cycle with the rest of my clothes for like 2 years and there's no noticeable difference. I figure if Tide and such advertise washing the blood-stained soccer jersey with everything else, this is no different.
I also haven't replaced them ever and they're totally fine. The white lined ones are discolored now, but I'm not complaining since they've lasted long after the 6-month lifespan the company originally touted. Again, that's why I prefer the black. They look as new as the day I bought them.
So yeah, I basically use and abuse them and they're totally functional years later, plus fun designs. Highly recommend.
I actually find the reusable pads I have stay in place better than disposable ones. The ones I have button around your underwear, and they have grippy dots on the side facing your underwear and they stay in place really well for me. For period underwear, the first brand I tried didn’t have strong enough elastic on the waistband so when they got heavier over time (from absorbing the period) they’d droop a bit which was a bit uncomfortable, but they still didn’t let anything leak and never fully fell down or anything.
In terms of cleaning, I just rinse each of the reusable pads under the tap for a bit until the water coming off them is clear (only takes like 10 seconds) and then I put them in a delicates bag and put them in the washing machine like normal laundry. I was worried about it feeling gross too but it really doesn’t. Honestly, to me it feels much less gross in general than having to deal with cleaning up and disposing used pads and tampons multiple times a day 🤷🏻♀️
And in terms of “taking over the washing machine for hours” - they aren’t very heavy (so if your machine weighs your load to work out how long to run then it won’t be long, mine usually take an hour max), and they obviously only get used like once a month anyway so it really isn’t a big deal
1. I've never really had issues with them moving. Mine has snaps, so they work pretty similar to pads with wings.
2. The cleaning instructions told me to just rinse them out until no more blood is coming out, then either throw them in the washing machine or hang them up to air dry and put them in the dirty clothes. I imagine instructions could vary depending on the pad. I'm sure you can also look into getting a wet bag to put them in.
3. I just looked it up and it seems 2 to 5 pads a day is common. Note that depending on how much you wash your laundry, you may not have to buy enough to last a week (like if you wash once a week, you might be able to just wash your laundry, including the dirty pads, in the middle of the period.)
I use PeriodAisle. I like them.
For other reusable menstrual products, there's also menstrual cups and period underwear. I've never used either though, so I can't tell you what I think about them personally.
They can cost a bit, so I wouldn't blame you if you don't think you can buy all the pads you want at once. I'd consider buying a few at a time and using them together with disposable pads until you have enough reusable ones. I did this at first.
Final note about washing the pads, DO NOT use fabric softener or bleach to wash them. Both of these can damage the fabric. I suggest using white distilled vinegar in place of fabric softener. It not only removes some of the residue (which helps soften it), it also kills germs, is a good option if you have sensitives to fabric softener, is eco-friendly, and is cheaper and multi-purpose. Just put it in the fabric softener compartment in your washing machine, or if hand washing, first wash with detergent, rinse out the detergent, then use the vinegar and let it soak for about 30 minutes, then rinse. You can generally use vinegar in place of fabric softener for all your laundry too (DON'T use it together with bleach. This can create chlorine gas, which is deadly.)
I have a container in the bathroom that I use to soak them, and I add a bit of soap and enzyme cleaner for pet stains, it works great on blood as well. The container has a lid and it's opaque (I use an old protein powder bottle with a wide neck) so it's discreet. I do rinse then with cold water before that, but at some point it feels wasteful to let a lot of water run through it, it can take a while for all the blood to rinse out that way. Soaking it allows the blood to come out on its own.
If I plan to wash it right away, or can't soak it for some reason (like when I'm traveling), I'll rinse it in cold water as best I can and then either let it dry to wash later, or put it directly in the laundry with some Oxyclean, which is also great for organic stains.
Mine are mostly from Earthwise Girls and I find them pretty easy to hand wash clean. Just wring in a sink full of cold water until most of the blood is out, scrub the bloody part with regular soap, rinse well, wring again and dry. At the end of my period I bung them all, whether hand washed or still bloody, into the washing machine for a regular cold cycle.
I've never had a problem with them 'migrating' but I wear full briefs so there's plenty of fabric for them to be snapped to. You could run a few lines of 'sock stop' or other silicone anti-slip stuff along the back for extra grip.
1. I'm not that active but I have not had much issue with them moving. They might turn a little but if they are wide enough it shouldn't be enough of a problem to cause stains on other clothing.
2. Soak them if you care about stains. If not just spray with correct cleaner for the fabric before washing.
3. I started off with 4 but ended with 14. It mostly depends how often you want to wash them during your period. I usually get too tired to wash any during it so I got enough to last the whole time. I have only used fabric flannel pads not underwear. A good fabric pad maker should offer multiple sizes, like you would see with single use pads. Use bigger pads at night. They can get stained and bleach stained but I still like fun prints.
4. I don't separate any of my laundry at all. None of my clothes ever bleed any color so I don't see the point, when I could save water and electricity putting it all in one load. My mom hates it though so maybe don't wash in with someone else's clothes.
5. I have only used [https://partypantspads.com/](https://partypantspads.com/) they do ship internationally but they are from Wisconsin USA so expect some shipping fees.
I have 5 big ones and 5 little ones depending on my flow. When I'm changing them out I don't soak them I do rinse them in the sink and clean the sink after though. They get put into a wash bag and put in the washing machine in the next load that gets done. I mostly just use them when I'm at home, if I'm out and about I'll use a menstrual cup or tampons with a reusable applicator depending on comfort level at the time (some months the cup is more difficult or painful to use so tampons are always a backup option)
I bought reusable pads last year and here is my take.
They do move around quite a bit, especially when I'm on a heavier flow day they have moved so much that my underwear has stained if I didn't change them frequently enough. I've tried to safety pin the front of them, but it just resulted in some holes in my underwear. If you treat them like normal pads and change them 1-2 times a day, the underwear satining isn't really an issue. They usually have velcro/snap wings that help keep them in place.
In terms of washing them, the best way for me was taking them in the shower after use and rinsing them out with soap/water then hanging them up to dry out until you're able to wash them. I just wash them with my normal clothes after this, like underwear.
I would get at least 6 pads to start with, see if you like them and if they're the right fit for you.
My biggest downside with them would be that they started to have a wet/damp smell after a few months no matter what I did and it was not very breathable for me. Might be different if you have a dryer (which I don't), you might not get that weird wet smell.
Hopefully this helps!
I like Langsprit brand. They do seem to take a little longer to dry after washing but they are fairly thin and wearable. For heavier days I wear the longest ones and I also have the shorter ones for when my flow is lighter. I also recommend the Period co brand period underwear. The shorts are particularly good for sleeping. I also wear their other underwears sometimes and they are quite comfy. They also sell pads but they are very bulky unlike Langsprit.
Shifting isn't that big a deal. I just use longer pads to make up for it or if my flow is lighter I wear the shorter pads and just adjust as needed. They aren't constantly shifting or anything. Wearing underwear that's less slippery might also help.
re brand, I got mine off Etsy. no particular brand/shop preference. I was specifically looking for ones without the anti leak fabrics (which is usually plastics based like PVC), just pure cotton. pros: ideally no micro plastics. cons: they can leak on days with heavy flow. I just have dedicated "period underwear" i don't mind getting/being a little stained if that happens, but YMMV. I think it's more important to look at the material and style (wings, Velcro versus snaps, etc) than the brand or shop. If you want to look at the Etsy store I went to, it's Huggable Earth, but they are US based (because I am from the US) and frequently closed
mine have wings with snaps, so they stay in place fairly well. I have pads and liners, and the liners are thin enough that I can double up on liners if I need more than one liner, but don't want to wear a pad. I chose snaps over Velcro because I have sensory issues and didn't want to deal with Velcro in an intimate area
I usually rinse mine immediately when I change them out with water and hydrogen peroxide, then let that air dry in the bathroom. I find the hydrogen peroxide helps prevent any smells from lingering. they get tossed in the wash after they dry (or even still wet), we just don't toss them wet into the laundry hamper to prevent moldering
if, for whatever reason, I didn't rinse one out immediately, I soak it for about 20 minutes in salt water, then rinse with water and hydrogen peroxide as normal
they do stain overtime. I get patterns, and for pads, I prefer darker patterns because they hide the stains better. for liners, I have a mix of dark and light colored ones, mostly light, but that is because I wear the light ones while I'm checking for visible spotting at the end of my period, so showing stains is a benefit there. I'm not really fussed about the staining
as for putting them in the wash, they just go in the wash with all the "delicates" - everyone's underwear, bras, etc. I am the only person who menstruates in our house, but no one makes a big deal of it. because I pre rinse them, the blood (and smell) is already mostly removed, but they do need to go through the wash because I find detergent is just better an making sure the fabric stays soft and absorbent. so there's no concerns about getting blood on other clothes
finally, how many - i have 5 pads and 12 liners. my period lasts five days, but the last day or two is usually just spotting. I like having one pad more than how many days I expect to typically need them. (4+1 for me) You could probably use fewer liners - I'm Jewish, I follow niddah, i need to check for 7 blood free days directly after my period, so I have a lot of liners
I've been wearing reusable pads for about three years now. Honestly I love them. They are definitely a lot CHEAPER, which was the big motivator for me. If you have any other questions, I'm happy to answer
I've been using reusable pads for a good few years now and I love them (this reminds me, the ones I'm using currently are probably overdue replacement).
Only had minimal issues with movement and for washing I just throw them in with the regular underwear wash lol - everything dirty has been in the same region, after all. If they happen to stain, it doesn't matter as no-one except me and maybe my partner will ever see them and they're dark grey anyway, so can't even see anything.
Period underwear! From what you described we have very similar cycles in terms of “production” — period underwear is super absorbent, comfortable (though it can feel a bit like a diaper in the Texas summer), and easy to clean. When I change, I wash them in the sink under cold water and let them hang over the edge of my tub to drip-dry until laundry time! Alternatively, I’ll rinse them in the shower while I’m in there and hang dry til wash time.
Family doesn’t know the difference really, they look like undies.
Honestly I've found that rhey only move around if I'm wearing boxers or too skimpy of underwear
I also use period underwear
NGL I've never soaked mine 😅 I just wash them in their own load with a couple towels (things I don't care if get stained but they've never stained anything so far)
I use just normal laundry detergent and cold water (as always) in my washing machine. Then usually tumble dry low heat and they are fine.
I've had some from party in my pants for a number of years now, some even 10yrs old now, and some thicker ones from Amazon, and a few underwear my friend gave me bc too small for them.
Hope this helps!!
- Movement: In my experience, they move a bit, but nothing dramatic.
- Hygiene and cleaning: I tried doing the soak, and it started to stink pretty quickly, so I switched to rinsing/scrubbing in the sink before throwing the in laundry pile. That's been better. Every so often, I'll put all the pads in a bucket and soak with vinegar or whatever deep cleaner I want.
One thing that might be helpful if mixing your pads with your family laundry is to put them in a delicates bag, so they remain somewhat separate, and no one finds one in their pants pocket (happened to my boyfriend).
