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?

[cardibach]

I have no view either way about how other women deal with their own menstrual flow, and I barely have any since Mirena Coil, but I do take issue with this 'just stick it in with the next hot wash, it won't hang about for a week' nonsense with regard to reusable pads. In this house, there are no very hot washes, everything gets done at 30 degrees, and I only do 2 loads most weeks. This means reusables would definitely hang around for a week and possibly longer here. I feel my washing habits are much greener than many of yours!

[Mintyy]

No cardi, you just have lower standards .

[AmberLeaf]

"On your period" sounds really grim and (dare I say it...) common

Oh we can't have that can we.

Are you usually JeremyPaxman OP?

[KobayashiMaru]

Well then you hand wash them in the sink after boiling a kettle. not difficult to work out, is it?

[AnnieLobeseder]

Well, if you're going to actually judge me (really? ) as opposed to just being surprised for making an ecological sound and healthy choice (rank chemicals/bleach near/in my fanjo for days a month? No thanks!), I shall judge you right back for destroying the planet.

I win!!

I used cloth nappies too. Why on earth wouldn't you?

[cardibach]

Absolutely I do, Mintyy. However, I contend that, as with people who think reusable pads are ick are not being reasonably green, so are people who wash things endlessly and pointlessly before they are dirty :)

[MyHumpsMyLovelyBabyBumps]

do they actually need a hotwash? Blood comes out better with cold water right? And blood (your own blood) isn't unhygienic?

[ouryve]

2 loads a week? I sometimes do 2 a day!

[ZingWidge]

I never heard of them until 5 mins ago.

I'm not shocked.
I don't think I would use them as I prefer tampons, but I would try them out, sounds interesting.

and anyway sometimes my bedsheets or knickers or even jeans get soaked through - should I throw them away too OP?

or is it ok I continue to wash my soiled clothing or bedding and use them again?

what an odd thing to be shocked about.

[LittleSporksBigSpork]

I've been considering it, normal pads and tampons really irritate my skin and my body seems to be disagreeing with the mooncup now. Nowt to do with being green/environmental/certain groups, all to do with being more comfortable. Anything to make that time of the month more comfortable.

[Mintyy]

Hmm, yes I think I have above average green credentials but I do 7 loads of washing a week for a family of 4, everything on 40 degrees, sheets, towels and tea towels at 60 degrees. And believe me, I am absolutely not inclined to wash things pointlessly, I wash them when they are dirty.

[LittleSporksBigSpork]

Also, with four small kids, pretty much all the clothes in this house have had fluids or poo on them at some point...or maybe that's just how it feels some days while potty training .

[MummytoMog]

I do clothes at 30 degrees, but nappies do go on at 60 I'm afraid. Pads get chucked in with whatever is going on to wash as it doesn't seem to make much difference. We only do two nappy washes a week now that we've only got one in nappies (THANK THE LORD) and I tend to chuck towels in as well.

[Hamwidgeandcheps]

Fit in to a certain style of parenting - sorry but the poster who wrote that is not BU - it's the bf/cloth bumming babywearing/try and make other mums feel inferior club. I know because there's a clique of them here (where I live) who will come up to you and coo over your sling then ask if you cloth bum or use CSPs. And I say this as a bf/sometimes clog nappy using sling user. Some I was given bamboo breast pads there's no going back they are lush disposable ones do stink. To that end even though the local csp pushers irritate me beyond belief I might give them a go when I get periods back.

I also free bleed but I had v light periods

[chocolatemartini]

Yabu. Where do you think disposable ones go? Landfill is very icky. I read somewhere that there will have to be landfill mining in the future because we will have stuffed so many of the planet's resources in the ground. I don't want my grandchildren climbing around in landfill trying to separate blood soaked plastic and gel filled pads that don't decompose from more valuable materials. Mooncup clearly the way forward though, even better than washables

[cardibach]

Mintyy I cheat a bit by only having 2 people in the house (me and DD) and I have substantially lower standards regarding the washing of sheets and towels than most on MN (I know this from threads devoted to these subjects). I am happy with my standards, though, and we both seem healthy and not smelly! I do more loads some weeks, but very, very rarely more than 3.

[RoooneyMara]

I wash most things on 30, I do nappies on 40 (as per instructions that came with them) and if I were using pads they would go in a cold soak, then into the usual wash with everything else.

Seriously they don't need to be hot washed. Cold water gets the blood out, I leave mine in the bathroom sink normally as I live with just my children (and they have another sink to use) but will probably get a small, covered bucket to use at some point. They can just go in the machine really with other clothes.

I have never run a hot wash on my machine, I think I did a 60 when we bought it because the book said so.

[RoooneyMara]

Cardi we have similar standards Lot to be said for singledom!

[ANormalOne]

I wash my sanitary towels and cloth nappies on 40, with eco-friendly washing powder and I line dry them, apart from my cloth wipes which get chucked in with my other tumble dried clothes to keep them soft, never had an issue with them not being clean/smelly.

[ANormalOne]

Oh and it adds up to an enormous total of 2 extra washes a week, I wash them every 2-3 days. Seriously, it's not that big a deal.

[MummytoMog]

I don't talk about the cloth nappies (unless asked) because I got SO sick and tired of the 'oh but they leak and they smell, my mate bought them for hundreds of pounds and gave up after a week' brigade. Whatever you need to say to yourself to justify the sposies is fine, I don't care, I do care if you try to denigrate my choices to make yourself feel better. Honestly, why are people so hard on each other? I don't think anyone is lazy for using disposables, I just prefer to use cloth. So why do I get made to feel like I'm hippynutnuts/pretentious for using cloth nappies by other parents who've never even tried them?

Sorry. I digress.

[bamboobutton]

I've stopped using disposables, tampons made my periods more painful and towels would give me the most horrendous nappy rash.

Since switching to a mooncup and washable pads my periods are lighter(could bleed through a superplus in less than 20 mins some days) less painful and i no longer spend my period wishing i had nice long nails.

I've saved a shit load of cash too, not having to spend a shedload for tampons and towels each month.

Been using reusable for about 2yrs and have spent a grand total of 25 pounds, i expect then to last at least 10yrs.

[Hamwidgeandcheps]

Ooh I forgot the reusable wipes - cheeky wipes are luverly

[Twit]

I think there is a place for disposable nappies/San pro and reusable ones. My personal opinion is if you mainly use reusable disposable is ok every now and then. I don't wear plastic pants, and really what's the difference? I understand some people are more squeamish than others but saying our blood is disgusting (paraphrasing) is Victorian at best. I really think a lot of people need to grow up a bit.
I also suspect this thread was started by someone hot and bored. It'll be ff/bf next.