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 bought some lovely reusable ones and was very excited about trying them out. Managed to get pregnant before I got the chance to use them though. Will report back in late 2017 when I've had a bash at them

I have to say that I have no idea what anyone uses so for all I know loads of people I know use cloth pads.

Without doing a survey how does anyone know?

You can find a set for as little as 15 pounds on amazon. I bought a wetbag too.They are really comfy and absorbant, but I only wear them at home because I'm paranoid
I've also invested in a mooncup. Way better than tampons and really comfy

Jelly not wondering why everyone doesn't do the same as me - obviously, that would be silly! Very much each to their own, but I was simply wondering why they're not more popular, given all the positives lots of people have mentioned. But absolutely accept they're be for everyone - this thread wasn't meant as an attempt to convert people

Mynest some people don't/ wouldn't like putting something inside their body, some people can't use them or struggle after giving birth, some people might have vaginismus or may not want to insert things inside themselves because of abuse or something similar. There are a myriad of reasons why people wouldn't use tampons or mooncup.

Fwiw I don't have a washing machine so there's no way in hell I would be hand washing my own period pads. Just. No.

Tampons or disposable pads for me thanks.

I've been struggling to use tampons without them causing pain since having DC2, despite having used them since I was around 14. Sometimes they are okay but usually not. I've been using mostly pads since but I hate the sweaty plasticky feel of them and how horribly dirty I feel while wearing them.

The smell has always put me off using reusables but If the smell really is just the chemicals and will be avoided then I might give them a go.

How absorbent are they? The first two days of my period are really heavy now. I can soak through a tampon and two pads stuck on top of each other and still bleed into my knickers within about 2 hours. Would a reusable pad cope with this?

Surely non applicator tampons are the easiest things to use ? They are tiny to carry around. Will switch to washable when every man on the planet stop using paper cups, plates and disposable razors.

For years I thought they were a step too far despite my guilt at the amount of sanpro wastage I produced. I now have some cloth ones from Cheeky Wipes and find them more comfortable than disposable pads, which often make me sore. I only wear them as backup with a Mooncup (another late convert to that too) though, not on their own, but they seem quite absorbent.

Disadvantages: bulkier than disposable pads, not ideal for holidays, and I found that the poppers aren't very comfy when cycling.

I hate non applicator tampons. I find them hard to insert unless I am bleeding heavily, they leak and they need to be changed all the time compared to a mooncup, and the string gets in the way, and I can feel them.

I can see why other people like them, but during my recent month without a mooncup, I reasoned how much I prefer moon cups. Also, I kept having to wash the sheets because I leaked all over them every single night.

I cannot stand the smell of menstrual blood. I don't use tampons because you get blood on you inserting them, even with pads you sometimes get a bit on you (super heavy periods that leak even when i wear 2 night time towels layered with one at the back and one over the top) If the tiniest bit of blood gets on me, even immediately wiped off, no matter how many times i wash my hands or how strongly perfumed or antibacterial etc the soap is i swear i can smell it on my hands for hours afterwards.
I also hate how "dirty" fluids and waste that come from that area of my body are (germphobic OCD) so having a pad full of it in my washer rinsing out and rinsing through all my other clothes, or trying to hand wash it in my sink (vomits).
No, for this reason re useable pads are not for me, tampons are not for me, and menstrual cups (hard to get used to and very easily spill when removing) are definitely not for me.
So incredibly thankful for the implant stopping my periods completely, until the 2 year mark where i get spotting but nowhere near a period.

Can I ask how you deal with a moon cup in the loos at work (cubicles and sinks in the communal area) I can't see myself washing bloody hands in full view, never mind rinsing it out.....

I am lured to them because of the nice designs in the same way I was with washable nappies, which I went on to despise, therefore will stick with disposables.

Oh and I don't muck about rinsing them - they get folded up & put in the laundry basket to be washed with everything else and they haven't stained and don't smell.

Unless you have extremely light periods I cannot imagine just bunging in a bloody pad to the washing basket or machine.

I'm about to start using them as the plastic scented ones mean I have monthly thrush.
Mooncups that everyone seems to rave about look like they would be uncomfortable - the "tail" of plastic to pull it out seems like it would be sticking into you...

Will people be insisting on washable adult nappies and incontinence pads next?

Mat people cut the tail bit off - they are only really there to reassure first-time users and for women with long vaginas and short fingers.

For public loos, it's generally not that much of an issue. For most days of my period, I only need to empty it once in the morning and once at night. I have a cooper coil now, with a few days of heavy bleeding, so I just put a couple of sheets of loo paper in the loo, take the mooncup out, empty it, and put it back in. If I have any blood on my hands, I wipe them on some loo roll. It's not really any messier in terms of bloody hands than using a non-applicator tampon.

MissVictoria no one's insisting on anything! Quite surprised at how many people seem to be personally offended by others' choices

I've been using cloth sanitary pads since the birth of my daughter 3 years ago. I found the plastic and perfume in disposables was irritating me more and left me feeling quite sore. Tampons also left me feeling really dry and uncomfortable.

I wasn't sure at first - it felt like a last resort- but I'm a total convert now. My periods are much lighter with less cramping now and the pads are so soft and comfortable. There is also no smell.

Washing them is really easy and no extra hassle at all.

On the odd occasion when I've been caught out and had to use a disposable, I get irritation and it smells rank.

Because I've discovered menstrual cups and the idea of faffing about with any tampons or pads now seems too much like hard work.

Sounds horrendous

My mum always said that, along with washing machines, effective disposable sanitary protection was the thing which had made women's lives so much better, and that with out them women's liberation just wouldn't have happened.
So why turn the clock back? Oh, and I have made reusable pads too.

Avery yes I can absolutely see your point, but I think the key issue now is that women have the choice to use what suits them best, rather than disposables being necessary more liberating than cloth. Also I think the reusables today are a far cry from the old cloth sanitary pads and belts, which I can imagine were horrendous!

MissVictoria no one's insisting on anything! Quite surprised at how many people seem to be personally offended by others' choices

But you started a thread with a title that effectively criticises the choice of those who choose not to use cloth.

Soup no not at all, if you read the title I just wondered why reusables aren't more popular, having tried them and loved them myself. No criticism implied, as I've (repeatedly) said 'each to their own', and I fully understand reusables are not for everyone, just like some people will choose not to use tampons, for example.

I brought moon up thanks to aibu - best thing ever. It's like not having a period. Took a bit of trial and error but love it now

I don't have periods thanks to mirena, but after I had my kids I couldn't use tampons any more-I always felt them "there".
If I had the need again in the future, I'd definitely go with cloth, or at least give them a good try. Apart from the environmental factors, I can only think they'd be much more comfortable than a wedge of brick on my knickers!