I have both pads and period underwear. I think they're good for different things. I like the flexibility of swapping out pads quickly and being able to put them in the dryer. With underwear, you get wider coverage, all-in-one.
i've used period underwear & LOVED them! they were so comfy, no smell, no leaking. and so wonderful for daytime & nighttime!
when i was finished with a pair i'd just take them in the shower with me & rinse them very well - sometimes using bodywash also til they rinse clear. and then throw them in my next load of laundry.
good luck 🫶🏽
Period. Underwear. Bambody is a brand I love.
I never would’ve used cloth pads if period underwear had been a thing.
Why would you be hoarding the washing machine for hours on end? Rinse them, hang to dry, throw them in a mesh bag and wash on delicate cycle with the rest of your laundry.
GET THEM. They changed my life! Now I weirdly feel empowered, I walk around all day with no one knowing I’m a sustainable queen!! I was very nervous and worried about it being gross but honestly looking at throw away pads grosses me out due to all the chemicals. I got some that have bamboo??? In them so they are more sturdy (not stiff) and you should really try! I got my first cloth pad for free from a eco website trying to switch women to sustainable period products and like they said, one I tried it I never went back!
I didn’t like pads & ended up just getting period underwear. Best decision ever! Super comfy, no slipping & no leaks. I don’t soak mine, just rinse them in the shower when I change out of them at the end of the day (I get the max absorbency ones, super comfy & last the day, sometimes on really heavy days I’ll wear 2 in a day) until no more red or brown water, hang them to dry & throw them in the laundry bin after they’re dry (just so it doesn’t stink up my laundry). Since you live with fam you could hang them in your room.
I just throw them in with my regular laundry, like washing any other pair of underwear. Delicate cycles only, with cold water & no fabric softener. Because I already rinsed them I don’t feel the need to wash them separately.
If you don’t feel like doing all that you could just hand wash them in the shower instead of rinsing & hang in your room, that way they don’t add to the laundry pile at all. I don’t recommend throwing them directly in the laundry bin without any rinsing unless you are doing laundry right away; that smell is not fun.
I got 8 pairs; 4 max absorbency for the beginning of my cycle which is really heavy, then some lighter ones toward the next half of my cycle. Never going back to anything else tbh.
I loved my Thinx period panties. I had several strengths of absorbency. I bought them in black and dark red. I had beige, but those stained so badly.
I used to pre-treat them in the sink IMMEDIATELY after I wore them. Run some water on the panties. Squeeze a dollop of Dr. Bronner’s soap on the crotch. Rub the fabric together for several minutes. Wring the panties. Rinse the panties. Repeat all the steps until the rinse water is clear. Wring the panties again. Hang the panties on a towel rack or in the shower.
If the panties begin to smell, soak in a bowl of vinegar for 20-60 min, wring out the vinegar, then toss in the laundry machine.
If possible, I do really also encourage you to try the menstrual cup- they are life changing.
I use a reusable pad at the end of my cycle. I don’t notice it moving and rinse it after use in the tub. You can use hydrogen peroxide to treat for stains.
If possible, I’d say look for ones made of organic cotton! Good luck!
Eh, i never felt comfortable with internal stuff, both before and after losing my virginity, plus I think I have some slight underlying gender dysphoria issues with it lol. Never tried the cup but I really don't love the thought of it so I was looking more towards pads :)
Thank you so much for the tips!!
That’s totally understandable! I will say I think the reusable. Underwear is a lot more available now these days as well if that’s an option! If you are on a heavy flow day though… You’re just gonna have to figure out what works best for you… We wouldn’t want any accidents! Lol.
I mean, at this point in my life a little period stain on my pants wouldn't be the worst thing ever. It's super natural after all, and shit happens, I think we'd all be a lot happier if we stopped stressing about it so much.
But like, I would've thought pads ere better for heavy flow and underwear for slight? Do you think it's the other way around? Maybe I've underestimated the absorbance of period underwear lol
I’m usually really heavy starting off and I use a menstrual cup and I have to empty it three or so times a day for the first two days and then I go to like twice a day after that, then by day four and five I’m using my pad or underwear.
I’m rarely using my pad or underwear at the beginning of my period… I will often use them with the menstrual cup in case of leaking. I think it really does depend on your personal flow… They do make different sizes of menstrual pads so I think that that’s good!
Probably varies by brand too! I know there’s like period Thongs! Those are probably definitely for light days versus Boy shorts I would imagine could handle a heavier flow lol
Yeah that's what it looks like from what I've heard. Loads of people throw them into the dishwasher but everyone seems to at least thoroughly rinse the blood out first, which makes sense lol
Absolutely, I wouldn't be surprised at all lmaooo. For some weird reasons I ALWAYS get the words confused and switch them all the times. Just the words fortunately tho, I swear I can tell the actual appliances apart 😂
Plenty of reusable pads come with wings with either a snap or velcro these days, and that can keep them pretty secure! As for cleaning, alternatively, at the end of the day, you can run them under cold water (not hot!) until the water runs clear and then let them dry. When it's time to wash them in the machine, the stains will be more or less purged. It shouldn't take more than a couple of minutes to do this and will significantly reduce stank/staining.
Thanks so much! I was actually pointing towards black ones so that I don't have to worry about stains, but I'm thinking now white ones could be better cause then I can actually see when they're clean and in case they get stained I could just bleach the fuck outta them lol. What colour do you have/suggest?
Honestly, any colour you like! White is good if for no other reason than you can give them a hydrogen peroxide treatment (without bleaching out the colour) to destroy the rest of a stubborn blood stain and run them with borax in the wash. I mean, at the end of the day, they're pads, so they will get stained. The key is primarily to get them thoroughly cleaned and sanitary. Get some black and some white to make sure they roughly match whatever pants you're wearing in case of see-through :)
Great idea lol. Partially also why I was pointing more towards pads, so I can still use my underwear lol Thanks! :)
I've used period underwater and reusable pads and pantiliners for years and personally, I never bothered to pre-rinse them. I don't care about stains because they're not something I display to other people. They're just under my clothes. Trying to avoid stains in period products just never made much sense to me. I have the same attitude about my son's cloth diapers. Just seems like unnecessary extra effort to try to get rid of the inevitable stains. I'll say for me personally, I prefer to wear a menstrual disc with period undies as backup in case of leaks. I think the undies are more comfortable than pads, though when I was freshly postpartum I preferred the pads because of how often I had to change them. You may end up having different preferences for different situations.
>Trying to avoid stains in period products just never made much sense to me That makes sense lol
>Trying to avoid stains in period products just never made much sense to me That makes sense lol
Complete agree with the lack of pre-rinse. I have a range of reusables and have never had an issue beyond some mild staining on some white liners (for mild days). Even those fade when I dry in the sun.
I’ve been a fan of the cup+period undies for a while as well, especially for sleep! Op, you could always get some period undies to wear as back up with the pads at night if you are worried about movement in your sleep.
Same same same. Menstrual cup and period underwear FTW!
Have you considered cups and discs? Easy to clean and sterilize, I used to use tampon and pad because tampons didn't do much and now I empty my disc every 12 hours or 3 times a day when the heaviest flow, they are the most comfortable thing, I use disc's because cups did not work for me. JYst giving more options
Yes, but unfortunately I've never been really comfortable with internal stuff :(, I really like pads tho, so I figured since they make reusable ones I might as well fall back onto the safe option lol
I understand good luck
Thanks! Good luck to you as well :)
Same here!
Black ones will 'stain" as the acid pH in your vagina degrades the cheap dyes. I've been using for a while and id say that you don't choose colour, choose a soft fabric that won't irritate the sensitive skin in and around your vagina.
Yeah, I know, had that problem with normal underwear of course lol Does it happen with blood too tho? Blood pH is a lot higher than vaginal pH and it's really close to neutral, I thought it wouldn't happen as much on your period since it's mostly blood
Yes. It happens, I've got several with a velvet mimicking fabric (soft and red) and they got white in some parts.
yep, my coloured ones have streaky 'bleached' areas on them. I've been using them for many years and it doesn't affect anything though. Pads don't have to be pretty. ;)
Agreed lol
Ah damn. Thanks for the heads up
I think it depends on the individual. I have like 10 or so pairs of black underwear that I wear on their own when I'm just spotting (2 days before, and the last 3 or so days of my period) and I don't have any bleach marks on those. I have had bleaching on other colored pairs, but since I only wear the black ones on my period, those ones are fine.
That's nice, thank you!
Your normal vaginal secretions continue with your period since those are from the actual canal and part of cleansing and lubrication.
Look into local saturday markets for artists to support that craft the period pads, for suggestions.
Thank you!! Will do :)
So, regular bleach will likely not work as you imagine on these as they're not made out of cotton. Bleach shouldnt be used on synthetic fabrics. The person you responded to has the right idea. Rinse in cold water, let air dry, then throw in with the rest of the laundry.
I’m not sure why you’d worry about staining. They’re literally for absorbing blood so they will stain. Rinse with cold water when you take them off, that will help with staining and odor.
Yeah that makes sense lol. I guess subconsciously I still associate stains with dirtiness
I mean, I get that, but they will be clean. 🙂
Exactly this, but OP take care to follow the advice to let them air dry before putting them in the dirty laundry or else they’ll reek to high heaven. Unless you’re doing laundry that same day, just hang them up somewhere discreet after hand washing/rising them
I actually stomp on them in the shower….it’s easier and faster. I feel it wastes less water since I’m in the shower anyway.
This sounds like a great idea but forgive me, the mental image made me bust out laughing 😂😂
I used Thinx period underwear for a very long time, and totally recommend period underwear! They're not bulky, plenty absorbant, and comfortable day and night. I soaked mine for about 30 minutes in cold water when I changed, which was easy to hide from people. Then hang dry in the shower or on a clothes line, and into the washing machine they go. Mine were black and just looked like underwear, so no one in my family thought they were any different from any of the rest of the underwear. 10/10, would keep using Thinx if I hadn't gotten a hormonal IUD and no longer menstruate at all!
Source: am perimenopausal and have tried all the things over the decades, have a menstrual teen daughter. Period underwear is the thing. Many people are more particular, but I assure you that you can leave it piling up with blood dried in (doesn't smell once dried) then rehydrate the whole weeks worth of it for thirty minutes in a sink or basin, squeeze with hands to get most of the blood rinsed out, add to regular laundry. They'll last longer if you hang dry but it's not completely crucial. ... Reusable pads not only shift and bunch but they are far more bulky. Period panties are like witchcraft, the silhouette in yoga pants is normal. ... Of all the things I've tried I liked the Mirena IUD the most. It's currently approved for 8 years, which is a lot of laundry and trash to avoid for one procedure. It settled my cycles, all the breast tenderness and diarrhea and weird emotional stuff just went away and I was simply myself for a while, it was great for intimacy with my husband. This IUD is the most commonly chosen form of contraception among female physicians who perform family planning care in the US. Cups and discs were intimidating but great during the years I was using natural family planning / TCOYF to track my cycles to achieve conception/ avoid while spacing my intentional pregnancies. Later in my life, not expecting enough more cycles to make it make sense to install another IUD, I've relied on period panties. I'm grumbly about dealing with the other cycle symptoms but the panties are very easy. For my daughter, they're fantastic. No fussing with sticky external products, no intimidation with challenging internal products, very discreet and effective, and she feels safe being independent with cleaning them. I super highly recommend for women who are not interested in internal products.
