Menstrual Pads

Cloth Menstrual Pads

Cloth Menstrual Pads cloth menstrual pads are menstrual products made from fabric that are designed to be washed and reused over multiple menstrual cycles.

Material: Most cloth menstrual pads are made from cotton (Glad Rags, Luna Pads, etc.), although some may be made with hemp.

Sizes: Manufactured pads often come in 3 sizes. The large ‘overnight’ size is designed to be worn during sleep. The ‘regular’ size is designed to be used throughout the day. Both the overnight and regular sizes come with cloth inserts that can be placed inside the pad to increase absorbency. The smallest ‘pantyliner’ size is designed for lighter flow days, when a user thinks they’ll be starting their period, or in conjunction with a menstrual cup for added menstrual control.

How to Use Reusable Cloth Pads: Cloth pads have wings that snap around the user’s underwear to stay in place. When putting on large or regular sized cloth pads, there are fabric inserts that one can put into the pad, depending on how heavy their flow will be that day. After removal, pads should be rinsed and then put into a cold water soak before washing. If not at home, users can place used cloth pads into a waterproof carrier until they have access to a place where they can rinse and soak their pads. After the cold water soak, users can put cloth pads into the washing machine with dark clothes to clean them.

How Long Can You Wear A Pad For? Cloth pads will need to be changed every 2-6 hours or as needed. Wearing a pad for too long can result in menstrual fluid leaking out onto clothes.

Benefits of Cloth Pads

• Because they can be reused for many years, they are better for the environment than mainstream pads and tampons, as mainstream pads and tampons do not biodegrade.
• Although they are more expensive than mainstream pads and tampons initially, over time, using cloth pads is cheaper than using mainstream pads and tampons.
• Cloth pads are good for users who experience irritation due to chemicals used to manufacture mainstream pads and tampons.
• Cloth pads are more breathable than mainstream pads, which can mean a decrease in menstruation induced infection.
• Because menstrual fluid exits the vagina, there is almost no risk of getting Toxic Shock Syndrome (TSS) while using reusable cloth pads.
• Overnight cloth pads are wider than disposables, which means a decreased likelihood of menstrual fluid leaking out.
• Users can make cloth pads themselves from patterns found online.
• The water cloth pads are soaked in can be used to water plants, as menstrual fluid contains a wealth of nutrients.

Concerns:

• Because cloth pads require washing after each cycle, they are more time consuming to use than disposables.
• Users need reliable access to a clean water supply in order to wash pads.

Tips for Beginners

• Because cloth pads may be expensive in the beginning, a user can begin by using a combination of disposable products and cloth pads.
• As the user’s budget allows, they can start to accumulate more cloth pads until they have no further need for disposables.
• If a user finds that the 2 inserts included with pads are not absorbent enough, they can buy additional inserts to increase the absorbency of their cloth pad.
• Many of the cloth pad websites have recommended starter kits to give users an idea of how many cloth pads are necessary to get through a cycle.
• There are many websites designed for user support if the user encounters any difficulty in properly using cloth pads.

Where to Purchase Cloth Pads: Cloth pads are most commonly found online, although they can be purchased at some health food stores.

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