AIBU to go Ewwww at how my eldest's using her re-usable period pads

[Wills]

Now, I'm not against them, just against her tossing them into the main washing pile! I have four kids and do approximately 2 loads minimum a day BUT sometimes some things get left for a while at the bottom - this has lead me, in the past, to insist that ordinary used face flannels are put in a separate container in the bathroom that I can pick up and put in the wash before they start to stink. But given how I feel about face flannels being left to fester I hope you can understand that I'm being rather squeamish about used sanitary towels. At the same time I want to be progressive and save the planet and my youngest will be starting in the next 2 years so umm, if you use them how do you 'deal with them'. I have 3 daughters so need to find a solution suitable for them all.

@Sausagis

Have you talked to her? Just ask her to put them with the flannels?

I'm not sharing stories, there are some weird people on mn.

Totally- always worth remembering that this is not a closed room, and that there are strange people out there who enjoy these types of discussion.

She shouldn’t be putting them in the main laundry basket. I’ve never used them but do use reusable nappies and we have a bucket they’re stored in until wash day. There’s no way I’d mix them with the normal washing. She needs a bucket or a cloth bag to keep them separate from everything else.

Have enough for a whole period. Mesh laundry bag with zip. Goes in the washer (and dryer if you have one) without you having to unzip it. Put it in with towels (or the flannels!) as it shouldn't have fabric conditioner. Bag can be stored in a bin with lid in the bathroom for convenience. Daughter to either alert you when it is ready for the laundry, or stick it in the machine herself.

Rinse thoroughly under the cold tap and chuck in washing machine ready for when it next goes on.

Never liked the idea of having somewhere separate to store used ones, because they'd just sit in there and fester.

Mine go n a small bin next to the loo (without sterilising solution, it's period blood, not toxic waste) and are washed in the machine on their own with ordinary liquid.

I use reusable pads and the thought of them being thrown into the wash basket with the rest of the clothes made me think “ewww”. Most websites that sell them also recommend how to wash and what to do with them, I use “bloom and Nora” and they sell zip waterproof bags to put used ones in before a machine wash. They shouldn’t be festering in the basket with other stuff. Also why can’t your DD learn to put the machine on and wash them herself?

I would ask her to rinse it out then put into the washing machine.

A small lidded bin near the loo is the answer. If you use a mesh laundry bag as a bin liner it can go straight into the washing machine.

I used cheeky wipes toilet roll so I got an extra "dirty wipes" box and I put my reusable pads in that one. It's a little tub with a net in it. Fill it half way with water and add tea tree oil. Then just lift the net out and put it in the washing machine, along with the cheeky wipes.

@gamerchick

Or maybe it's time to show her how to use the washing machine.

This!

We use reuseable nappies, so my CSP is dry pailed in the nappy bucket with the nappies. We do a nappy wash every other day. I've not given much thought to what I'll do with them once DS is out of nappies. I don't want to keep a huge nappy bucket in the bathroom just for them. I'll wash them with the regular laundry then, so I expect I'll just get a smaller box or bin that I can put them in in my bathroom in the meantime so they don't get lost in the depths of the laundry basket!

I have a big zip up wet bag which I stick mine in. Then when I wash unzip and stick in the machine, no need to empty it as they just fall out during the wash.

My only experience is of reusable nappies for which I used the dry pailing method. This involves using a waterproof, zipped laundry bad to store used products and chucking the bag in the machine along with the pads. I think thr ags I used were by bambino mio or bumble and bumble?

Get her to put them in the shower with her in the morning, use feet to ‘smoosh’ the worst out, then pop in a washing bag and once the bag is full, it goes in with a regular wash.

Keep a nappy pail or bucket with a lid to keep them in cold water until you wash them.
Change the water daily and just wash the pads in the normal washing. Works in our house for me and my daughter.

I'd have though rinse them through in the hand basin (cold or warm water & a squirt of liquid soap) and chuck in with the flannels, as you already have a receptacle there for that.
Sounds mad suggesting a washing machine cycle for one or two pairs of pants.

I'd go with either a nappy wet bag dry pail them or a cheeky wipe dirty wipe box if you want to soak them. The cheeky wipe box comes with a mesh bag that you lift out and chuck in the washing machine.

I think making her do her own washing specifically for this reason is kinda like a punishment for menstruation.
If you're doing two loads a day I dont see how they're smelling. I'd just give them a rinse before chucking in the washing basket. Or keep a box like cheeky wipes make in the bathroom, would make it easier for her aswell to not be taking her dirty pad to the laundry basket or washing machine every time.

Could you not just ask her to give them a good rinse out in the sink/bath/shower before she puts them in the washing basket? or like someone said, a cloth bag?

I'm not heavy so store them folded and poppered shut, don't need to rinse and chuck straight into a normal wash unpoppered with clothes and had no problems. May be worth a rinse cycle if she is heavy. Shouldn't need to do a separate wash just for them. I've used them for years now and no issues.

YABU to go "ewwww" at this.
YANBU to want to come up with a sensible solution.
Just talk to her - used pads in the washing basket are unpleasant.
Choose one of the suggestions other people have made, put it in place and talk to your daughter about it so she knows what to do.

@IamnotaStepfordHousewife

I'm not heavy so store them folded and poppered shut, don't need to rinse and chuck straight into a normal wash unpoppered with clothes and had no problems. May be worth a rinse cycle if she is heavy. Shouldn't need to do a separate wash just for them. I've used them for years now and no issues.

Heavy or not you are washing your clothes in period blood!

I can see I'm alone here but I think it's foul.

we have a "mucky Box" by the laundry basket in the garage - by the washing machine. so when i'm done with them i pop them in there and wash on their own when i'm done. I have loads so can get away without having to wash them until i'm done

@SherlocksDeerstalker

Get her to put them in the shower with her in the morning, use feet to ‘smoosh’ the worst out, then pop in a washing bag and once the bag is full, it goes in with a regular wash.

Aw my god 🙊

I didn’t even know they existed 😳