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AIBU?

Share your dilemmas and get honest opinions from other Mumsnetters.

Original poster

reusable gone bonkers!!!

91 replies

Whyisitalwaysblue · 07/02/2016 19:18

Reusable sanitary towels.....with pretty designs. No one seems to want to register that these beautiful cloth thingys will be saturated with blood?! Any way discuss!!

OP posts:
PenelopePitstops · 07/02/2016 19:19

Meh wash them after use. I don't see the issue.

Imnotaslimjim · 07/02/2016 19:21

There is no issue to see, I use cloth and they're great. Very comfy, no reaction to horrible chemicals and just wash them, dry them and use them again next month. So no more money to pay out

ghostyslovesheep · 07/02/2016 19:22

erm - you wash them ... so not really seeing the issue

Terribleknitter · 07/02/2016 19:23

Is your issue with reusables or with the patterned cloth? Mine are plain with a coloured edging but I've seen some really funky ones Grin

NeedACleverNN · 07/02/2016 19:23

No different from cloth nappies really.

Doodlekitty · 07/02/2016 19:24

Imnot do they feel ok? I fancy trying but scared they feel... unpleasant compared to disposable

bimandbam · 07/02/2016 19:24

Think your will find cloth sanpro not a new thing love.

What do you think we did before we had always ultra and tampax?

Imnotaslimjim · 07/02/2016 19:25

Doodle, they feel awesome. One lady I chat to said it's like having a hug in your pants! It's a little weird at first and they can feel a little bulky but they warm to your body temp within a couple of minutes and kind of mould to your shape. They really do feel good

BendydickCuminsnatch · 07/02/2016 19:27

You wash them. Do you throw clothes away if you get blood or baby poop on them? Just wash them! I find they're WAY better for my body than disposables.

RudeElf · 07/02/2016 19:29

No one seems to want to register that these beautiful cloth thingys will be saturated with blood

I think women are very well aware thay blood comes out of their bodies. Hmm

Please dont tell me you've never heard of reusable sanitary protection before? What do you think most of the world uses? What do you think was used before plastic?

Original poster
Whyisitalwaysblue · 07/02/2016 19:30

Well I didn't use cloth nappies either lol. I have a heavy flow sorry if tmi and the thought of washing that out makes me want to vomit. Also I'm not the worlds most proficient laundry lady so would probably not get them very clean. HOWEVER I have heard that they reduce pain and heaviness?? Is this true? How do you wash yours? How many do you need per cycle??

OP posts:
Original poster
Whyisitalwaysblue · 07/02/2016 19:31

Also bendy yes I did on occasion throw away baby clothes with poo on them and I have lost many a pair of panties to my monthlies!!

OP posts:
BendydickCuminsnatch · 07/02/2016 19:33

OP if you think about it towels are pretty gross too. Towels that you dry your body with. Shock horror! They dry every part of you, maybe not in a hygienic order, and maybe you don't wash them between every use. Way grosser than a cloth sanitary towels which are washed after every use.

RudeElf · 07/02/2016 19:33

Buy black ones OP. You'll never see the blood.

RandomMess · 07/02/2016 19:34

If your flow is really heavy I'd go the moon-cup route with washable san-pro as your back up. They too made my periods "better" also proved just how heavy they were so I got a final solution of womb ablation on the NHS (my family was complete)

Fab all around!

BlueJug · 07/02/2016 19:35

Sounds silly but really wish I'd known about these and mooncups when I was having periods. Just didn't know that there was any alternative to Always and Tampax. The waste! The expense!

Luckily DD does. Spread the word!

OttiliaVonBCup · 07/02/2016 19:35

Discuss? Nicely put.

As for the reusable pads, each to their own. I'm sure that women who buy then know to expect blood.

Terribleknitter · 07/02/2016 19:35

I definitely found that the heavy feeling and discomfort has eased since starting to use them. The flow seems to have evened out so I have less flooding and I seem to have lost a day of bleeding somewhere!
I use Imse Vimse pads and bought 6 nighttime ones and 6 normal flow. That's more than enough for me, I like the nighttime pads as they're extra long and a bit thicker, it feels more secure.
Washing is just rinsing it thoroughly under the cold tap, soak in salty water and then chuck them in the washer. Simple and cheaper in the long run.

Original poster
Whyisitalwaysblue · 07/02/2016 19:36

Smile ok I will brave the unknown world of reusables. I do want to save the planet one sanitary towel at a time. Also who doesn't wash their towels after each use???? I have a clean towel for every shower as do my boys and I have a separate one for my face/hair.

OP posts:
RudeElf · 07/02/2016 19:37

I tried the mooncup for about 8 months. I hated the thing. I spent so much time in tears because i could always feel it and it was a bastard to get back out again and readjust. It would feel "right" when it went it then after a few minutes was really uncomfortable. I really persevered. Watched tutorials,read and re-read Mn threads for advice and different ways to insert and remove and i just couldnt get it to work. It leaked too.

kelper · 07/02/2016 19:37

I've discovered sea sponges. Much better than a mooncup, but still requires backup from a pad. My washable pads have skulls on them ;)

Imnotaslimjim · 07/02/2016 19:37

whyis there is loads of evidence of reduced flow and pain after moving to cloth, though there hasn't been research into why

For me, I went from using heavy pads for my full cycle, which would last 5-6 days, to using heavy for the first day an regular for the rest and use 18 pads over 3 days. They really do make a big difference.

As to the vom factor, its really not as bad as you'd think. You pop it into a sink of cold water while you use the toilet and get a fresh pad. Then pop out the plug and run the cold time for a few minutes. Ring out and store (some dry pail some wet pail, its personal preference) until you're ready to wash them. And before you ask, they don't smell

Original poster
Whyisitalwaysblue · 07/02/2016 19:38

Hahaha I like this!!! Can I have some depicting a massacre?!

OP posts:
RudeElf · 07/02/2016 19:38

Also who doesn't wash their towels after each use

Ooooh! Dont open that can of worms here! You have been warned Grin

Original poster
Whyisitalwaysblue · 07/02/2016 19:39

Ok I have been warned!!! Be on the look out for subsequent post on how it goes!! I have been put on mefanemic acid to reduce my bleeding cause my uterus hates me.

OP posts: