washable menstrual pads

[CatchTheFox]

ok, i am interested to know if people think this is gross or not. 10 years ago i wouldn't have even considered it, but now with 2 in cloth nappies, it's seems like a no-brainer.
or should i try a mooncup?

[onyx72]

I couldn't get on with a mooncup. It was like having a sink plunger up my fanny and I could still feel the stem, even though I cut it right down.

I am fed up with STs and tampon so I switched to a Meluna Soft for this cycle and it's much better than the mooncup. Mine has a tiny ring at the bottom so it's easier to remove and comfortable to wear. And it's got silver sparkles .

[ChristianGreyIsAJackass]

'Cavernous chuff'

[LyingWitchInTheWardrobe2726]

Thank you deemented, I might give one of those a try.

[deemented]

lying The sponge copes well with clots. It draws them onto it and because it's got an uneven surface they cling to it. Just rinse when taken out, is all. It won't fall out, but you'll know when it needs changing as it'll feel heavier inside you and move down slightly, but i promise it won't fall out - i have a cavernous chuff and i've never had one 'just fall out'

[Booyhoo]

same here sock. i hadn't considered it til this thread, even though i use it this way for one family member already. instead i've been spending goodness knows how much on supposedly 'flushable' wet wipes with all their chemicals and sewer blocking properties!

[IneedAsockamnesty]

Apparently lots of people who use then keep normal loo paper for guests and poo and use the reusable ones for wee.i didnt know that before I just went on a google mission.

That I could cope with and its not to much of a leap given that I already use reusable San pro/ breast pads for me and nappies/ wipes for the baby's some of my nappies and wipes are 20 years old.

I have apsolutly no idea why using the reusable bog roll like that never occurred to me its bloody obvious when you think about it

[Booyhoo]

"Its like using reusable baby wipes but instead of confining them for baby's use everybody uses them a large supply is kept by the loo and a clean one is used each time just as you would when using baby wipes. "

oh in that case i could cope with that, it wouldn't be any different than what i'm doing now with ds2, except we would all use them and then put them to soak in the laundry tub. again, i might have trouble convincing ds1. but 2/3 of us using them is better than none. i'd still have normal toilet roll in anyway for guests.

[IneedAsockamnesty]

What aspect of clots do you want to ask about?

If its mooncup related then clots will simply go into the cup and be unnoticed until emptied.

If its pads they will go on the pad just like they would on a disposable pad they can be wiped off down the loo before soaking or shaken in.

I do not know how a sponge deals with clots but I should imagine its h same as a tampon would.

[IneedAsockamnesty]

The family cloth is a step to far for me as well but no its not one cloth and no you don't use the same one all day

Its like using reusable baby wipes but instead of confining them for baby's use everybody uses them a large supply is kept by the loo and a clean one is used each time just as you would when using baby wipes.

[Booyhoo]

i dont think it could be hygienic branching. surely you would be wiping someone else's poo onto your own bum rather than cleaning yourself?

[BranchingOut]

I'm quite a lentil weaver, but even I can't get on with the idea of just one family cloth per day!

[LyingWitchInTheWardrobe2726]

Can I ask about 'clots' or is that too far?

I quite like the idea of the sponge. I just really worry that it might 'spring out' if it's too 'full'.

I'm making myself feel sick now so sorry everyone.

[Booyhoo]

i made re-usable wipes for ds2 when he was in cloth nappies out of micro fibre cloths (cut up smaller). they are now in a drawer in the bathroom and get used as wash cloths for when dcs are bathing and also when ds2 has a poo accident i clean the most of it off with toilet roll and then use a microfibre cloth dampened to clean him properly and it goes in he laundry basket.(i have a separate one for towels and wash cloths) TBh i didn't even think about it, it just seemed like a natural progression to continue using them once he was out of nappies. i couldn't imagine chucking them out! i suppose we could all use them when we've had a wee, i cant imagine ds1 buying into using them to wipe his bum though. it wouldn't gross me out though, i just didn't thik of it til this thread. definitely wouldn't have a 'family cloth' though. (does that mean the whole family use one cloth to wipe with for a whole day?)

[Booyhoo]

ooh, good points pixie! i hadn't thought of bleaches in public loos. i guess toilet roll wipe it is then.

i'm going to go and hoke out my mooncup again for next period and try again. if that doesn't work i'm going to buy a set of sponges.

[LentilAsAnything]

:) Well I only feel like a wannabe lentil-weaver for not going for the recyclable cloth toilet paper! Does make economic and environmental sense, though I don't suppose toilet paper is as bad as disposable nappies and sanpro.

[Hippymama]

lentil I mean cloth wipes for baby and for hands and faces etc. I have been reading about family cloth, but think that might be a step too far for me!

[twentythirteen]

Wow, thanks op for starting this. When I was young I knew a poorer family who made their own pads, I never considered it for myself. I quit using tampons about a year ago and thought pads were the best way forward for me as I'm not a cup kind of girl. But they are smelly, can stick to the wrong thing, are noisy, etc. OH just came in and saw pics of pads on my screen, we had a giggle and I said I was going to try it and he's all for it too. And I'm so not a hippy!!! Thanks for the links guys!

[NumericalMum]

Thanks!

[IneedAsockamnesty]

Yes the mooncup would cope the meluna cup large and ex large can deal with over 30mls a time befor needing emptying so unless your bleeding to actual death it will cope.

With very heavy flow I would advise getting a liner pad as well it probably won't leak at all but until you know and are used to putting it in it will give you reassurance.


fLUSH WATER never a good move unless you are in your own loo and know that you don't have a bleach block in your cistern

[Indith]

Oh that reminds me, I found my mooncup looking rather worse for wear today, ds2 is 11 months old and periods not back yet so it has been while since I've used it!

Need to order myself a new cup and was wanting some sanpro too, between dcs 2 and 3 I found my cervix got so low on day 1 of period that I couldn't comfortably sit the cup under it so needed to use pads.

[TepidCoffee]

Tsk, postpartum - that's the word I was looking for! No wonder I wasn't finding anything. Thanks both.

[Booyhoo]

i'm not sure if it's been mentioned on this thread but i've seen on other mooncup threads that some people rinse theirs in the 'flush' water of the toilet if there is no basin in the cubicle. i wasn't convinced this would work but when i was using my mooncup i tried it at home and it rinsed it out really well as well as rinsing my fingers at the same time, then just wash hands properly with soap once out at the sink.

[NumericalMum]

Ooh that sounds feasible. Since I have had the coil I get a couple of days of really heavy flow. Super plus extra tampons in 3 hours. Would a mooncup cope?

[nextphase]

NumericalMum it took me a few goes before I'd risk work, but its only the first day or 2 when I need to empty my menstrual cup during a working day, and on those occasions, I line up a few bits of loo paper, pour the blood down the loo, wipe the outside, and put back in, then wipe fingers (which are rarely messy) before leaving the cubicle.
afaik, its OK to not wash every time - for example when facilities don't allow.

[LentilAsAnything]

I've read about 'family cloth' before, Dee, and I am a complete eco warrior - did cloth nappies and wipes too, as well as sanpro and nipple things for myself, but the reusable family cloth is possibly a bit much for me! Maybe ok for front wiping!