What's your cloth pad washing routine?

[pookel]

I just got my period back for the first time in nearly two years. I have a bunch of cloth pads that I only used for postpartum spotting, so I haven't had to wash the really soaked ones before.

What's your method?

[pookel]

Come on, anyone? I need help here!

[llamalluv]

I rinse mine in the sink, wring them out (just until the water comes out barely pink), and toss them into the hamper with the towels. They get washed with the towels.

[marimara]

I put mine in an old cosmetic case with a zipper and keep it in the bathroom. When the case is full I do a load of laundry and throw them in. I wash them with towels too usually. I don't presoak, rinse or do anything special. Regular detergent too.

[pumpkin]

I keep them in a small trash can under the sink.

When its time to wash
1) cold soak
2) optional depends on how long the pads have been sitting: hot soak with oxyclean
3) hot wash with a little soap

Step 2 is because i had nearly continuous periods for a few years so I ended up getting about a hundred pads that I used in combination with a diva cup so I could go awhile (10-14 days) between washes.

Since periods have become more normal, I often skip step 2.

[fek&fuzz]

I fling them in the washing machine (which is in the bathroom) and then wash them with whatever else ends up in there. My flow is not that heavy, so I don't feel the need to soak or rinse or anything.

[sagemomma]

i have only been using cloth a few days but so far i have been storing them in a ziplock with cold water under my sink, wringing them in the washer while filling it, and just washing any used ones with whatever load i am doing at the time . i only wash with soapnuts but if there is a load of towels sheets or diapers they get some TTO as well.

[Barbee]

i have a designated pot with a lid that i keep in my laundry room. i soak my pads in cold water in the pot and then pour the water on my houseplants and garden as a fertilizer. then i throw the pads in the wash with a load. i soak for the day and then fertilize the plants/garden in the morning. since doing this, my houseplants look better than ever.

[pookel]

OK, this is kinda TMI, but I'm asking because when I used them this time, I just threw them in the washer with a diaper load without rinsing, and ... everything in the load came out just slightly brownish. So I think I've either got to wash them separately, or rinse them out first.

[fanniefarkle]

Originally Posted by pookel

OK, this is kinda TMI, but I'm asking because when I used them this time, I just threw them in the washer with a diaper load without rinsing, and ... everything in the load came out just slightly brownish. So I think I've either got to wash them separately, or rinse them out first.

I've never had this problem, and I never soak or pre-rinse my pads. Could the brown water be due to something else? Like, has the water dept. been working on the water mains in your neighborhood?

[pookel]

No, trust me, I do 2-3 loads of laundry a day sometimes, and the one with the heavily soaked pads was DEFINITELY different.

I do diapers in a hot water wash, so that may make a difference, too.

[jennlyn]

Well, since no one has said this, I'll add my method. Every day when I shower, I toss the used pads in the bottom of the shower and all that water pounding down does a pretty good job of rinsing out the pads. I wring them out and then wash them with regular laundry.

[canuckgal]

I rinse them in the sink, then toss in a wet pail. If blood has dried on them before I get to rinse them, I pour a little straight peroxide on them first. I change my water daily.

To wash I put them in with an old t shirt on a heavy duty cycle, then hang them by clothespins on my drying rack.