Reuseable sanitary protection?

[Sanpro]

I’m shamelessly utilising the footfall here to ask for your opinion on the best reuseable sanitary towels. I hope you don’t mind, I’m doing it for the environment!

I want to switch to them but they can be quite pricey and I don’t want to outlay a ton on something that isn’t good.

Anyone have any recommendations?

Also, I know people love the Mooncup and similar but I can’t get on with them. Especially with my new heavy postpartum periods.

Thank you kindly in advance.

I tried the Cheeky Wipes first and have stuck with them. I do save the closer fit stretchy pants to wear with them.

I prefer the feel of the bamboo and find the charcoal fleece slightly more sweaty.

I used to get thrush at the end of my periods with disposable pads and it hasn't been an issue in the 5 years that I've beem using reusable products.

Bought these for DD... she really likes them. Come in different absorbancies:

www.amazon.co.uk/Eco-Waterproof-Menstrual-Absorbent-Pantyliner/dp/B07XDJVXWG/ref=sr_1_1_sspa?dchild=1&psc=1&keywords=washable+menstrual+pads&spLa=ZW5jcnlwdGVkUXVhbGlmaWVyPUEySVhCQUhZREwwQUtPJmVuY3J5cHRlZElkPUEwNDQzNDk1SE1IRFJIWlFYU0FKJmVuY3J5cHRlZEFkSWQ9QTA2OTcxNzQyNFQwUlkwV1g0R1g5JndpZGdldE5hbWU9c3BfYXRmJmFjdGlvbj1jbGlja1JlZGlyZWN0JmRvTm90TG9nQ2xpY2s9dHJ1ZQ==&tag=mumsnetforu03-21&qid=1600201629&sr=8-1-spons

Honour your flow was very pricey mind. Think about £15 a pad. I really wanted try for years but was put off because of outlay. I did get some much cheaper ones off Amazon about £20 for set of 6. More realistic for my Budget. Couldn’t get sensitive Pads on lockdown from only shop that would delivery so was desperate! They actually make having a period easier and less messy.

Starchy, they don't have to go in a cold wash, just rinsed with cold water first so that the stain doesn't set. I wash all of mine with a normal wash load whenever I am putting one on.

Hmmmm I'm pretty sure modibodi and cheeky wipes specifically say to wash cold...? I obviously don't always, but some of mine are wearing through now! The rinsing isn't what I'm talking about, it's the machine instructions which I think say cold wash.

Another vote for Bloom and Nora from me. I’ve only been using them for a couple of months but so far I’m really impressed with how absorbent they are and how easily they don’t stain

I have sone from earth wise girls and they do the job. Would never go back to disposable sanitary products now.

^some

Can I wash period pants and cloth sanitary pads with other items or do they need to be washed by themselves?

The good news is that you can just bung your period pants or cloth sanitary pads into the wash with whatever else you have got to wash and wash it all at 30c. There's no need at all to wash them separately which is fantastic news. If you assume that your period protection adds up to half a kg of washing a month, over the course of a year, this is just one more 'average' washload, so very little environmental impact! And don't worry, your husbands shirts etc won't be contaminated by a tiny bit of blood in the wash!
Instructions from cheeky wipes, I personally wash everything at 40 so not much difference.

I love TCS Eco, some of my favourites are from there.

Bare and Boho are my favourite for washable pads but I prefer period pants to pads. Cheeky wipes pants are good quality but not absorbent enough for beginning of my period. I have one pair by Flux which have great absorbency but the quality is shockingly poor and I wouldn't recommend because of this

@Iknowthingsthatwillhappen

Can I wash period pants and cloth sanitary pads with other items or do they need to be washed by themselves?

The good news is that you can just bung your period pants or cloth sanitary pads into the wash with whatever else you have got to wash and wash it all at 30c. There's no need at all to wash them separately which is fantastic news. If you assume that your period protection adds up to half a kg of washing a month, over the course of a year, this is just one more 'average' washload, so very little environmental impact! And don't worry, your husbands shirts etc won't be contaminated by a tiny bit of blood in the wash!
Instructions from cheeky wipes, I personally wash everything at 40 so not much difference.

Huh, weird... are you meaning the bamboo ones? They are contradicting themselves here maybe? This is also from the Cheeky Wipes site.

From modibodi...

What menstrual cups have you tried? I tried a moon cup and didn't get on with it but I now use pixie cup and it's almost perfect. I wear it with period pants and don't have to worry in case there are small leaks. May be worth trying a few brands of menstrual cup (if you haven't!) as they do vary - and some offer a money back guarantee in case you don't like it

And yeah I just chuck the pants in with whatever else I'm washing. Saying that, there's only ever a little blood in them

Tbh it isn't the blood issue, because I can just rinse them before washing. It's the fact they are showing a bit of wear now. One pair have a hole in them. I'm just keeping them to wear in tandem with my cheeky wipes pads! I expect modibodi would say I haven't cared for them properly, as they do clearly state cold machine wash, but who the hell does that?? Like, every time? Glad it isn't just me who flouts the instructions .

I got mine from Weenotions about 16 years ago
Are they still going?
They called it minkee fabric, it’s like velour
They’re just great. So comfy and more than paid for themselves

I wear love Luna period pants from sainsburys £12 a pair. My flow is light though. WeeNotions pads I've used for years and are still fab.

I've tried honouryourflow, eco femme and earth wise and whilst they were all very comfortable none are as good as eco lily on Amazon for super heavy flow. I've never managed to get a comfortable fit with a menstrual cup but when I've tried I can fill it to overflowing (>15ml) in less than 2 hours so I'm quite heavy! I can use eco lily pads for 3-4hours on super heavy days and at night with period knickers for extra protection (although I'll still get up to change at least once (and I'm waiting for a referral for dnc! )

I've just swapped in the past month and wish I did it sooner
I like honour your flow for v heavy days (I use the slim mega) and these for normal/heavy (I get the longer 10.75 ones)
https://www.etsy.com/shop/RagHagShop

Oh and to wash I just shove them all on a rinse cycle which rinses everything out, then add the rest of my washing

I get mine from Etsy, they are amazing! I think the shop is called RagHagShop. The owner does very pretty designs alone with panty liners to heavy flow. High recommend.

Try minivivi pads- they were originally designed for incontinence so hold a lot.
And are designed to last for 200 washing/drying cycles.
Otherwise, on Aliexpress there is a maker called sigzazor. Their xl pads are huge I.e. 16 inches, absorb a lot and usually around the £3 mark. They do take up to 6 weeks to arrive though.

Should you want to go down the cup route, meluna xl cups hold a lot more than mooncups- Amazon sell them.

With regards to the washing, like others they go on a rinse cycle and then in with whatever is already in the washing machine. Bamboo topped ones take longer to dry than ones topped with other materials though and bamboo can go rough in hard water unless tumble dried.

I have reusable pads I bought cheap from ebay about £5 for six in a zip fabric bag. They have a felt pad and popper fastening. Love them if at home- so comfy and now disposables feel really gross and plasticky. However, they can be a bit inconvenient if on the go- I work in a school and haven’t yet brought myself to walk through crowds of teenagers swinging my used sanitary towels in a fabric bag yet haha. If I worked in a sedate office with considerate adults and the luxury of toilet breaks when we I wanted it might be different! Also find I can’t go running in them as they slip a bit. But they are v absorbent as I have v heavy periods too. Find they absorb more than disposables.
And my friend (who I’m blatantly too close to) assures me there’s no smell!