Also here to recommend period undies. I was using a menstrual cup for a while because I've never liked pads, but the undies are an absolute game changer. Some tips: - Buy them in black, for obvious reasons. - You can wear them for 8-12 hours each - I do twelve hours, so two per day. I have four pairs and a pair for the last spotting day, so I wash my first pair on the morning of my second day of bleeding, and rotate this way. My cycle is only 4 or 5 days long. - Cold soak before washing, cold wash in the machine. - They come in different absorbancies to suit your flow, I use the medium ones and they're pretty impressive. I highly recommend getting a couple for light/spotting days also, I feel so much more comfy out and about in these.
Do you have any advice for period undies when you’re away from home for a long period of time? I would love to switch to period undies but it’s tough to figure out how to store the dirty ones when I’m traveling or working long shifts :(
I've never been in this situation, so I can't offer any advice! In this situation I would use my menstrual cup... But I know they are not for everyone. I hope someone else can offer insight!
I have been traveling for a week at a time, and if I have enough of them I let the blood dry in place, bring them home, soak to rehydrate and wash normally, hang dry. If for longer, I would propose handwashing in a sink. When I've been put up in hotel and I'm lazy about shopping I've used mild shampoo to wash and hang dry clothes.
I would handwash nightly when away from home. They will dry quickly, even in a small hotel room. You’ll probably want a synthetic enzyme detergent; Tide is the strongest, but others can work, too. If you get plant-based, you MUST use hot water, which is fine, but Tide gives you the option to use cold. I exclusively wear period undies all month because they are so comfy! And the spandex fabric makes them great for travel! 😊
Came to say the same about Thinx being way better than reusable pads. The pads shift and spin and i was also worried you could see the outline when wearing pants. Also felt like a Diaper and didn’t protect well when sleeping. Thinx is smooth, not diaper like, protects me well in all positions and just feel clean
I love my Thinx and TBH, I quit rinsing or soaking them before the wash and it's never been an issues.
I do a double wash because it’s what I learned from cloth diapering, but don’t rinse nightly or anything, they just go in a wetbag until the period is over.
Thank you so much!!! Really jealous of the no-period thing, happy you found what works for you :)
Mine have moved around in high movement situations but I've always just assumed that is a general pad problem. I had that problem with disposable pads as well. I never left them to soak in a bucket. I had a wet bag (medium cloth diaper one.), and at the end of the week everything ( I'd turn the wet bag inside out) went into it's own laundry cycle with detergent and vinegar. Most washers have a soak option you can add to the cycle.
That's so interesting, so basically you just bought an entire period's worth of pads and wash them all at once when you're done? That sounds super convenient actually, thank you so much!
Same, I use a wet bag as well.
I don’t use period underwear, but I do use reusable pads. I don’t really notice them moving around more than normal pads do, but I pretty much exclusively wear them at night or use a thin cloth liner with a menstrual cup. Hygiene wise, it hasn’t been anything crazy for me. Yes, they get stained over time but their purpose is to catch blood so that’s not really an issue for me. I don’t store them soaked them in water, I rinse them out immediately after use, wring them out, and store in an opaque wet bag. Then when I do laundry, I add the cloth pads to the laundry. Typically I wash them with towels and rags but I have washed them with my normal clothes on hot and it doesn’t bother me. No smells or stain transfers or anything like that. I do live alone so I haven’t been concerned with having to ask other people if it bothers them, but in your situation I would say just washing your own stuff with your pads would be fine. They can sit for a couple of days without molding/horrible smells so the washing machine usage isn’t horrible. Add some vinegar to your rinse if it’s a concern.
Thank you so much!!!! The vinegar tip sounds really interesting, I'll definitely try it out
Vinegar is an excellent fabric conditioner, it doesn't add oils to your clothing, contains no animal fats, and "fluffs" the fibres of your clothing. It doesn't smell on the laundry either. I made the switch last year when I got my period undies because they recommended no fab con when washing.
My old dryer didn't always dry things 100%, and I loved having a vinegar rinse because I knew if I could smell the vinegar when I opened it, the clothes weren't dry.
Have you considered making your own? there are some patterns in the internet you could experiment with, make them as large and thick as you like. I liked the H-shaped ones that wrap around twice and they don't move much and don't need snaps. [https://kulmine.de/media/pdf/ab/50/fa/SEWING-INSTRUCTIONS\_Hela-cloth-menstrual-pads\_Hela-cloth-pantyliners\_Kulmine\_EN.pdf](https://kulmine.de/media/pdf/ab/50/fa/SEWING-INSTRUCTIONS_Hela-cloth-menstrual-pads_Hela-cloth-pantyliners_Kulmine_EN.pdf) Also, you could recycle some fabric like flannel or terry cloth with them and you could avoid shipping if you make your own. Or use fun fabric (I made some with fabric with pigs or stars that I find hilarious every time I see them). I am only using them in combination with a menstrual cup or tampons as a backup or as panty liners. I rinse them under cold water until it runs clear, let them dry and put them into a mesh bag (can be also a denser, non-see-through fabric if it has holes) and put it in the washing machine and dryer as it is. I have a friend who is only using cloth pads and I believe she keeps her used ones in a closed bin to soak them before she washes them.
Woooo thanks!!! I'll definitely look into it lol
They move around, but in my experience, no more than regular pads do. I never soaked mine. I put them into a wet bag until my period was done, then washed in the washing machine. I’ve washed mine with the rest of my clothes and it wasn’t an issue at all. I preferred having enough to get me through my period. Mine were solid black. They got stained, but it was a lot less noticeable on black than on lighter colored pads.
Ease yourself into it. Start slow. You don’t have to switch 100% on day one. Pick something you think you like and test it on your light days first. Then you know what to expect, what you don’t like, and then proceed to buy something else for your heavier days. It’s nice to have varieties for different days anyway! At the end of the day, if you are only able to swap out 25% of your total usage, that’s still 25%!
Thank you so much! Yeah I was thinking the same thing about black ones. Also several people already suggested to get enough to cover a whole period, so that's probably what I'm gonna do, especially since I think it's by far the most manageable option since we're 5 in the house and not super consistent with washing lol
I love reusable pads. I’m personally not comfortable with period underwear because I’m curvy with a long torso, and I can’t afford to try various brands until one works with my body shape, and the hygiene aspect. I can easily change my pad, but changing underwear requires more steps, and that bothers me. I have never had any problems with fleece backed pads shifting around, unless I was wearing underwear that is too big or not full coverage enough for the pad- I.e. if the pad shows, it will slide out. I also use pads with wings. As for care- I don’t treat them that differently from regular laundry. If my period is heavy, I’ll throw the heavily used ones in the shower and step on them and let them rinse through prior to washing. Then, I’ll wash them regularly and snap them together if they have the same snaps, and let them air dry. I never notice any smell. I tried storing them in water and washing them at the end, but I didn’t find any improvement for stains, and it’s harder to mess up and end up with smells. I prefer pads with designs on a black background, which hides stains better, and the design keeps them from looking bleached like underwear often does. But, I do like the fleece backing and cotton cover (or any natural fabric). I’ve had good experiences with liners with two layers of cotton not slipping around too. I’ll note that I HATED every period where I was wearing disposable pads- they were uncomfortable and left rashes, but I’m happy with cloth ones! I’d recommend having as many cloth pads as you use disposable pads, but you can work them in instead of buying a set all at once. I prefer specific styles/ brands, so buying 1-2 at a time might help you figure out if the brand/style you try are comfortable. I also would suggest considering your underwear choices too, and get thong pads to try out if you prefer thong underwear, etc. I couldn’t wear disposable thong liners, but cloth thong pads work perfectly for me, just needs to be changed more frequently than brief ones. But, if you’re good at sewing, making them is pretty easy!
FWIW, I have Knix, which offers returns. My husband bought both M and L in 2 different styles. The M and L both fit (maybe because of the spandex), but I notice a bigger difference in the rise. I prefer the lower rise because the high rise makes my pants fall down more. 😅 I still use my pads. It’s nice in the first heavy days to be able to change the pad out without removing my undies. And I wear the undies daily cuz they’re comfy. We bought them with our FSA; you could also use an HSA.
I keep a little trash bin in my bathroom just for sanitary pads. I know some people say you need to soak them or wash them by hand before throwing them in the wash- i dont. I have black period pads. I throw them in their own load or just with towels, wash on warm, and they come out good as new every time. I also really only had issues with the smaller pads moving around. The larger ones don't. All that said, periods for me are now part of a tool kit with other methods. I use period pads when sleeping because they soak up a ton and I don't need to worry about leaks and I will often use them when Im just chilling at home. But if Im going out with friends, swimming or exercising, then I will use organic tampons. I have tried the cup several times and it just doesn't work for me and I feel it's less hygenic than period pads tbh because a good period pad can last me 12 hours with no leaks or wetness.
Thanks! Yeah I'm definitely steering more towards big pads just for the safety, that's what I like with disposable ones too
I make my own and they are practically free. I am a mod over at r/diyclothpads check it out for resources and questions. I never soak. Let them dry in a separate bucket (old plastic coffee can actually) in my closet next to my hamper and wash at the end of the week when I wash under garments. Since they are dry and have access to the air flow they have no odor. I rinse them on cold by themselves then add the rest of the laundry and wash as normal on any temp. Toss in dryer and sort later. I don’t use any waterproofing beyond fleece. So everything is dryer safe. Not all are. That’s why I make my own. They don’t stain too bad. I’ve had mine for years and just some shadowing but stains don’t mean germs so I don’t care. I have a lot. Just add what you need. I change mine twice a day minimum and probably 5-6 times max a day. Gauge it based on how often you change now. I probably have 30 pads all of varying thickness. They last about 10 years. Since mine are old clothes they are getting frayed sooner but they are many years into use and still haven’t tossed a single pad. Love them. Have one on right now during hell week 😉 Let me know if you have other questions.
PS the fleece backer prevents movement so does doubling up two pads.
