To be astounded that women use reusable cloth pads when on their period

[jeremytampaxman]

I had no idea that people did this - found out courtesy of a thread on another forum.

Okay, I gather that it's supposed to be more environmentally friendly than using tampons or sanitary towels (although surely there is energy involved in washing them)...but using & washing out pieces of rag in 2013? Seriously?!

I know it's an individual's choice, I get that. But AIBU to be just astounded by that choice?

[KobayashiMaru]

I'm astounded that people don't, to be honest. I think its bizarre that so many people want to put highly bleached processed cotton up their foof, or scented plasticy pads glued to their pants.
I wouldn't dream of so rudely saying so though.

[ThePortlyPinUp]

I used cloth San Pro for a while and found it easy to wash, it was washed daily along with dd3 and dd4's cloth nappies. It certainly wasn't festering for a week at a time. I preferred it at the time as it feels much nicer against the skin compared to the plastic feeling of disposables plus I didn't get thrush which I found I got using disposable pads.

[MummytoMog]

My imse vimse pads were a lot less than that and I gout blood during my periods. Waffly, I am VERY jealous. Thanks to the mooncup, I kept a record for a couple of months and then stopped because it was depressing me. I'm not prepared to do any of the things that would make them less heavy, but the mooncup makes things manageable. It was life changing for one week a month - so much less stress and cost, far fewer embarassing stains on my trousers, awkward moments where I had to try and deal with said stains without anyone noticing, trying to dry my clothes on the hand dryer in the lav at work etc etc etc.

Imse Vimse pads are the dogs bollocks, and responsibly produced. Their nappies and breast pads are good too. I could never understand why people use disposable breast pads. They just don't seem to work and they SMELL. My reusable pads did me for two babies and then did my mate for her son as well. So that's nearly two years of breastfeeding between us out of the same pads.

[givemushypeasachance]

I used to use them as a backup along with a mooncup, before I got a mirena fitted. They're practical, eco friendly - it's really not that big a deal to wash them. If you've ever leaked onto your pants/clothing/sheets did you chuck them away or wash them? It's just blood.

[Skintorama]

I don't use anything, I'm very fortunate to have ridiculously light periods anyway, and I've had a coil for the last nearly ten years so only bleed very infrequently.

When I've had to wear pads to deal with lochia I've ended up with terrible thrush. I think with a heavier flow I'd definitely use reusables.

[elQuintoConyo]

OMG! MINGERAMA!!

Washing sanitary towels and nappies! I think I'm going to be sick! How can you do that to yourself? And your children? All that laundry!

^very heavy on the sarcasm^

Get a life, op.

[cantspel]

Not checked all the pads but i just looked at the type i would require.

This is what they are made of

Honour Your Flow pads

Bamboo velour: 80% oeko-tex certified bamboo/ 18% organic cotton/ 2% polyester
Bamboo fleece: 70% oeko-tex bamboo/ 30% organic cotton
Bamboo silk: 72% bamboo/ 28% silk
Cotton flannel: 100% natural unbleached cotton
Cotton velour: 100% organic cotton
Wool: 100% wool (may be jersey, may be interlock, depending on my mood!)
Polyester fleece: 100% polyester
Thread: 100% polyester
Poppers: nickel free metal with painted coloured tops
OBV/Wool pads



Silk and polyester are not what i think of a green and environmentally friendly

[ANormalOne]

There's a massive difference between buy sanitary pads that contain silk and polyester, that can be washed and reused for years and buying packs of disposables every month made of even less environmentally friendly material that use a lot of energy to make and transport, on top of the environmental impact of eventually disposing of them in landfill.

If you're trying to insinuate that they're not environmentally friendly because some contain silk and some contain polyester, you're grasping at straws.

[KobayashiMaru]

2% polyester compared to 98% renewable materials, and thats what you focus on? It's a lot better than flushing tampons out to sea.....

[ouryve]

Most of my period is usually light enough not to need anything much - I might use a pantyliner if I'm out of the house around teatime, when I tend to spot a bit. The change to this type of cycle coincided with me investing in a mooncup, which I've only used a couple of times because, when I am heavy, my foof is so tender and bloated that it makes me feel queasy.

Cantspel, polyester might consume limited oil resources, but that's limited by it being used time and time again - unlike tampons and disposable pads.

[kelda]

cantspel you are clutching at straws with your arguement.

If you don't want to use them, then don't. Is anyone forcing you to?

[cantspel]

KobayashiMaru i dont flush tampons out to sea and most women i hope would not be flush a tampon or any other sanpro.

[PatsyAndEddy]

I've never understood why people go to great lengths in an attempt to diminish the credentials of washable and reusable goods (nappies, san pro)

Would you argue that disposable clothes were better for the enviroment than reusable, washable clothes (yes, even when factoring in the washing costs?)

I think not.

So why is it so different with nappies and san pro?

[IneedAsockamnesty]

Didn't look at the smaller ones as they would be no good for me

These are designed for and very good for major heavey and post natal use and are £6.75 they also have other designs in the same range a tiny bit cheaper.


luxurymoon.co.uk/index.php?main_page=product_info&cPath=3_187_197&products_id=1049

[cantspel]

The only thing that would convince me to try them would be on environmental grounds. As i am not convinced that they are as green as claimed i looked into their construction. Do you blindly make choices without exploring the matter further?

Plus calling san pro a fairy hammock is just a bit too twee for me. And as for jam sponge, well no way would i buy sea sponge let alone a product called a jam sponge.

[jeremytampaxman]

Would you argue that disposable clothes were better for the enviroment than reusable, washable clothes (yes, even when factoring in the washing costs?)

No. Because clothes don't generally get covered in excrement or bodily fluid.

[ChazsBrilliantAttitude]

cantspel
You might be surprised how many people do flush them out to sea
www.water.org.uk/home/resources-and-links/bagandbin/what--s-the-problem-
"An estimated 2 billion sanitary protection items such as condoms, tampons, razors and cotton buds are flushed down British toilets each year."

[IneedAsockamnesty]

These are also for heavey flows but Ime are not as good for post natal use due to width they are also under £5

luxurymoon.co.uk/index.php?main_page=product_info&cPath=3_186_55&products_id=1099

[KobayashiMaru]

Most people flush. And your arguments are specious.

[MewlingQuim]

So cantspel I assume you put your tampons in the bin......... where they get buried in a hole in the ground?

Much better than chucking them in the sea

[ANormalOne]

No. Because clothes don't generally get covered in excrement or bodily fluid.

What does that have to do with environmental friendliness? The piss and crap gets flushed out the washing machine into the sewers, just as it does when you use the toilet. It has no bearing on whether they're environmentally friendly or not.

[ChazsBrilliantAttitude]

cantspel
Why don't you calculate the amount of non degradable materials in half a dozen washables used for 5 years v the amount in the disposable sanpro used in the same time frame (including packaging / plastic wrappers etc) and then tell us which is the greener option.

[cantspel]

No i put mine in a clinical waste collection bag. Not an option for most women but one i do have that option and use it.

[kelda]

Cantspel I don't believe you have done much research because you seemed to assume they were all more expensive then most of them are.

Agree about the twee names, as it happens.

[MummytoMog]

Ha OP. Your clothes might not. I have small children and heavy periods, so my clothes get covered in poo, wee and blood quite often actually.