What to pick & how to wash cloth sanitary pads?

[Worriedmum4]

Hi looking for advice. I think I would like to invest in some cloth sanitary pads and those new period pants but need some advice. It will cost me over £100 for the both so I want to get it right so aibu to be abit scared?!
I am a size 24 clothes so really not sure if they will do pants big enough for me. I hate the feeling of tight pants. Any other plus size people got them?

The cloth San Pro, what is it like to wash them? I will admit I am quite a lazy person & will always want to easiest option possible. I really don't want my San Pro to have to be soaking in buckets etc. Are there ones that can be directly washed in the machine?
I have a heavy flow. Any tips and advice much appreciated and I will purchase today!

Not for everyone but I use a moon cup and just have 2 packs of cloth liners (about 10 in total). Total cost £50. The liners stay clean as the moon cup is so effective so I just put them in the normal wash.

I like the idea of reusable sanpro, and i am going to get some in for my daughter.

I have seen quite a few products, and the washable pads look like a good product. A quick Google will give you a few products.

Personally, I've used a mooncup for a few years, and although it was a bit of a fiddle the first few times, it works well for me.

I use the pants from Cheeky Wipes. I think that they are great - i normally just rinse them under the cold tap and then put them in the washing machine with a load on a 30degC setting. I sometimes use the reusable pads, but i dont find them as comfortable as the pants alone, but they do the job when I have a heavier flow. I wash them the same way as the pants. There is no need to soak them. There is a chat function (I think) on cheeky wipes website, or else you can email them and they can help talk through what might be best for you www.cheekywipes.com/period-pants-free-trial-policy.html.

Save as pp I use Mooncup and washable liners. I just dry pail until in ready to wash then rinse then under a cold tap before throwing in the machine. I do the same for nappies.

I use a cup (not a mooncup, which is a brand rather than the name for all cups) mines a Lunette. Brilliant things, no washing or faff, but can be a bit of trial and error to get the perfect one.
I do wash a lot of other things though - family cloth, kitchen cloths, soon to be cloth nappies - and I would think reusable pads would need a long wash on 60 with a good amount of a powder detergent

I’ve just bought two pads form here
www.honouryourflow.co.uk/
And they seem good. You don’t have to soak them and then they just go in a normal wash, which I was quite surprised at.
I’ve only used them once so far but they’ve washed well and we’re comfortable.

*were

I use ecofemme pads which are great - has mine a few years now. I usually give them a quick rinse (trample them when I'm in the shower !) then put in a normal wash. Totally faff free.

The cloth pads, do they feel wet and heavy if you wear them for a few hours?

I use ModiBodi machine washable pants. They're amazing! I need more pairs but they're quite pricey. They do up to size 26.

The pants are a million times better than the washable pads. The pads are uncomfortable and move around.
Get a moon cup and some period pants 👍
Make sure you wash your washable pads/pants carefully with sanitizer and leave in the sun if possible. I blame mine for giving me thrush.

I love washable pads. I just used mine for post partum bleeding and they were great.

I rate the little lamb ones.

To wash, the instructions are to rinse in cold water and then wash at 30 degrees. Mine are all stain free following this method, but i do also put a bit of vanish on too.

I like wemoon pads and I've not had thrush issues from them despite being prone to thrush, disposables often give me thrush. I rinse them through in cold water until they run clear and wash in machine with very mild detergent with towels or bedding. Don't soak or they'll stink. I use disposables on the heaviest day.

If you get the PUL backed pads they can move around. But if you get the windpro fleece backed ones they stay put.

Honestly the upkeep isn't that time consuming. I shove mine straight into a wet bag then when period is over I soak them for a few hours. So maybe put in the bucket the night before your designated wash day then just stain treat as needed and put in the wash.

Honor your flow do pads according to dress size.

TCS eco allow you to customise hour pads. Pick length, absorbancy, topper etc so you might find that helpful too.

I would recommend modi bodi over cheeky wipes . I wasn't impressed with cheeky wipes.

Yes they are a bit more effort but certainly for me it's worth it.

I have some pants and some pads. I run them on a rinse cycle first then just do a normal wash with my clothes. I find with the pants that I have to change them during the day at the beginning of my period even with 'night time' absorbancy, which isn't that convenient at work. They are really comfortable though, but the pads are more absorbent and feel dryer.

Buy black ones.

I hand-wash in cold water as soon as I change them, then wring them out and leave them to dry/fold up with the stained side inside and lob them into the laundry basket. They then get washed with the other dark stuff on a 40 wash, sometimes with sanitiser, sometimes not. Mine were from etsy and I bought them one by one as I could afford them until I had enough to stop buying disposables. You don't have to go all or nothing right from the start.

I have used reusable pads for a while, used a cup but it really didn't suit. I've found that the pads stay feeling fresher for longer than disposable and that's without the horrible rashes I was prone to getting.

I got a basic pack from online and have added to it with pretty ones from Facebook groups. I have a box similar to this www.robertdyas.co.uk/addis-compost-caddy-grey to soak the used pads and I add a couple of drops of tea tree then they go in the wash.

I have been converted by reusable sanitary towels. They are amazing. Very soft and far more effective than the throw away ones.

www.bloomandnora.com/

I use this company. I bought a couple to trial and then bought a few more. The only thing I would say is don't do a load of washing just before your period as you need to was them within 48 hours.

I’ve got Baba&Boo and Little Lambs cloth sanitary pads, after use I rinse them under the cold tap and store them with my cloth nappies until wash day and they just all go in together - otherwise you could keep them in a small wetbag and just wash with your towels?

I store all mine in a water resistant bag, then put in the machine on a 15 min cycle on their own, before throwing in the rest of the wash and washing at 30 with everything else.

They dont get any heavier than a normal pad, because they are increasing in weight by the same amount, assuming you change at a similar frequency to disposables.

Why not start with one pair of pants and a couple of pads, and mix and match with disposables until you find your rhythm?

I use Imse Vimse organic cotton pads and put them (and our family cloth) straight in the washing bag with everything else; no soaking.

Some people find the jersey ones more comfortable than the woven options.