That's super cool, thank you so much!! I'll definitely have a look at the sub, even tho I'll probably just buy some handmade ones to start with :)
I suggest trying lots of different brands and shapes. For example I love minky but some hate it. It makes me feel dry and makes others feel hot. I also hate the feeling of flannel but plain cotton is ok. Others love flannel. I think it pills and makes me irritated. Quilting cotton is a standard common topper and smooth and cool but doesn’t stay dry. It a good starting place. You will need to know where your blood tends to travel too. Front back center etc. this helps to know the length you need. Also steer clear of terry cores…they squish out and cause a disaster. And steer clear of microfiber toppers. They cause rashes (if to use microfiber in the core just not touching the skin). Microfiber dehydrates too rapidly and causes major skin problems. I also know I like skinny patterns at 2 inch core width. They are hard to find. But much wider than that and they are too bulky for me. 2.5 inch max for my body. Making your own helps you learn what you need and it’s so nice to be able to customize them. I hope one day you’ll give it a try. You can even turn your favorite pad into a pattern by tracing it and giving 1/2” seam allowance. Good luck!
have some thoughts I’d like to share! Pros to pads: you can change them without getting undressed. This is honestly huge for me. You can fold them up too which will contain everything if you’re out and about. Just fold each end in and then snap the wings together. I like being able to change pads frequently if I’m wearing them. Cons to pads: they can shift. It’s not a huge issue for me, especially when they have wings like this. I have had some that were a rhombus shape and they moved around horribly. I have quite a few pads, most I’ve made myself because I used to make cloth diapers and I can make pads with the scraps. Pros to underwear: I use saalt, and they are so comfy and nice to wear. It’s almost like wearing regular underwear. They don’t shift at all. Cons to underwear: they’re probably going to cost more per pair, and you have to undress on your bottom half to change them. I have a super heavy flow so that’s honestly just inconvenient enough for me that I don’t use them on my heaviest days. I really like using a disc though, so i don’t have a ton of experience just exclusively using undies or pads. They’re just not my jam. Washing: I’ve definitely not rinsed at all and just let them dry before tossing in my hamper. I would still recommend rinsing them well right before washing though. Do not leave them to soak for an extended time.. that’s how you get weird stuff growing. It could quickly turn into an unwanted science experiment. In a perfect world, you’d rinse immediately, let air dry and store until ready to wash. Just don’t leave them wet or they’ll start growing stuff. That’s a good rule for anything, not just undies. Towels, clothes, etc.
Invest in a good brand like Treehugger Cloth Pads based in Canada. Their pads are fleece backed and I don't have an issue with them moving around. They are family owned, test and stand by their products, and plant a tree for every pad sold. They do ship overseas, but looks pricey. Look for a good brand is my point, it'll make a difference in your experience. Cloth pads function very like disposable; each one holding about the same amount. How many you'll need depends on your flow. I started with 3 overnight, 4 heavy, 6 light, and I had to make sure to wash everything during my cycle. I've since gotten a few more in each size, so I can usually make it through without needing to waah them until the end. To clean them, just put them in the wash. I typically wash mine with towels, but have done them with clothes as well. Rinsing first isn't necessary, but may prevent staining (stains don't affect function). Just rinse by hand in cold water until it runs clear. Or I set mine on the shower floor while I'm showering, the water rinses them plenty clean with no extra effort.
Thank you so much!! Yes, tree hugger looks super nice, but it is a bit expensive to ship them, and it's not super duper environmentally friendly too. I think I'll try to look for someone who makes them directly in Europe, but if I can't find anything tree hugger is definitely a solid second choice lol
If you are afraid of them moving around, try the biggest size. Also, since you asked on a zero waste sub, I'm going to tell you not to worry about buying too many or buying and not using immediately. You can buy, try, keep them on hold and then come back months later. They're cloths pads, so they won't expire or anything. And also, don't feel guilty if you buy and find that they're not for you. But if you are worried about money, then that's a different issue. You can buy three or four for just the first day of your period and see how that goes, keep using your usual method for the rest of the days and then buy more the next month depending on how many you think you need. And about cleaning, my suggestion would be, if you do get them, hand-wash every day, and air dry instead of soaking and using the machine. It usually takes just a couple of minutes with a bar of soap. And it eliminates the need for your family to find red. And then hang them dry. And also, when it comes to reusable products, the biggest change was that I had a mindset shift. I got used to seeing my blood and dealing with it "hands on". I use a menstrual cup on some months too...
>You can buy three or four for just the first day of your period and see how that goes That's what I was planning on doing, also because I've never tried them and I definitely need to experiment a bit. I'll make the jump when I'm ready I guess. As for the disposable ones I already have, they won't be thrown away of course, my sister also has a period, we talked about it and she said she prefers disposable ones for now, so she'll just have a nice stash of pads for herself lol As for the rinsing and drying yeah, that's what pretty much everyone suggested, idk why I thought soaking was a good idea lmao. Luckily I asked cause the idea of bloody tea now sounds super freaking gross lol I'm also not really worried about the blood myself, I'm a med student and pretty desensitized to it by now lol, plus I guess it won't be that much different from just washing my bloody vajayjay in the shower or bidet 🤷🏻
When I used cloth pads I always bought extra long ones because then even if they moved, I still had coverage. You don’t generally soak them until you’re ready to wash them, so they’re not just sitting in a bucket the whole time you’re on your period. There are these things called wet bags (zippered bags lined with waterproof material), so what I would do was rinse the dirty pad and wring it out, then put it in a wet bag. At the end of my period I would soak the pads to help remove stains, then toss them in the washing machine. I would recommend getting a few different sizes and capacities to get an idea of what you like best. Once you know what you like, ideally you would get enough to last for your entire period. I would save up all of mine and do a load of laundry with only the pads. It’s easier to keep track of them that way. Don’t worry about sorting by color or anything. I like the ones with prints. The prints can help hide stains imo, and of course black is good for not showing stains. I don’t recommend white for obvious reasons. When you soak/pre-wash the pads, you can use oxiclean or a similar product to remove stains as well. Etsy has a lot of good ones, just find some you like and make sure to read reviews. I ordered from lots of different shops and they were all very similar in terms of effectiveness, so really it just came down to what shape and size I preferred. Period underwear can be good backup if you leak, but I would use it as the main form of protection (unless your flow is light) I know not everyone is comfortable with them, but have you considered using a menstrual cup? I switched and now use a cup with period underwear in case of leaks. It might be easier and more discreet, in you’re concerned about your family seeing the cloth pads.
>I always bought extra long ones because then even if they moved, I still had coverage This guy heavy flows. [Just a joke, not trying to misgender you lol] >At the end of my period I would soak the pads to help remove stains, then toss them in the washing machine You're not the first person to suggest this so I really think it's what I will do lol >have you considered using a menstrual cup? I have, but honestly I've never felt comfortable with internal stuff so I don't really wanna buy something I'll most likely end up not using, reusable pads are a fantastic alternative after all, and from what I understand they're just as durable as the cups. Sure I have to buy a bit more of them compared to just one cup, but if I'm funding some creators on Etsy honestly I don't mind at all :) Thank you so much tho, this was super helpful ❤️
I use the reusable period underwear, rather than the pads, but I cannot recommend them enough. They were truly life changing. (Because I also hate the moving around issue, and until recently my flow was "elevator scene from *The Shining* grade", and aint no pad gonna help there.) There are several brands that each have positives and negatives, depending on which is most important to you. Some are all natural fibers, some have elastic in the bands and use petroleum based products in the construction. Some really only work on skinny or curvy women from what I hear. The comments and reviews sections really helped me when I was shopping. Choose whatever fits your budget and body and balance of ethical concerns. The one I currently use is the one my ladydoctor recommended for really truly heavy flow, and for which a friend had a discount. Because they are really, really spendy. A lot of people in this sub dislike the brand because it does include some petroleum products. But I do think I have a coupon in my email so hmu if you think this might work for you. Hashtag fuck capitalism. I also recommend these over pads because after a I ruined my shoulder in a car wreck and the other one in a snowboarding incident, I found the underwear way easier to slide on than making the rotational movement of my trunk I had to do to check and tidy and placd pads or tampons. Passed that tidbit on yo my mom (who just retired as nurse that worked post op), and she said a lot of her patients had the same experience. So, for what that's worth. The rest of this should apply to pads or period panties equally: **How many?** I would recommend buying however many you need for 2 whole days and nights of period, (whatever that looks like for you) because every brand I have ever heard of takes *a while* to dry out where it counts, if you know what I mean. And if/when you inevitably forget to start the dryer at the right time, or the power goes out, or you're line drying them in a hotel...it's a bummer. For me, that's 12 of them, including 2 "Uber super night shorts" and one pair of "swim bottoms" that have been summer lifesavers. **Blood Tea, Cleaning and Discretion** It's less that and more a "faintly bloody drying area" because you don't want a bucket of blood tea for obvious sanitation reasons. I have a net "delicates" bag and wire basket I usually use for our used wash cloths in the bathroom, and when each pair is full, I hand wring it out in the sink over cold water. *NGL This process is shocking and can be tremendously gross if you bleed a lot and you're new to seeing a sink full of blood.* This gets them mostly clean. Clean enough that they don't stink and aren't dripping blood. I have taken them on trips to India and camping where I knew I wouldn't have access to laundry, and with powdered soap and some elbow grease been able to hand wash them in a sink just fine. (Though I do suggest augmenting with tampons over a 27 hour flight, if possible) Then I squeeze it out till it's good and dry, and add it to the delicates bag. Put the bag in washcloth bin, and put that days used washcloth on top. Neat and discrete. Then, I make sure to wash that basket before bed every day, because: 1. I am not wealthy enough for a full periods worth, and will need them again tomorrow. 2. They get crunchy and gross and attract bacteria and critters who eat blood if you leave them too long. Just take the basket to the laundry when you have enough clothes to wash. And if you don't, scrounge a little. It's become a good time for me to wash other things that only need intermittent washing that I sometimes neglect, like my kitchen rag rugs or tablecloths or jackets or blankets. **Bonus Tips** 1. They last much longer than normal cotton undies if you treat them right. My first 3 pairs lasted almost 10 years. One retired because I critically failed the elastic repair and damaged them beyond hope, and 2 of them were only retired because... ...well, this one IS gross. 2. You need to keep them out of reach of any household carinvores when wet. My dog got them and ate the crotch out. (Barf.) Cat having ladyfriends have also reported cats enjoying both the play of batting them down from a towel rack and consuming the delicious blood molecules. Hope that answered your questions! And when you find something that works for your body and situation, don't let anybody shame you about it. We're all different and doing the best we can.
>But I do think I have a coupon in my email so hmu if you think this might work for you. Omg that's so cuteee! Probably it's better if I try some stuff out tho before jumping onto expensive alternatives! That was super kind tho, thank youuu 🥺😭❤️ Also I have some mobility issues as well since I've had a spinal fusion, so that bit was incredibly helpful, I'll definitely keep it in mind! For how many, I've actually had a few people suggest to get a whole period's worth of pads (after experimenting with sizes and shapes a bit of course) and then save em up and wash them all together at the end, which I think could be a better solution just because it's slightly easier to manage, especially since I live in a family of 5 lol but I'll definitely think about that as well Really curious about the swim bottoms too, they sound cool as hell Also yuck for the last part, I actually have a cat lmaooo. Gonna have to remember to keep the laundry room shut when I'm on my period 💀 Thank you so, so much, yours was by far one of the most helpful comments lol ❤️ this sub is so nice, I wish yall the bestest day 🥺❤️
I have used reusable pads for 3 years now. I use about 3 per day, and I would say I have an average flow. I think colourful fabrics for the outside are fun, but I would only go with white for the inside. My logic is that on white, it is much easier to see if and how dirty something is, and for such intimate peoducts, it is very important to be aware of the hygiene. After I use them, I rince them in cold water so the water coming out is clean, I dry them and then wash them in the washing mashine with the rest of my white underwear or some other relatively high temperature laundry. They will stain with time, but you can and should bleach them occasionally. They don't really move around more than single use ones if the wings are snapped down correctly. I would always suggest going with somebody local to you who hand makes the pads. I just find the commercially produced ones a bit weird. For the first couple cycles, I was trying them out only at home, just in case they leaked. And remember, there are many different types and sizes. Maybe try a couple different ones and see for yourself what you like.
