to ask if you have tried washable menstrual pads?

[GivenAndDenied]

So reusable nappies are a thing now, pretty well accepted, gaining popularity.

Today I've seen an advert for reusable/washable menstrual pads.

I like the idea of reducing my waste footprint, reusing is a good thing. But has anyone actually used them? If so, how did they get on with them? Good or bad brands? Interested to know others experiences, considering giving them a try.

Yes I use them. Mine are from Honour Your Flow. They are so comfortable and soft. No more soreness or thrush like symptoms after my period. I agree with Colonel the HYF night or the largest, long pads are great for night time. Especially if you sleep on your back and get leakage.

I use earthwise pads. Tempted to try the pants, or make my own.

It is so nice not to wear disposables. I always hated them but found them completely intolerable after DDs birth. I used the muslins I bought for her and the unused pack of disposable maternity pads went in the bin.

I got DD washable nappies because I couldn't bear the thought of putting something on my pfb that I hated the feel of on my own skin.

I then decided that enough was enough for me too and bought a moon cup. I only use the washable pads at the beginning of my period when it is super heavy and there is a risk of over flowing.

Yes, have some smaller ones for the end of my cycle but do find them bulky compared to disposable panty liners. Guess I need to shop around a bit more as it's a great idea.

I think it depends in the shape of your pants madeye. During my period I tend to wear 'full' pants like my mum wore and my teenage self swore she would die before she ever put on I find the pads can slip backwards in my usual everyday pants.

I only have dark ones but I don't worry about stains, so long as they are clean and washed of course.
Honestly, follow my advice up thread for rinsing in the loo and you'll never have a stain again

Can I ask a couple of questions?

Could they be used by a post menopausal woman (ie me) with light bladder leakage ? - I currently use tena type products - would love something more eco friendly.

How do you attach them to your underwear ? (sorry if that's a stupid question but do you need special knickers ?)

Kurrikurri, I don't know about using them to replace tena ladies but all the ones I've looked at had wings like the disposables but with poppers

There's possibly reusable incontince pads, I've not looked, but I'd imagine so.
When I needed them I wasn't really in a position to wash them so used disposables.
They have wings and attach with poppers, they can slide unless you have a wider gusset (eek, I hate that word).

Kurri I don't see any reason why you couldn't use them. They are surprisely absorbent. The ones I use have 'wings and attach with poppers.

A million times nicer than those horrible plasticky disposables. I use those and a cup and I will never go back.

I love the cheeky wipes ones, I just use liners with a meluna cup. They are utterly life-changing. Soooo comfy

You can use them for bladder weakness.there is a wahm who makes pads that were specially designed for bladder leaks. Search Facebook for minivivi

kurrikurri
You can get disposable inco pads.
minivivi.co.uk
I've not tried them but the lady who makes and sells them used to make and sell nappies and those were excellent.

Ooh, that's freaky, two pointers to the same brand at exactly the same time!

KurriKurri earthwise have some incontinence pads but they are expensive. I like my reusable pads but id like some cheaper and thinner pantyliners.

Yes, google ‘honour your flow’. Good products + mooncup, makes it all so much easier and less icky imo

KurriKurri are you in Australia? (I only ask because I don't live that far from Kurri Kurri ).
If so, try Hannahpad.com.au as they have pads for light incontinence.

Haven't but will now!

Oh brilliant - thanks for all the info, definitely going to give them a try - fed up of using plastics !

Annabay - no I'm not, but I have lots of Australian family and when I was little one of them sent me a storybook called 'Kurri Kurri the Kookaburra' which I loved - so I pinched it for my user name And I know it's a place as well - would love to visit one day if I can get the £££ together )

I tried some I got on amazon and hated them Must try the cheeky wipes ones. We have bamboo wipes from them still going strong 6 years in!

I use these Imse Vimse pads, they're a lovely quality organic cotton, come in packs of 3, and in different thickness - I use the panty liners with a Mooncup, but they are very slim, and even the regular do not show under fiitted trousers. They popper on under your knickers, the advantage of cotton ones like these and Lunapads is they do not slip around, some brands do slip a bit, I had some with polyester wings (forget which brand now) and they moved a lot.
Lunapads are also good because they have extra inserts you tuck in so that you can add to the absorbency, or just change the top part to extend how long you use it for.
Definitely go for it, you'll save a fortune in the long run. You'll also be amazed how very comfortable they are, they don't get hot, they're not rustly and they don't stick to you!

“I'm wryly amused at the notion that re-usable nappies are a thing "now".

I'm old enough to remember my Mum using them for my baby brother (9 years younger than me), when disposables were apparently not an option.”

@Caribou58 the OP is referring to modern cloth nappies, that tend to be shaped like a disposable with small, “pad-like” inserts. Not the large terry towelling squares popular up to the 80s.

I use the EcoFemme pad, they are very comfy and ethically made.

KurriKurri I'm pre-menopausal with slight bladder leakage, and I tried some bamboo ones from Amazon supposedly adequate for this purpose. There's no way to put this politely, but unfortunately odour is a significant issue! Bamboo doesn't seem to handle those levels of ammonia I guess. Sorry if TMI.

Haven't heard of the other make mentioned, I'll have a look...

Your wee brother's nappies wouldn't have looked like these www.babipur.co.uk/elephant-hedgehog-newborn-nappy.html?gclid=CjwKCAjwxZnYBRAVEiwANMTRXyMhgsVzStJBbyc3geQdyu0L7njmeEqtvsMS-AoVAsf3vwwYIZgfcRoCoZMQAvD_BwE

The Honour Your Flow pads are great - my favourites I think. Imse Vimse cotton ones are good and absorbent, but I find that they're a bit wide, and the poppers hang down from my knickers - I have quite narrow hips (in spite of my frame - 5'9"/size 12). I have some Earthwise longs too, which are great for night but are quite thick so I wouldn't wear them with tight/thin fabric trousers.

I would say I'm less keen on them in the height of summer - but I get really hot and bothered when I'm on, and no matter what I do I'm not comfy, so maybe more a reflection of me than the pads. I tend to use them along with my moon cup, so overall a far more pleasant experience than disposable pads/tampons.