Ordered some Mama Cloth, now what?

[KayleeZoo]

I'm making the switch from tampons and disp. pads/pantiliners to a Diva Cup and cloth pads. I've ordered a few thing (GladRags, NewMoon pads, one Sckoon and a few from ebay and a Diva) and now I'm wondering, how do I store them before washing? In a plastic container of some sort? Do I have to store them in a wet pail? I have never done a wet pail for our CD's, but I don't know that mama cloth is similar. If anyone could share their system/methodology, I'd really appreciate it

[kimmyjling]

I dont know the "proper" way to do it, but here is what I do:

I first wash all new pads in a heavy white vinegar load of laundry. No Bleach and no Fabric softner EVER, no even the dryer sheets!

From there, I dry, then store them in the drawer of my bathroom vanity. Ironically, in the same place I used to keep my tampons and sposies! I have a growing collection, I am totally addicted to making pads and finding new prints and fabric...it truly is a problem!!

(this is my bathroom drawer)
http://i71.photobucket.com/albums/i1...g/S3010049.jpg

Then, immediatly after each use, I rinse the pad really well in hot water until the water runs as clear as possible. From there, I toss it under the bathroom sink in my cute wetpail with cold water and a dash of oxyclean.

(this is my pail)
http://i71.photobucket.com/albums/i1...S3010050-5.jpg


Replace the water daily or every other day. When ready to do a load of laundry, toss them in along with. Wash, restore, reuse...tah-dah!! HTH!! You will never go back to sposies again! I Diva and cloth, I will never go back!!

[Guava~Lush]

Kimmy, I love your set up, its great! Im jealous of your collection.

I thought we should rinse blood stains out in cold water initially. I guess I thought that was just the science behind it?

I keep mine in just a basket in the bathroom, no attempt to hide them, but I dont have nearly the amount I would like.

Then I cold rinse, hydrogen peroxide them a bit, store in plastic container with a sprinkle of baking soda and then wash in cold with the laundry, towels and such.
No fabric softener here either.

Kaylee, glad you made the switch, Im sure your are going to really like it and acquiring mama pads might turn into an addiction. you are warned.

[swimswamswum]

I keep pads in a tupperware type mixing bowl (that I replaced with glass). The bowl has a lid. I fill it with water and either a splash of castile soap or essential oils. I empty the water when it gets stinky and just wash everything together at the end of the week. I keep the bowl on the side of my toilet.

[KayleeZoo]

Kim, thanks SO much for the pics! And do you make mama pads to sell? I'm trying to build a stash over here And thanks to everyone who's responding- I love hearing about different methods, etc.

One thing, my family is REALLY opposed to me switching- my dh thinks it's disgusting so I'm going to try and do it on the sly for awhile, until I get the hang of everything, then I'll tell him that I've been using it "for ages" and that he was none the wiser My mom is a seamstress and I asked her to help me sew some, and she said absolutely not, that it's gross and unsanitary : and that she won't be a part of that at all. *sigh* I want to learn how to sew now so that I can make my own

I think I can manage a small wetpail under the downstairs bathroom sink, I wonder if I put an EO soaked cloth next to the wetpail if it will mask any odor. Hmmm. That might work.

Keep the suggestions coming, I'm getting excited about all of this

[ashleyhaugh]

i dont use a wet pail. i just rinse until the water runs clear, then i have a plastic basket in the bathroom closet (have to keep them away from the dog

[CarrieMF]

Using a wetpail can lead to stink problems.

I put my dirty ones in with the rest of the laundry. I don't rinse or soak. If there are any stains I use peroxide.

[Nico DeMouse]

I use my cloth as a backup to my Diva, so I only use one cloth pad each day of AF. I just bring the cloth into the shower with me in the morning and rinse it out there. Then, I hang it on the J trap under our sink. The next day, when it's dry, I toss it down the laundry chute to launder with the rest of our stuff. I used a wet pail at first but it was a lot more trouble and much stinkier.

My storage setup looks a lot like kimmyjling's. I used the same drawer in our vanity where I used to store tampons & pantyliners.

[kimmyjling]

Awe, thanks ladies!!

I do seriously have an addiction. I am making a set of 7 right now, just taking a 2 second breather! (Watch me go on forever about my cloth!)

I didnt intend on selling them (self confidence issues) but I have already sold 4 sets and the buyers love them. I make those decoupaged wet pails also. I know this isnt the place for it, so PM me if you have questions!

Consider this a warning, just like the PP's said. It is addicting, there are sooo many different prints out there-a much welcomed change from the "sanitary napkin white." I did it on the sly last month, my DH also thinks its gross. I just told him when he has a vagina, he can do with it what he wants...he knows nothing about the diva cup, Im not ready to ge there yet! (and the pail-- no odor if you rinse well, change daily, and use oxyclean.)

Another great thing you will notice, I didnt realize until the situation arose. I went to a friends lunch get-together....she did not have a garbage pail in her bathroom. Shocked...but on the other hand, I didnt need one anyway! I put a piece of toilet paper folded 3 ways over the top of the pad, folded the wings over, snapped, and slipped it into my wetbag. From there I went about my cleaning ritual with still no staining!! And another aquward occasion, I went to my SIL's house and the pail was freshly changed. Not the kind with a lid or anything, just a basket with a fresh clean bag in it. Who wants to roll up a "used" pad and stick in the bottom of that empty pail? All of these things made me soooo happy to cloth! Isnt that silly??

[ASusan]

I put the used cloths in a bucket beside the toilet. Sometimes I rinse first, sometimes not, depending on the amount of blood. I put about 1/2 cup of borax and enough water to cover the cloths. I cover the bucket with a folded towel. I don't think my DH has ever looked in it. I dump & wash about every 2-3 days, but there have been times I've forgotten and washed after 5-6 days. No odor problems.

I haven't actually purchased cloths yet - I've been using cheap cloth diapers (ones that you fold yourself - birdseye gauze?) that I bought at walmart. I use them only at home, not when out in public. I won't allow myself to purchase real mama cloths until I run out of disposables & tampons, which may not happen for a while.

[Realrellim]

Once mine are dirty, I put them in a tupperware-type container with a nice locking lid (waterproof too, so if it gets knocked over by my toddler, it won't leak). I keep them behind the toilet and make sure to rinse out the water once a day if I'm not doing a laundry load to toss them in with.

Toward the end of my cycle if I know I won't be doing a diaper load soon, I'll either rinse them all out in the sink until the water is clear (I use cold water) and toss them in with a load of clothes, or else I'll rinse them and let them sit in the pail wet but without water in it (just like diapers). Then I toss them in with my next diaper load.

Sorry your DH is opposed. My sister was and told me I'd stink. : Apparently she hasn't noticed since I've been using them for almost a year now. Ha!

[Guava~Lush]

Seriously, I mean what do people think women used for thousands of years?

My husband takes the dont tell me anything approach. He did make one snarky comment about me literally being on the 'rag'. He knows I HATE that term, but now its our joke!