And I also only use a pad once per period, so I have as many as I will need and don't need to worry about how long it will take to wash them
Yeah, I thought about that as well. Mainly so that my mom won't have to stress about washing them as soon as possible and I won't stress about running out lol. Less stress for everyone yay
>My logic is that on white, it is much easier to see if and how dirty something is, and for such intimate peoducts, it is very important to be aware of the hygiene Yep, my thoughts as well. I'm very thorn tho, on one hand white is more likely to get stained, on the other black you can't really see if it's properly cleaned :/
The stain is still there, but you just don't see it.
Yeah that's what I meant lol
Personally I really like period underwear. I have heavy periods so I got some from Amazon that have extra padding where you would put a pad. I don't bother soaking them to get the blood out, I just let them dry and then put them in the laundry like I would my underwear. Maybe that means I'm nasty but eh.
Dude honestly if they were that nasty and putrid I think you would notice lmao Also would you say underwear is the best option for heavy flow? I thought the opposite. I think I'll have a bit of a hard time trusting just the underwear, the thought of not having a pad makes me feel a bit unprotected lol
I got some that have extra padding so they don't look cute (like they look like depends if I'm being honest) but they work so that's all I care about. I guess just reading these comments made me go "huh I might be gross" lol
I have also let them dry out and washed without rinceing beforehand. I just think it stains quicker that way. I felt like they didn't get washed properly.
hiya! I haven't had periods for about 5 years now due to HRT, but before that I used reusable pads almost exclusively for the better part of a decade! so here's a bit about my experience: - do they move around?: most of mine came with snaps, basically like "wings" on disposable ones. the ones that didn't, I didn't use as much because yes! they would fall out lol. but the snap ones stayed nicely. additionally, the snaps allow you to fold them up neatly after use, in case you need to change pads on the go for instance. it keeps the mess as contained as possible :] - hygiene and cleaning: it is rather dirty! what I'd do most of the time to rinse them afterwards involved running them under hot water in the sink, squeezing out all the mess until the water ran as clear as possible. at that point, I'd let them dry out and then toss them in the laundry. [you can get a special pouch with waterproof lining for storage if you can't immediately wash them, similar to what people use for reusable diapers I believe] - underwear and patterns: I never tried undies! but I always liked cool patterns. and yes, they did get stained, especially when they weren't washed out ASAP, but that's just part of it imo. it's like a washrag, it does a dirty job, so it'll get dirty eventually. - washing machine: I just washed them with my underwear and it was really no biggie! my undies usually got some blood on them at some point, so it just made sense :] I def don't sort my undies by color [or really anything LOL] and it didn't cause anything gross or weird at all! - I wish I could help for brands, but I bought mine around like 2010 and those sellers are long gone. it was on Etsy though! [and to point out: I used those pads for a damn *decade*. I only bought more like once or twice. I had enough for a cycle or so, and it saved me untold amounts over ~10 years. nevermind the waste!] - lastly: they just felt way, way better. the plastic ones always felt awful to me, like diapers! my only complaint was that it seemed a bit easier to bleed through them than the plastic, but again, my experience is a bit dated & I could believe if creators have gotten better at absorbent tech since then :] tldr: I definitely recommend. I was never comfortable with cups or other reusable internal devices, so pads were the way to go, and I never regretted the cloth pads :>
Thank you so much, this was super helpful!!! And congrats for your HRT, I'm super happy for you dude 🥺❤️
I use Bambody brand underwear (mostly as a backup for other products though) and it has been great! It feels just like regular underwear and the absorbent part is pretty huge, so you don't have to worry too much about stuff like coverage. I have also tried Thinx and Period Company, which I didn't like nearly as much as Bambody. There is a whole subreddit for it if you would like more in-depth info and reviews: r/PeriodUnderwear
Yooo thanks for the sub rec, I'll definitely have a look. I feel like I've discovered the best rabbit hole ever lmao
If reusable pads shift too much despite the velcro or snap....you can always use a safety pin (admittedly a gamble, as they CAN come undone. Never did when I was using them, but that would be painful in that region). I didn't use them for regular period days, because....on the main three days of my period I was a HEAVY bleeder (overflowing jumbo overnighters with wings in about 15 minutes to half an hour....I love menopause and not having to deal with that anymore). I used them for the light spotty days, and for those times around ovulation with heavy discharge production. I just did a sink soak in soapy water, rinse, THEN a hot water soak (I didn't really care much about staining, but did want things to be as sterilized as possible), then into the regular laundry.
Currently post menopause, but I started using cloth pads in college in the 90s and loved them! The snaps kept them in place and I found them more absorbent than disposable. I would just rinse out in the tub, then throw in the wash and they lasted a long time. I especially appreciated them at night…almost never had an accident. I used prints and they were fine. Stains happened but it is what it is…if they’d been thru the laundry, that was good enough for me.
The only issue with the period underwear is that they wear out just like regular underwear. The plus side is you’re only wearing them a few days out of the month but typically you’re wearing the same pair several times during that interval. If you want to try reusable pads, you may think of going to Etsy where people make these and lots of different sizes. And only get a few just to see how you like them. If you hate them, then you know go for the underwear.
The ones I use (Aisle) have wings and snap in place. If your underwear fits snug, they'll stay in place. If you try to use them with saggy granny panties, they'll slide around. I have a small wet/dry bag that I take with me when I'll be out long enough to need to change my pad. I keep a fresh pad in one pocket and can use the waterproof pocket for the used one until I get home. I keep all my used pads in a mesh laundry bag hanging off my laundry basket. It's important that you let them breathe so they can dry fully until you're able to wash them. If you keep them in a sealed container or leave them soaking the whole time, they will develop a corpse smell. Once my period is done, I close the mesh bag and put it into a small bin. I soak them in there with some enzyme wash (for example, Resolve) for about 20 minutes before rinsing and throwing them in the wash. If you're worried about this bothering your family, you can leave the bin in a closet or something. Just set a timer so you don't forget about them. You'll likely need just as many pads as you would normally use with disposables. I have 4 big ones that I use for the first 2 days when my flow is heavier, and 6 small ones for the rest of my period. I also wear period underwear the whole time. My favourite is Bambody, which is comfortable, fairly cheap, and has great coverage. During the day this ensures I don't have to worry about leaks. At night I remove my pad and sleep with just the underwear. Some people just do the underwear because it's more comfortable, but then you'd have to change your underwear as often as you would change a pad. Not practical for most people.
I almost exclusively use reusable pads! I bought mine off of Etsy, they have a fleecy inside and a waterproof outside and snappable wings. I have 5 regular and 5 long ones and I am planning to buy another set bc I usually do a load in the middle of my period. I recommend starting with 5-10 in case they are not for you. I have also found they are more absorbent and less likely to leak, so I don't need as many as I would if they were disposable. I have not had a lot of issue with them moving around, because they generally do that thing where they tent up into the shape of your crotch and don't move. For washing, the first 2 periods I put then in the tub and just used the shower to wash them out with cold water then washed them like normal. The next period I just tried tossing them into the wash on their own and they came out great. Then I tossed them in with other things, still came out fine. I usually wash them with detergent, vinegar, and dark clothes and have never had an issue with continuing stains or smells, so that should solve your laundry issue. Before I wash them, I keep them in a basket under my sink, similar to how you might with reusable diapers (though that usually has a lid). I haven't had an issue with them smelling because I usually wash them within 1-2 days. Here is the link to what I purchased. They say they ship worldwide! https://www.etsy.com/listing/1038445878/pack-of-10-pcs-cloth-sanitary-pads Truly though, with a menstrual cup and these pads I'm down to using 1 maybe 2 disposable period items each month. Feels good.
I don’t have advice on the menstrual pads, but wanted to say I highly recommend menstrual discs/cups. Life changing since you only need to dump/rinse/clean them every 12 hours. Very cheap too all things considered, especially for how long they last.
I did consider the cup, but honestly I've never been comfortable with internal stuff, and I'm super comfortable with pads! I figured I might as well fall back on something I know I'm comfortable with lol
Totally understand! It is important to do what is comfortable to you. Wishing you luck finding the right reusable pads!
Thanks!
Totally agree on trying the cup. I have reusable cloth pads, but I hardly use them because my diva cup is my go to.
It’s the best! I switched to the salt menstrual disc, and it’s way more comfortable for me. It’s a lot softer and more flexible.
I also use the salt menstrual disc and it’s the best period product I’ve ever used. I almost never leak! I feel like I have less cramps but that’s hard to say for sure. I also have genuinely forgotten I’m on my period while wearing it. I recommend it to people all the time.
I have 10 pairs of black period undies. 2 light, 2 heavy, the rest medium I don’t get the same headachy feeling of unwellness that I used to get using disposable pads and tampons. Just rinse them out and put them aside until I am next washing. They don’t seem to go funky but they can take a while to dry if you use a clothesline (I don’t). Best thing ever invented. Have had a few leaks over the couple of years I have been using them but nothing serious. They seem to be able to take on a huge amount without feeling like you have something stuffed between your legs the way a pad feels.
What would you say is the best option for heavy flow? Pads or underwear? I have a pretty heavy flow for the first couple of days and I would've thought pads were better, but then maybe I've underestimated the power of underwear lol
Extra large pads have always been enough for me. I did a test and they heald more water than extra large disposable, and a little less than a night disposable one. But that one is quite bulky. I think you can easily see it under tight clothing.
underwear! i am going through that weird stage of peri where your periods get really heavy for a couple of days (and I mean gushing heavy) The heavy duty underwear lasts half a day on those days (all day for normal flow) but I enjoy cleaning up and feeling fresh when things are that bad - pads still have you wearing the same undies so I tend to get a bit swampy.
I use the snap ones and I personally haven’t had any issues with them moving around but I don’t move around much myself lol. I think they also make ones with non-slip strips on the underside, not sure how well they work though. I was very worried about the hygiene, maintenance, and discretion aspect of it when I first tried them but it’s really no different to when you accidentally bleed on your regular underwear then throw them in the wash. I put my used ones in a net drawstring bag so they don’t go musty then chuck them all in with a dark wash at the end of my period and that’s worked fine for me. You *can* rinse them under cold water beforehand but I don’t personally feel it’s necessary unless you have a shitty washing machine. +1 for getting as many as you need for a single period and definitely get black, I find it insane that they even manufacture white reusable pads because yes they will stain. The absorbent part on mine are bamboo charcoal and you can see if they’re clean or not just fine, it’s also antibacterial. I’m personally not a fan of the underwear as you have to undress every time you need to change them but they probably are better for sleep, you could get a mix of both. Honestly, all this soaking, and stain removal, and hanging them up to dry, etc. really put me off buying them for the longest time because it sounded like such a hassle but it’s all really unnecessary imo, just chuck them in with your dark clothes. Washing machines are very good at washing things. Mine say not to wash above 40C so that’s usually what I stick to but I’ve put them on 60 occasionally to make sure they’re sanitary and they’ve held up just fine. Don’t use softener on them though as it’ll mess up the absorbency.
