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!

I wouldn't put them in the wash unrinsed: that's a lot of bodily fluids going into the wash.

I don't put snotty hankies or child-accident knickers in with the was without a good pre rinse or wash either. And certainly not with tea towels.

I don't find menstrual blood gross or icky, but I wouldn't want to carry used pads in my bag all day at work, into business meetings etc.

But then I haven't used anything but tampons since early teenhood anyway. Not even pant liners. I stick a couple of bits of tissue in my pants if I think it would be a good idea.

I use washable pads and a mooncup. Haven't spend money on menstrual stuff since 2013. We also don't use kitchen paper / disposable wipes, cotton buds etc. Almost everything (bar loo roll!) is reusable and we produce very little rubbish.

I refuse to spend money on something time and time again when I can just buy it once.

Each to their own... but I'm going to stick with my way

Love my mooncup. You'd need to prise it out of my old dead hands.

But on days one and two I often need a pad as well - especially at night. I hate disposable pads as I find them really uncomfortable. I tend to move around a lot in my sleep and there have been a few times where the pad has moved and there's been leakage - even with wings to keep it in place. Or worse, the wings have rucked up and stuck to me so there's the leakage AND the delight of adhesive plastic sticking to your pubic hair. 3am in the loo having to extricate a pad from your nether regions and then having a full clean up and change, is always fun and makes for a restful night's sleep.

I also cringe a little at the environmental impact they have. Tempted to look at reusables now.

Paul I think the trick with making sure reusable don't shift is nice snug knickers - like Sloggi-style pants rather than shorties etc. They don't have to be tight, but well-fitting (if you're anything like me this rules out the stash of saggy, knackered old period pants )

Pads make me feel sick

I use a cup and disposable pantyliners at the moment (honestly has changed my life!) but I am inclined to buy a set of reusable pantyliners instead. I have two reusable daytime pads which are great and very comfortable but I just prefer the convenience of not having to change a cup for 10-12hrs. Have you looked at PreciousStarsPads website? Her pads and pantyliners are very affordable especially if you're just starting out.

Soubriquet "The only thing I will point blank refuse to try is a moon cup . And tampons. Neither are for me"

I think they're both unobtrusive and convenient. What is your objection?

They aren't for me

Just like it appears pads aren't for others.

So it's ok for people to dislike pads but not for me to dislike a mooncup?

It has to be ok both ways

Great if you like them but I'll be carrying on using tampons. Each to their own but I can't stand towels.

The soiled pads fold up on themselves and are closed with poppers, so the only thing on show is clean cloth, like a folded hanky. And to see that you'd have to rifle through someone's bag, find and open up the small closed storage bag. A packaged tampon or towel is way more obvious, honestly.

Because I hate wearing pads.

Don't like the feeling of blood coming out, worries about leaking (ever sneezed or coughed when wearing one?)

I am happy with non applicator tampons.

Like another poster I heard stories from older relatives about using rags as sanitary protection and how awful that was, these don't feel like progress IMO.

Thanks Bex do the bamboo minke ones feel like microfibres? I saw someone upthread mention that. Microfibre makes me feel quite odd, so if it's that I'll plump for cotton.

Going to give Bloom & Nora a go - thanks so much for the recommendation

I've just bought some on offer to try after pregnancy. It was about 10 for 3 night pads, so not much at all.

After using cloth nappies, the washing is no big deal.

I think it's interesting that the perceived negatives are coming from those who have not tried them. I think it's a bit like cloth nappies: the idea freaks a lot of people out, but the reality is very different.

In terms of washing them, do most people stick them in the general laundry without soaking? Are night pads (charcoal topped) suitable as postpartum pads?

Theyre much much more comfortable than disposable towels, but I still prefer a mooncup

One of my favourite things about cloth sanitary towels is that you put them in the wash instead of the bin, so it means cats and foxes dont rip open the binbags to get the manky bloody towels anymore. That used to happen every period

I prefer my mooncup, but have some cloth pads for back-up, days when I don't feel like using a cup and so on. I find them more comfortable than most pads, although the new Always foam ones are probably similar in terms of comfort. I had to use those when I lost my mooncup one month. When I first started using them, I used to soak them, but now I just chuck them into the washing machine.

Also to say that reusable pads are nothing like the rags of yesteryear, same a how cloth nappies have changed considerably.

There are actually reusable tampons available too, as well as mooncups.

They also don't need washing at a high temperature. Disposable products are so much worse for the environment.

Reading this thread through again, I get the impression that some women actually feel personally offended when other women don't happen to like the same form of sanitary protection as them.

I guess people are invested in what they know as the norm.

I'm no better - having made the switch to cloth pads (plus mooncup) many years ago i am genuinely squicked out by the horror of all that chemical plastic nestled against my vajayjay. Fucking uncomfortable, irresponsibly disastrous for the planet, altogether yuck. I do get where you're coming from OP - it is hard to understand how people think it's the better choice, but only as hard as it is for disposable fans to understand where we're coming from!

Can someone talk me through the basics here?

How do they attach? Are the 'popper under the crotch' ones the only type?

When you fold up the dirty ones do they stay folded?

Do you then have to unfold them to wash them?

Do you just chuck the waterproof bag and contents into the washer or do you have to delve in to get them out and unfold them, in a sort of abattoir lucky dip scenario?

I hate having to carry blood soaked rugs in my briefcase all day.

I really would not like second hand cloth pads.

None of what I have read so far has convinced me to give them a go.

I may well give them a go actually. I'd rinse the blood out with cold water as you would with a leaked-on pair of knickers, then do the nappy bucket thing. I couldn't get on with my mooncup unfortunately. Once it was in I couldn't bloody get the thing out!

Tina I think most pads fasten with the popper under the gusset, but I haven't extensively sampled lots of brands so someone correct me if I'm wrong! You do a sort of reverse fold and use the popper to hold them folded when they're used. And it's up to you how you store and wash them when they're dirty; you can get plastic boxes with a mesh bag insert (as CheekyWipes do) so you can just chuck the mesh bag in the washer. Most of the waterproof bags for out and about have a mesh insert which you can zip out for washing.

abattoir lucky dip scenario

YABU to wonder why everyone else doesn't do things the way you do. Am I being unreasonable to wonder why you dont use a moon cup, or Tampax, or 'family cloth'?
Not everyone has a washing machine at home and the laundrette wont allow you to wash items such as disposable nappies or pads.
Some people are in fuel and water poverty and cant afford it.
Some people cant afford to spend £20+ on a collection of washable pads.