To wonder why more people don't use cloth sanitary pads?

[Bex107]

They have changed my life, and I'm so sad I didn't discover them sooner! When my periods came waltzing back just three months after DS arrived I couldn't bear the thought of tampons or plasticky towels, but I couldn't find anyone I knew who'd used cloth. They are bloody (!) wonderful, if you're considering it give them a go - I wish I'd had someone to tell me that!

craigie, seriously, read the thread. Many many people are finding to their surprise that cloth sanitary protection and menstrual cups are actually far better at handling their periods and that the problems that they were having were actually due to the disposable sanitary protection not being up to the job.

craigie, seriously, read the thread.
Many many people are finding to their surprise that cloth sanitary protection and menstrual cups are actually far better at handling their periods and that the problems that they were having were actually due to the disposable sanitary protection not being up to the job.

I make my own so they're really cheap. When I'm out I stick them in a special waterproof bag. I have a soya allergy and the gel in most has soya oil in it so it's a great alternative. Anyone who thinks it's icky needs to get over themselves.

Never knew there was such a thing, btbh, they do sound gross as well as inconvenient.

trapdoorinacanoe, why do they sound gross swell as inconvenient?

And probably smelly too.

Because of the difficulty with washing, changing when you're out, odour?

What are you basing your thoughts that they would be gross, smelly and inconvenient on?

I would love to use them but when my periods were really heavy the idea of having to soak them and then wash them would just be another thing to do. That's why I've used disposable towels.

So are you thinking that they are basically like a bit of old rag between your legs?

I know that it's really bad but for me it's the initial outlay and concern that it wouldn't cope with my flow. I've looked into it lots as there's only one brand of pad that doesn't aggravate my lady bits.

I don't soak them, just put them through a 15 minute cold rinse on the machine before washing them with a normal load.

It's just such a personal thing isn't it!

For me, the thought of any pad, disposable or reusable, is disgusting. I do not want to use them. The idea of a cup is equally horrifying. This thread shows many women would be equally as horrified by my choices!

ilovechocolate, I can understand that. I've always thought it's a shame some of the companies don't let you pay monthly, and pay them off over the course of a year so it's comparable in cost with what you are usually paying out monthly for sanitary protection. I guess many of them are just small businesses....

To be honest, that's why I tried a moon cup before cloth sanitary protection, because it was cheaper. I was fortunate that it worked well for me and haven't needed anything else since, 12 years now for £20!

A friend of mine makes her own pads, if you are able to? that would make them much cheaper.

Ok first when I was 14 I used tampax gradually as periods got heavier etc used towels I think always...

I have always had cramps and heavyish periods and rarely used tampons apart from when swimming which I've avoided when on.

Sorry but the idea of washing towels is just another inconvenience.

Put off moon cups by seeing an ex colleague rinsing and washing hers at the sinks in the bathroom of women's toilets at the time, boak.

formerbabe yes it's personal and I wish some women would stop trying to brainwash us about their better ways! Bugger off!

Cragie you may find trying a menstrual cup better for you if your flow is that heavy. I still fill mine a lot more than average but it's so much cleaner and holds more. Handy to keep track of how much your actually breeding. I'm pretty convinced the "average" figures are a load of shit!

I remember my Grandmother having a special pot for my Grandfather's handkerchiefs.

When he was running low, she used to boil them all up clean, then iron them with starch.

I started years ago by buying a single cloth pad to try it out. I've then gradually built up my collection over the years.

I switched to a mooncup about two years ago and haven't looked back. Then, about a year or so ago because of skin irritation and itching with disposable pads (which I use in addition to the mooncup in case of any little leaks as a precaution) I tried out some cloth pads and I really like them. Washing doesn't bother me and I make my own. I like choosing pretty fabrics to use . Each to their own and I know some people are quite about the idea but for me it works.

yeah that's a good idea olives, buy one and see if it's for you. If it isn't keep it in the car for demisting the window .

I have incredibly heavy and painful periods, cloth pads are much MUCH better for me. I don't have to change anything like as much, don't feel like they will leak, less period pain as they don't 'draw' the blood out. I was a real cynic but was desperate after getting toxic shilock from.tampons.

They don't smell!!

How did I get to the age of 49 and not know about these?

Don't know if they would be absorbent enough for me though. Sometimes I just have to get up off a chair and feel the flooding start .

I wonder how well they wash? I find that the stain never washes out of leaked into knickers....
When my periods started it was fairly early days for glue on disposables and if you weren't careful you might buy a packet of sort of cloth covered pads with loops which attached onto some sort of belt ( I never knew where you got the belt). Those pads were enormous, no way you could hide the fact you had one wedged in your pants!
Those things would definitely put me off the idea of cloth re -usables, I just imagine enormous pads, tied up to some complex belt system, stained hideously no matter what sort of boil wash you put them through.

Actually, I do use any old rags!

I have some linen face cloths, a few old flannels & some cut up old towels in my box of rags for periods.

I only wear them on their own at home, at night or on the last few days when the flow is light. I use tampons at work/out for the first two days when it's heavier, with a smaller cloth to catch any overflow.

They are fine. I soak them in cold water in a bucket in the laundry room, then bung them in a hot bedding/towels wash whenever I put one on.

I find they aren't smelly (no chemicals) & are perfectly comfortable - it's just a piece of folded cloth in my knickers, which is no more annoying than a pad.

I wear fairly fitted pants to hold everything in place.

Cost of periods now = a few poundland packs of tampons twice a year (not in UK & can't readily buy them here).

I've been doing this since using reusable nappies with my dc in my 30s. In fact, old nappy inserts make good pads for overnight.

If I were 20 years younger I'd probably try a mooncup & /or invest in nice washable pads, but in my mid 40s I'm not sure I'd recoup the cost now.