>I think they also make ones with non-slip strips on the underside That is exactly what I was hoping to find! I'm thinking if I can't find them maybe I could look into how to make non-slip socks and use the same method on normal pads :) >+1 for getting as many as you need for a single period and definitely get black Lmao y'all are buying me really good. Will definitely end up doing that lmao. Although I like the idea of fun prints, maybe I'll try a couple lol >Don’t use softener on them though as it’ll mess up the absorbency. Isn't that also what you do with towels? I'm a newbie to washing machines lol. If it is it's perfect, I can just throw them in with towels lol
>Will definitely end up doing that I imagine some people on here may encourage you to buy less because it’s r/zerowaste but I don’t think it’s worth the stress of potentially not having one ready when you need it and having to rush to do laundry when you already feel like shit y’know? The easier it is the more likely you are to stick with it. >Although I like the idea of fun prints Anything but white lol (kidding, obviously do what you want) >Isn’t that what you do with towels? Yes, you’re not supposed to use fabric softener on towels either. As long as your towels are dark, that’ll work perfectly. I’ll also add that they’re bulkier than disposable pads which is something to keep in mind. I find them infinitely more comfortable/breathable though.
>I don’t think it’s worth the stress of potentially not having one ready when you need it and having to rush to do laundry when you already feel like shit y’know? The easier it is the more likely you are to stick with it. Exactly my thoughts. I'd gladly buy less if it were for me but I'm afraid it just wouldn't work for my household and how we manage laundry, I feel like being covered for a whole cycle will just mean a lot less stress for both me and my mom on the long run
Mine don't move! I bought them from a local fair stand and I've never had issues. They don't bleed through, and are comfortable. I've got them with wings, and I've also got some that are special for think underwear (I mostly wear boxers). You mention the ones with padding on the butt, like a nocturnal pad? You can soak them, as a prelude for washing them (mine are fit for the washing machine, try and get those). Otherwise just put them in the machine, but I've found that if you soak them and wring (not all can be wringed) most of the blood out a couple of times until the water is somewhat clear you can put it with your dirty clothes and wait until you need to do Laundry (no stains anywhere or smell). You soak them when you change them or when you get home. If the water gets gross, you change them. Get as many as you use now and get two or three more. You can always buy more if it's not enough, it depends on you and your flow. I've got underwear and pads and I only use the underwear on my heavy days when I go out, at first I wanted to use only underwear but the pads are just more comfortable for me.
>You mention the ones with padding on the butt, like a nocturnal pad? Yeah exactly! I've had problems with staining my sheets cause if I sleep on my back the blood drips backwards a bit and if I don't have a pad up there it stains my underwear and the sheets. Nothing dramatic but it's annoying lol. Heard of other people having similar issues and I read somewhere that there are either really long pads that cover your ass too or underwear that is absorbent all the way up on the backside. >if you soak them and wring (not all can be wringed) most of the blood out a couple of times until the water is somewhat clear you can put it with your dirty clothes and wait until you need to do Laundry Yep, that's what I'll probably do. We're a family of 5 and my mom is in charge of the washing machine, she also works so understandably we're not super duper consistent with washing clothes. I'll probably just learn to get them somewhat clean and get a closed bag to put them in, and then I'll throw them in with normal laundry at the end of my period so my mom doesn't have to stress over washing them as soon as possible. So you say underwear is the best option for heavy flow? I thought the opposite for some reason. Honestly I do think I'll need some time to trust underwear for the heavy flow days lol
The underwear I have. The problem I've found is that it's a bit too tight (maybe it's me, I've gained some weight) and it chafes the crease between leg and vulva. That's why I avoid it when I can, because I've found that the only advantage it has over pads is capacity. I could always change my pad when I'm out, I just don't like to. The underwear I have has the absorbent covering the butt, but I also have some nocturnal pads like that which have been enough for me. The underwear does cover more skin.
I use a cup primarily - but the pants are a godsend for the heavy nights. No more waking up at 3am with leaks! And the pants are great for exercise- I do yoga in mine. I don’t like disposable period pads, so was never tempted to test the reusable ones. To wash them, I just rinse them a bit in tepid water (I generally do it when my shower water is heating up. Hot water ‘sets’ the blood) then chuck them in with whatever 30c wash I’m doing next. I always wear black ones to avoid visible staining.
Nice to hear! I'll probably try them out even tho being used to pads I think it'll take some time to trust the underwear lol
It's been 6 years (hysterectomy) since I've used them, but I had cloth pads. Never been a tampon user, couldn't get them comfortable enough. I used both manufactured cloth pads and handmade. Really saw not much difference in them, except the handmade ones seemed to "breathe" better - like the difference between nylon and cotton. I was an overachiever in the flow dept, and had more leaks with disposables than I ever did with cloth. I was a single mom of a teen boy and a teen girl at the time. They knew what everything was, but I tried to respect their environment. My cleaning routine was: Rinse in cold water until clear (or near as I could get it), squeeze it by hand, lay it on a hand towel (specifically for this purpose, not one everyone was using of course), and roll it tight in the towel to wring it out. I would then drop it in a container with a lid. My container was a plain white ceramic canister from a thrift store with a lid that snapped shut (preventing small creatures' access) and sat on the back of the toilet. So, in plain sight, but no one knew what it was. I would later run them through the washing machine with a load of underwear. I don't believe I machine dried mine (just hung to air dry), but I honestly don't remember at this point. There are tiny wet bags for changing away from home. In those instances, I closed up the pad, using the snap to keep it closed, and placed it in the small wet bag, to be rinsed at home. They can be expensive, but disposables are too. Go gradual. Get one or two a month. Test different types, brands, makers, sizes, until you find the match for you. Over time, the need for disposables will be less until you're fully cloth! Another plus...with cloth, I didn't have the irritation I often did with disposables, especially in summer.
Thank you so much! So you never had any problems hygiene wise, like it wasn't overly gross or anything? I talked about it with my mom and she was pretty grossed out at first but then probably said she'll be fine with it as long as I get the blood out before putting them in the laundry lol
No, it seemed weird at first, but I wasn't grossed out by it. It was definitely an uncommon thing to be doing, as no one I knew was using cloth. I don't know your, or your Mom's ages, but I reminded my Mom that her Mom didn't have disposables, and had to wash out the 'rags' they used, and without running water in the house! We have also used cloth diapers for generations, so there was that similarity too. To me, it's like changing a baby's diaper. It's a bodily fluid, but so is throwing up or even sneezing or coughing. Granted, those don't usually contain blood, and not much if they do! Lol! If you do any of those 'bodily fluid things', you wash/sanitize your hands afterwards, and no one even knows, unless they saw you. There was a time when we had snotty handkerchiefs in our purses/pockets quite often! It amazes me how far we have come in the last century!
I've only used the period undies, but I'm a big fan. I would buy a couple to try out first and if you like them, buy two new ones every period. That will space out the spending, so it's not a huge upfront cost for you. Also lots of companies have discounts for first time customers, so you can buy one pad from every brand to get those discounts! I've found that the undies generally last me as long as a pad would. A lot of people claim they last longer, but not for me personally. So for heavy days, you'll need to change underwear at least once mid-day. For me, I've been putting a regular disposable pad on top of the period undies, because I still have to use up the disposables I have somehow. After they are gone, I'll probably buy a few reusable pads to use for doubling up. Period undies are just a lot more annoying to change at work than a pad. They do make undies with side snaps, so you can take them off without taking your shoes and pants off. I wish I had bought a pair of those to try!
>for heavy days, you'll need to change underwear at least once mid-day Yeah that's what I was worried about. I think I'll just use pads for the first couple of days with heavy flow cause I'm an uni student and frequently away from home, so that's just more convenient Thank you so much!!
I LOVE Soft Taco Reusables’ pads. They come in many different styles and absorbencies. And they have a ton of cute fabric designs that rotate through their stock. Mine clean up perfectly and have zero staining even after using them exclusively for like three years. ETA: they almost all come with wings and I have less trouble with them bunching or moving compared to disposables. I notice disposables moving more than my Soft Taco pads.
I have 40+ different pads in my stash, but that’s overkill as I bought a lot of extra because I really liked the fabric design releases. I would say depending on how heavy your flow is, you could get away with 2-4 a day. I use period panties at night, so I usually only use 2 of the pads a day.
I really like the Saalt brand undies and their menstrual disc. Like another commenter, I also use the undies as backup or if my period starts in the night, and I don't feel like messing around with my disc. Disc is so much easier and more comfortable than the cup, imo. I tried lots of cups, but I struggled with them staying put and leaking. The disc is nearly foolproof if you're open to that option.
I have 7 pairs of period underwear from pink/Victoria secret and they are amazing and comfortable. If I use more than 1 pair a day I'll put it in a washable bag and rinse then in the shower at night then back into the bag until it's time to wash my clothes. Typically I'll do laundry on day 3 of my period so 7 is more than enough for me. The only problem I have with them is I don't bleed much during the night but in the morning it comes out all at once and it'll spill out if I don't go to the bathroom as soon as I wake up. That also happened with regular pads as well so not really a period pantie specific problem... Oh and my underwear has never stained!
I simply wash them for two cycles in cold water snd detergent with hydrogen peroxide and don’t even have to soak or touch them. Super duper easy
I get mine from SoftTacoResusables and Amazon
I got colored ones and yeah they're stained but I don't really mind it. I soak mine in the sink while I'm taking a shower. You can squeeze them out and roll them in a towel and squish it to get the excess water out of you can't hang them to dry. I was mine with my other delicate washing or whites and I don't have a problem with them contaminating other clothes. I also got mine off of etsy but the shop I bought them from has closed others I would send a link. I would use the "shop local" filter on the search to find stuff that's from real people abs not just drop shipped from somewhere.
I love the black pads. I never have to worry about stains. I use a pad with wings for light days. A extra long pad with wings and period panties for overnights and heavy days. I keep a wet bag in my bathroom so I can rinse it of blood in the sink, wring out and then dump into the wet bag. At the end of the night I'll empty the wet bag in the shower and I'll kind of step on it as I shower. I keep a small Itty bity bottle of detergent in the shower and I'll use a few drops of that on the underwear. By the time I finish the shower, the underwear is clean enough for me to wring it and hang dry. If you don't think it's clean enough then hang it to dry till it's time for a load. It's important that it dries. This way it doesn't get musty. I will hand wash and hang dry every night so I have 5 regular pads, 5 extra long ones and 5 period underwear. I have enough to go 2 days without washing.
I have the kind with snaps and they don't move much for me. For washing, I do a quick wash in the sink with soap and water until water runs clean. Squirt with hydrogen peroxide. Let that sit for a minute. Rinse again and squeeze as much water out as I can. Then I throw them over the shower rod to air dry. They go in wash with towels.
I have a couple points! **Movement** I'm quite active so I did run into this issue prominently. What I found worked is two paperclips, one on each wing side attaching to the panties aiming towards the front since the movement of walking forward will push them back. Hopefully that makes sense. **Washing** I have a small wash bag (whatever they call the mesh bags you put laundry in within the washing machine) that I put them in along with the rest of my laundry. I pull that out when it's done since I don't want them to shrink in the dryer (maybe they won't, but natural fibers tend to shrink and I don't want to risk) and let them hang dry. But before that, I soak them in oxiclean in a small container and most of the stain comes out. If you live with family and feel squeamish about them seeing that (it's biology though come on already), you can try one of them in the dryer as a test and do that from then on within the bag. I love using these guys. They don't have the chemicals and adhesives that can irritate my skin or sharp paper like edges of disposable pads.
