Does anyone use the cloth menstrual pads?

[Greenmama13]

I'm trying to convert to more reusables and less plastics, paper, waste. Using cloth diapers and cloth wipes for my son has gone so well that I am thinking about trying some of the cloth menstrual pads that are advertised in Mothering. Does anyone have any experience with these? How often do you wash? How do you wash? Do you soak them? How do you store them? Anything else I need to know....

Thanks!

[Ellien C]

I know there are a bunch of threads about. Try a search in natural home and body care, maybe.

I use a kind made by sweetcheeksdiapers and I really like them. Even though they don't have wings and don't wrap around your undies, they stay in place and don't leak.

[oldgirl,newtricks]

I make my own with wool and cotton fabric. Contradicting popular advice, I rinse them in very hot water until the water runs clear. I've always found that cold sets the blood stains. I just keep a container under the bathroom sink and after I've rinsed them well, I just put them in there and pop them in the next load of whatever I'm washing. No odor problems at all and I put them in any type of load of laundry so they don't build up on me. For really heavy times like at night, I use several layers of wool fabric and sew an old wash cloth as the outer layer. Bulky and not pretty, but they really do a good job for me.

If you can sew at all, even by hand, you can make a few of your own to see how you like them.
http://hillbillyhousewife.com/sanitarypads.htm has a good pattern on her website. I don't make the liner type, but just all one piece.


I have no more leakage than I did with disposable pads. I just really like having them around and not feeling like I have to run to the store or stock up on pads. I find them very easy to use and wish I had tried them years sooner.

[linguistmama]

I love my cloth pads, they are so comfortable! I actually just use trifolded wash cloths. My periods aren't too heavy and I haven't leaked yet. I just put mine in an old ice cream bucket till I'm done. I soak them and change the water every day adding some hydrogen peroxide to help with bacteria and staining. Then I wash them all when I'm done. We also just started cding and love that too.

[oregongirlie]

I have one and I love it! I throw it in with the regular socks and underwear load. I don't know where the other one is -- it was a two pack of Gladrags. I mean to get more as soon as I can! This postpartum pad thing is bad news.

[AllyRae]

I've been using them since I was postpartum with my first child--I love cloth mama pads way more than paper mama pads. I don't soak or anything--just wash them in hot water and do a final rinse (sort of like washing diapers. : )

My favorite are from Mommy's Touch--they're so soft!

[StrawberryFields]

I do--I love my cloth pads! I toss them in a bucket under the sink and wash them with dipes. Pre-baby, I washed them with socks and underwear. My favorites are www.monkeycheesebabythings.com or I just trifold a prefold--GREAT for postpartum bleeding.

[artemis33]

I just ordered some preemie prefolds when I was pregnant for my DD and used those postpartum. I really liked how they felt so I still use them (I got AF back at 4 months PP despite EBF). They aren't fancy but they work well.

I just rinse them - or soak them for a few hours or up to a day or two down in my laundry room in a dish pan (depending how soiled they are) and then wash them with towels or with diapers. Sometimes I add baking soda to the soak.

I plan to make some slightly fancier ones eventually, but if you just want to give cloth a try on a budget, the preemie prefolds are a good options

[Sepia]

I've been using cloth for several years and i love it. I don't soak my pads or do anything special to them. I do laundry every day or at least every other day, so they aren't sitting for long. when i'm done with one i throw it right in the washing machine. I'm a light bleeder so maybe this wouldn't work for someone with a heavy flow. I bought mine off ebay--can't remember from whom. I have 6 or 7 pads and that works fine since i do laundry frequently.

[CarolynnMarilynn]

I use Many Moons and like them. Have had some for 10+ years and they are holding up well.

[AnamCara]

I have not used cloth pads yet, but I do have some for postpartum use from Rhythm & Blues. I have used the Diva cup or the Keeper for years now and like it very much. I find it comfortable, unobtrusive and the care is very simple.

Kerensa

[Steady101]

I haven't used cloth pads because I hate regular pads, but I love my Diva Cup.

[Nico DeMouse]

I use and love the cloth pads from Skuld at Hag Rags. I use them as a backup to my Dive. She has a lot of thin pantyliners in funky patters. Because I just use them as backup, I only use one each day, and I wash them out in the shower in the morning and then throw them in with my other laundry.

[TwinMom]

If AF ever comes back I will be using Luna Pads again. My teenage daughters use them, too! One benefit that I received from switching to cloth is that my periods were MUCH lighter and lasted less time. I used to bleed heavily for 5-7 days, but after two months of using cloth I was down to medium-light bleeding for 3-4 days. I've only had 5 periods in the last 6 years (thanks to nursing and pregnancy), so I don't know if it would have eventually gotten even better.

We just rinse them and throw them into plastic boxes that are under the sinks in our bathrooms, then wash them on hot with a load of towels at the end of the period. Well, actually, I think one of my daughters just throws hers in with her regular laundry, but I like to wash mine on hot. As long as they are rinsed out really well, they'll be okay to sit for a few days.

[Greenmama13]

Okay - this might sound like a stupid question: but how do you keep them in place? Do they slide around on you?

Also - what do you do when you are in public or traveling?

Thanks for everyone's feedback!

[TwinMom]

I can't speak for the other brands, but Luna Pads snap underneath the panty, so they wrap around like a disposable pad with wings. You can layer as many liners as you want on there and those stay in place with flat elastic on either end of the wraparound pad. Does that make sense? Or you can just use the pad by itself for a light day.

[jlutgendorf]

I'd also like to know what other's do when they're out and about and need a change.

The first few days of my period, I do need to change several times throughout the day and I can't run home each time! I also don't carry a purse? I guess if I did, then I could store them in there until I get home?

~Julia

[Nico DeMouse]

I have a little drawstring bag in my purse that I use to carry a spare clean pad and a used one when I need to. You can fold the pad and snap it shut so the outside is dry. Ummm...I'm not explaining that well...here's a picture.

[TwinMom]

My daughters just carry a ziploc baggie with a clean pad in it, then when they change they put the dirty one in. Easy enough to fit into a jeans pocket or a small purse. If I'm going to be out a long time during the day, I would probably put some in my diaper bag or maybe put a few extra baggies and pads in my car and trade them out as needed. Or maybe just use tampons that day.

[StrawberryFields]

Originally Posted by TwinMom

My daughters just carry a ziploc baggie with a clean pad in it, then when they change they put the dirty one in.

Exactly what I do. I fold mine into a neat little square, snap the wings together to hold it in place, and voila. Compact enough to stash away in my pocket or bag, in a ziplock.

As for keeping the pads in place, my wahm ones have wings that snap so that keeps them right where they should be. I don't have problems with the prefolds shifting, either--they stay put somehow!