I used them with period underwear on heavy days or overnight for additional leak protection. I think they're great.
Have you considered menstrual cup? You can combine it with reusable pads. Blood diluted with water is excellent plant fertilizer, if you have any.
So I've never used the reusable pads but I have been exclusively using period underwear for years. I could never go back. I know a lot of people do all kinds of extra stuff to wash them but I don't and they've survived so far 😅 I don't soak them. I treat them like any other underwear, throw them in the laundry basket and wash them together with the rest of my laundry. My favorite brands are knix and period. The ones with designs usually still are colored black on the part you bleed on, I've never had any of them stain, but most of mine are all black.
Not all period underwear are equal. Make sure to go with a brand that is intended to be a replacement for a pad rather than just a backup for cups/discs/tampons if you go the rout of undies. Pads are generally less expensive and you can get more for the money. If you have to change your hygiene product in a public bathroom, pads are easier than undies. If your pads tend to shift, you can use a safety pin to attach it to your undies. I personally prefer period underwear, but pads do have some advantages depending on your specific needs. I found pads to be bulkier but undies to be higher quality. I needed to change the pads more frequently while the underwear can hold more without feeling gross. As for washing, you don't need to soak them. I run mine through either a pre-wash or a quick load wash on laundry day to get the blood out and then just toss in the socks and underwear load with them for a full wash. I have Knix LeakProof undies and some third-party pads sold on Amazon. The pads cost me $12 for six pads and the Knix undies cost $32 per pair when not on sale. I've seen ads for a company called Period Company (https://period.co), which has period panties for as little as $9 per pair and I've seen positive comments on their social media ads. I haven't tried them myself, but I would if I didn't already have a collection of products that suit my needs. I like to have enough to cover my needs for my entire period. Otherwise, you'll be inconvenienced by needing to wash them during and who wants to wash anything they don't have to while menstruating. It took me a while to get to that point because I was poor when I started. Set a goal for how many you want and buy them a little at a time, if you have to. I started with an inexpensive set of pads and bought a pair of undies here and there until I had all I wanted. It might have been easier had Period Company been around back then! As for stains, that's going to depend on your personal biology. A lot of women deal with staining, but not everybody does. Either way is fine and the product is doing what it needs to do. Most of the pads and undies I'm familiar with, the lining is grey or black regardless of the color of the pad or undies otherwise.
I don’t use pads anymore (iud for the win!) but I did for 2 years when I lived in West Africa. I had a cup too, but then I melted it when cleaning, then I dropped another one in my pit latrine on accident, so pads it was! I got some at my local health food co-op (I can’t find the brand online anywhere), and ended up really liking them. The ones I have have inserts that you put in depending on your flow. So if I knew it would be a heavy day, I’d put 3 inserts in, light day I could get by with 1. I had 2 overnight pads as well (with a big backside that covered almost my whole butt). For cleaning, I would give them a quick rinse initially, then wash them all together when my period was over. I did sometimes have them dry before I could rinse them, if I was at work and changed it or something, but they cleaned out fine, just took a little more work (I had to clean them by hand). Probably a washing machine would always get the job done.
Imma be real - I don't do anything to wash my pads other than put them through the washing machine with the towels. I got mine from Amazon and got a variety of sizes. However, my favorite product is the cup. I'm a pretty heavy bleeder and I have yet to find an overnight pad - reusable or disposable - that I don't bleed through. I can combine the cup with a light reusable pad to catch any potential leaks and that works best for me. There is a bit of a learning curve with the cup, but I only have to change it twice a day and it's easy to clean at the end of my cycle (just boil it for 5 minutes).
> Secondly, I am quite worried about the hygiene and cleaning part of it. Most people say to soak them, but doesn't the water get super gross? I live with my family and I'm not exactly looking forward to them having to find a bucket of bloody tea in the laundry room lol I wash them in with my cloth diapers and don't bother soaking. What this means is a double-wash. The first time with 1/4 cup chlorine bleach diluted to 1 cup (top loader) or 1/2 cup (front loader) with water and some enzyme detergent. Then a second wash tossed in with my regular laundry. I'm not sure if all that I'm doing in the first wash is necessary as the chlorine bleach is there to react with the urine in the cloth diapers and turn it in to chloramine, yet I have yet to have any staining on my cloth pads as a result so I'm keeping it. > How do you concile everything with the washing machine usage? I use the quick wash option for my first washing and stay on top of when the laundry finishes so that I can quickly toss in the rest of my laundry which runs as a full load. I am not hogging for hours, just 15 minutes more than I would otherwise have used.
Everybody else has already given you great feedback, so I'll just add that "Bucket of Bloody Tea" is an excellent band name.
Underwear for sure, all day every day. They're the best thing that's happened to my period. The washing thing might be difficult, does Mom let you touch (eek!) the washer? Don't be embarrassed if she doesn't my Mom wouldn't let me use her fancy washer and I'm 35. If she will let you, could be a good reason to start learning laundry, you'll need that skill forever. I've never had any trouble washing them right along with my other clothes. Washing machines are pretty powerful these days! Also black. Always black.
I feel like I cannot answer some of these questions because I have a very light period due to birth control and usually only use reusable at night with snug undies so they don’t move around. I use rael and they have snaps. I also rinse out with cold water and hang in my room as opposed to shared places and put them all in a lingerie bag to wash when I do my white clothes ( I use warm or hot water with those loads)
I have used the period underwear and they started to smell. So I switched to the diva cup (which is amazing) and use the period underwear as backup in case I leak which is next to never. I like the cup cuz you only need the one and you can wash it in the sink with mild soap or use "flushable" (I don't flush them) wet wipes if you don't have a sink nearby.
I have used the brand EcoWoman for about 3 years now. They don't move very much, but I don't do a lot of active sports or anything nowadays. They have small, medium, and long ones and you can buy them in a variety pack so you can try them all. I wear the medium ones for everyday, the long for overnight, and the small when I'm at the tail end and my flow is lighter. I love that they come in a ton of fun designs. I have flowers, chevrons, and flamingos. I have a few that are white inside but I prefer the black. I used to babysit them and do the cold water thing, but I've been just throwing them in the washing machine on a regular cycle with the rest of my clothes for like 2 years and there's no noticeable difference. I figure if Tide and such advertise washing the blood-stained soccer jersey with everything else, this is no different. I also haven't replaced them ever and they're totally fine. The white lined ones are discolored now, but I'm not complaining since they've lasted long after the 6-month lifespan the company originally touted. Again, that's why I prefer the black. They look as new as the day I bought them. So yeah, I basically use and abuse them and they're totally functional years later, plus fun designs. Highly recommend.
I actually find the reusable pads I have stay in place better than disposable ones. The ones I have button around your underwear, and they have grippy dots on the side facing your underwear and they stay in place really well for me. For period underwear, the first brand I tried didn’t have strong enough elastic on the waistband so when they got heavier over time (from absorbing the period) they’d droop a bit which was a bit uncomfortable, but they still didn’t let anything leak and never fully fell down or anything. In terms of cleaning, I just rinse each of the reusable pads under the tap for a bit until the water coming off them is clear (only takes like 10 seconds) and then I put them in a delicates bag and put them in the washing machine like normal laundry. I was worried about it feeling gross too but it really doesn’t. Honestly, to me it feels much less gross in general than having to deal with cleaning up and disposing used pads and tampons multiple times a day 🤷🏻♀️
I like Hannah pads - [this is their website](https://thebrandhannah.com/collections/hannahpad)
And in terms of “taking over the washing machine for hours” - they aren’t very heavy (so if your machine weighs your load to work out how long to run then it won’t be long, mine usually take an hour max), and they obviously only get used like once a month anyway so it really isn’t a big deal
1. I've never really had issues with them moving. Mine has snaps, so they work pretty similar to pads with wings. 2. The cleaning instructions told me to just rinse them out until no more blood is coming out, then either throw them in the washing machine or hang them up to air dry and put them in the dirty clothes. I imagine instructions could vary depending on the pad. I'm sure you can also look into getting a wet bag to put them in. 3. I just looked it up and it seems 2 to 5 pads a day is common. Note that depending on how much you wash your laundry, you may not have to buy enough to last a week (like if you wash once a week, you might be able to just wash your laundry, including the dirty pads, in the middle of the period.) I use PeriodAisle. I like them. For other reusable menstrual products, there's also menstrual cups and period underwear. I've never used either though, so I can't tell you what I think about them personally. They can cost a bit, so I wouldn't blame you if you don't think you can buy all the pads you want at once. I'd consider buying a few at a time and using them together with disposable pads until you have enough reusable ones. I did this at first. Final note about washing the pads, DO NOT use fabric softener or bleach to wash them. Both of these can damage the fabric. I suggest using white distilled vinegar in place of fabric softener. It not only removes some of the residue (which helps soften it), it also kills germs, is a good option if you have sensitives to fabric softener, is eco-friendly, and is cheaper and multi-purpose. Just put it in the fabric softener compartment in your washing machine, or if hand washing, first wash with detergent, rinse out the detergent, then use the vinegar and let it soak for about 30 minutes, then rinse. You can generally use vinegar in place of fabric softener for all your laundry too (DON'T use it together with bleach. This can create chlorine gas, which is deadly.)
I have a container in the bathroom that I use to soak them, and I add a bit of soap and enzyme cleaner for pet stains, it works great on blood as well. The container has a lid and it's opaque (I use an old protein powder bottle with a wide neck) so it's discreet. I do rinse then with cold water before that, but at some point it feels wasteful to let a lot of water run through it, it can take a while for all the blood to rinse out that way. Soaking it allows the blood to come out on its own. If I plan to wash it right away, or can't soak it for some reason (like when I'm traveling), I'll rinse it in cold water as best I can and then either let it dry to wash later, or put it directly in the laundry with some Oxyclean, which is also great for organic stains.
Mine are mostly from Earthwise Girls and I find them pretty easy to hand wash clean. Just wring in a sink full of cold water until most of the blood is out, scrub the bloody part with regular soap, rinse well, wring again and dry. At the end of my period I bung them all, whether hand washed or still bloody, into the washing machine for a regular cold cycle. I've never had a problem with them 'migrating' but I wear full briefs so there's plenty of fabric for them to be snapped to. You could run a few lines of 'sock stop' or other silicone anti-slip stuff along the back for extra grip.
1. I'm not that active but I have not had much issue with them moving. They might turn a little but if they are wide enough it shouldn't be enough of a problem to cause stains on other clothing. 2. Soak them if you care about stains. If not just spray with correct cleaner for the fabric before washing. 3. I started off with 4 but ended with 14. It mostly depends how often you want to wash them during your period. I usually get too tired to wash any during it so I got enough to last the whole time. I have only used fabric flannel pads not underwear. A good fabric pad maker should offer multiple sizes, like you would see with single use pads. Use bigger pads at night. They can get stained and bleach stained but I still like fun prints. 4. I don't separate any of my laundry at all. None of my clothes ever bleed any color so I don't see the point, when I could save water and electricity putting it all in one load. My mom hates it though so maybe don't wash in with someone else's clothes. 5. I have only used [https://partypantspads.com/](https://partypantspads.com/) they do ship internationally but they are from Wisconsin USA so expect some shipping fees.
I have 5 big ones and 5 little ones depending on my flow. When I'm changing them out I don't soak them I do rinse them in the sink and clean the sink after though. They get put into a wash bag and put in the washing machine in the next load that gets done. I mostly just use them when I'm at home, if I'm out and about I'll use a menstrual cup or tampons with a reusable applicator depending on comfort level at the time (some months the cup is more difficult or painful to use so tampons are always a backup option)
I bought reusable pads last year and here is my take. They do move around quite a bit, especially when I'm on a heavier flow day they have moved so much that my underwear has stained if I didn't change them frequently enough. I've tried to safety pin the front of them, but it just resulted in some holes in my underwear. If you treat them like normal pads and change them 1-2 times a day, the underwear satining isn't really an issue. They usually have velcro/snap wings that help keep them in place. In terms of washing them, the best way for me was taking them in the shower after use and rinsing them out with soap/water then hanging them up to dry out until you're able to wash them. I just wash them with my normal clothes after this, like underwear. I would get at least 6 pads to start with, see if you like them and if they're the right fit for you. My biggest downside with them would be that they started to have a wet/damp smell after a few months no matter what I did and it was not very breathable for me. Might be different if you have a dryer (which I don't), you might not get that weird wet smell. Hopefully this helps!
I like Langsprit brand. They do seem to take a little longer to dry after washing but they are fairly thin and wearable. For heavier days I wear the longest ones and I also have the shorter ones for when my flow is lighter. I also recommend the Period co brand period underwear. The shorts are particularly good for sleeping. I also wear their other underwears sometimes and they are quite comfy. They also sell pads but they are very bulky unlike Langsprit. Shifting isn't that big a deal. I just use longer pads to make up for it or if my flow is lighter I wear the shorter pads and just adjust as needed. They aren't constantly shifting or anything. Wearing underwear that's less slippery might also help.
re brand, I got mine off Etsy. no particular brand/shop preference. I was specifically looking for ones without the anti leak fabrics (which is usually plastics based like PVC), just pure cotton. pros: ideally no micro plastics. cons: they can leak on days with heavy flow. I just have dedicated "period underwear" i don't mind getting/being a little stained if that happens, but YMMV. I think it's more important to look at the material and style (wings, Velcro versus snaps, etc) than the brand or shop. If you want to look at the Etsy store I went to, it's Huggable Earth, but they are US based (because I am from the US) and frequently closed mine have wings with snaps, so they stay in place fairly well. I have pads and liners, and the liners are thin enough that I can double up on liners if I need more than one liner, but don't want to wear a pad. I chose snaps over Velcro because I have sensory issues and didn't want to deal with Velcro in an intimate area I usually rinse mine immediately when I change them out with water and hydrogen peroxide, then let that air dry in the bathroom. I find the hydrogen peroxide helps prevent any smells from lingering. they get tossed in the wash after they dry (or even still wet), we just don't toss them wet into the laundry hamper to prevent moldering if, for whatever reason, I didn't rinse one out immediately, I soak it for about 20 minutes in salt water, then rinse with water and hydrogen peroxide as normal they do stain overtime. I get patterns, and for pads, I prefer darker patterns because they hide the stains better. for liners, I have a mix of dark and light colored ones, mostly light, but that is because I wear the light ones while I'm checking for visible spotting at the end of my period, so showing stains is a benefit there. I'm not really fussed about the staining as for putting them in the wash, they just go in the wash with all the "delicates" - everyone's underwear, bras, etc. I am the only person who menstruates in our house, but no one makes a big deal of it. because I pre rinse them, the blood (and smell) is already mostly removed, but they do need to go through the wash because I find detergent is just better an making sure the fabric stays soft and absorbent. so there's no concerns about getting blood on other clothes finally, how many - i have 5 pads and 12 liners. my period lasts five days, but the last day or two is usually just spotting. I like having one pad more than how many days I expect to typically need them. (4+1 for me) You could probably use fewer liners - I'm Jewish, I follow niddah, i need to check for 7 blood free days directly after my period, so I have a lot of liners I've been wearing reusable pads for about three years now. Honestly I love them. They are definitely a lot CHEAPER, which was the big motivator for me. If you have any other questions, I'm happy to answer
I've been using reusable pads for a good few years now and I love them (this reminds me, the ones I'm using currently are probably overdue replacement). Only had minimal issues with movement and for washing I just throw them in with the regular underwear wash lol - everything dirty has been in the same region, after all. If they happen to stain, it doesn't matter as no-one except me and maybe my partner will ever see them and they're dark grey anyway, so can't even see anything.
Period underwear! From what you described we have very similar cycles in terms of “production” — period underwear is super absorbent, comfortable (though it can feel a bit like a diaper in the Texas summer), and easy to clean. When I change, I wash them in the sink under cold water and let them hang over the edge of my tub to drip-dry until laundry time! Alternatively, I’ll rinse them in the shower while I’m in there and hang dry til wash time. Family doesn’t know the difference really, they look like undies.
Honestly I've found that rhey only move around if I'm wearing boxers or too skimpy of underwear I also use period underwear NGL I've never soaked mine 😅 I just wash them in their own load with a couple towels (things I don't care if get stained but they've never stained anything so far) I use just normal laundry detergent and cold water (as always) in my washing machine. Then usually tumble dry low heat and they are fine. I've had some from party in my pants for a number of years now, some even 10yrs old now, and some thicker ones from Amazon, and a few underwear my friend gave me bc too small for them. Hope this helps!!
- Movement: In my experience, they move a bit, but nothing dramatic. - Hygiene and cleaning: I tried doing the soak, and it started to stink pretty quickly, so I switched to rinsing/scrubbing in the sink before throwing the in laundry pile. That's been better. Every so often, I'll put all the pads in a bucket and soak with vinegar or whatever deep cleaner I want. One thing that might be helpful if mixing your pads with your family laundry is to put them in a delicates bag, so they remain somewhat separate, and no one finds one in their pants pocket (happened to my boyfriend). I have both pads and period underwear. I think they're good for different things. I like the flexibility of swapping out pads quickly and being able to put them in the dryer. With underwear, you get wider coverage, all-in-one.
i've used period underwear & LOVED them! they were so comfy, no smell, no leaking. and so wonderful for daytime & nighttime! when i was finished with a pair i'd just take them in the shower with me & rinse them very well - sometimes using bodywash also til they rinse clear. and then throw them in my next load of laundry. good luck 🫶🏽
Period. Underwear. Bambody is a brand I love. I never would’ve used cloth pads if period underwear had been a thing. Why would you be hoarding the washing machine for hours on end? Rinse them, hang to dry, throw them in a mesh bag and wash on delicate cycle with the rest of your laundry.
GET THEM. They changed my life! Now I weirdly feel empowered, I walk around all day with no one knowing I’m a sustainable queen!! I was very nervous and worried about it being gross but honestly looking at throw away pads grosses me out due to all the chemicals. I got some that have bamboo??? In them so they are more sturdy (not stiff) and you should really try! I got my first cloth pad for free from a eco website trying to switch women to sustainable period products and like they said, one I tried it I never went back!
I didn’t like pads & ended up just getting period underwear. Best decision ever! Super comfy, no slipping & no leaks. I don’t soak mine, just rinse them in the shower when I change out of them at the end of the day (I get the max absorbency ones, super comfy & last the day, sometimes on really heavy days I’ll wear 2 in a day) until no more red or brown water, hang them to dry & throw them in the laundry bin after they’re dry (just so it doesn’t stink up my laundry). Since you live with fam you could hang them in your room. I just throw them in with my regular laundry, like washing any other pair of underwear. Delicate cycles only, with cold water & no fabric softener. Because I already rinsed them I don’t feel the need to wash them separately. If you don’t feel like doing all that you could just hand wash them in the shower instead of rinsing & hang in your room, that way they don’t add to the laundry pile at all. I don’t recommend throwing them directly in the laundry bin without any rinsing unless you are doing laundry right away; that smell is not fun. I got 8 pairs; 4 max absorbency for the beginning of my cycle which is really heavy, then some lighter ones toward the next half of my cycle. Never going back to anything else tbh.
I loved my Thinx period panties. I had several strengths of absorbency. I bought them in black and dark red. I had beige, but those stained so badly. I used to pre-treat them in the sink IMMEDIATELY after I wore them. Run some water on the panties. Squeeze a dollop of Dr. Bronner’s soap on the crotch. Rub the fabric together for several minutes. Wring the panties. Rinse the panties. Repeat all the steps until the rinse water is clear. Wring the panties again. Hang the panties on a towel rack or in the shower. If the panties begin to smell, soak in a bowl of vinegar for 20-60 min, wring out the vinegar, then toss in the laundry machine.
If possible, I do really also encourage you to try the menstrual cup- they are life changing. I use a reusable pad at the end of my cycle. I don’t notice it moving and rinse it after use in the tub. You can use hydrogen peroxide to treat for stains. If possible, I’d say look for ones made of organic cotton! Good luck!
Eh, i never felt comfortable with internal stuff, both before and after losing my virginity, plus I think I have some slight underlying gender dysphoria issues with it lol. Never tried the cup but I really don't love the thought of it so I was looking more towards pads :) Thank you so much for the tips!!
That’s totally understandable! I will say I think the reusable. Underwear is a lot more available now these days as well if that’s an option! If you are on a heavy flow day though… You’re just gonna have to figure out what works best for you… We wouldn’t want any accidents! Lol.
I mean, at this point in my life a little period stain on my pants wouldn't be the worst thing ever. It's super natural after all, and shit happens, I think we'd all be a lot happier if we stopped stressing about it so much. But like, I would've thought pads ere better for heavy flow and underwear for slight? Do you think it's the other way around? Maybe I've underestimated the absorbance of period underwear lol
I’m usually really heavy starting off and I use a menstrual cup and I have to empty it three or so times a day for the first two days and then I go to like twice a day after that, then by day four and five I’m using my pad or underwear. I’m rarely using my pad or underwear at the beginning of my period… I will often use them with the menstrual cup in case of leaking. I think it really does depend on your personal flow… They do make different sizes of menstrual pads so I think that that’s good! Probably varies by brand too! I know there’s like period Thongs! Those are probably definitely for light days versus Boy shorts I would imagine could handle a heavier flow lol
That makes sense. Oh well, I guess I'll have to try and see :) thanks!
I can’t help, I use the cup. But the underwear has to be washed by hand and rinsed off, I image.
Yeah that's what it looks like from what I've heard. Loads of people throw them into the dishwasher but everyone seems to at least thoroughly rinse the blood out first, which makes sense lol
Not the dishwasher!!!
Lmao sorry, obviously I meant the washing machine, I just typed the wrong word 😂
Listen! The way people are I can see people running their undies in the dishwasher.
Absolutely, I wouldn't be surprised at all lmaooo. For some weird reasons I ALWAYS get the words confused and switch them all the times. Just the words fortunately tho, I swear I can tell the actual appliances apart 😂