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.

Surely they need a hotter wash than the rest of your general clothes anyway?

Just ask her to put them in a separate bag/ basket and wash them herself. If she's old enough to be having periods she can probably use a washing machine ;)

Cheeky Wipes sell something called the Mini Strucket which is a soaking system for reusable wipes, cloth period pads and pants.
Same principle as a nappy bucket really but more expensive!

They could do with being washed every other to every 3rd day really.
I use washable nappies so store them in the nappy bin (I dont store my dirty nappies in a milton solution or anything like that though, personal research)
I would recommend that she rinses it out in the sink (wiping the sink down after) them stores it in a wet bag then you can empty the wet bag into the washing machine.

We have a 15min small cycle on our machine and wash the days period knickers at the end of each day.

@wheresmykimchi exactly we wouldn't chuck our reusable nappies straight in the laundry basket.

@MaliceOrgan and @MarkRuffaloCrumble.....dont agree at all. everyone elses washing goes in the basket.. and.. i am squeamish at all things clinical,medical,human functionish.. its hardly period shaming..but then im a "private business"when go to toilet.natural or not..its non participatory event...
op-what bout those tie top net vegetable bags.our kid puts his socks in one so the phantom sock thief has to try harder.but..defo rinsed aat very least..im eeew

Oh wow, she is old enough to rinse and pop in a mesh/wash bag and then put them in with her washing! A couple minutes rinsing, and they’re fine. I use them and just pop them in with my washing. She is BU not to take care of this herself it’s fantastically easy 🤷‍♀️

Mine hand wash theirs then put in a small bucket with a lid then they do their own. Think they wash them with their main wash.

Does she know that if they go through a dry cycle it'll ruin them.

For that reason alone they need to be separated.

My dd uses a delicates net bag that zips shut for her pads. They go in a normal wash but can be easily fished out in the net before the dry

Two loads a day, minimum? Dear god, what are you all doing?

@squeezeapplesmakejuice

Yanbu I've always thought reusables are really disgusting

I’ve always thought disposables are disgusting, they’ll sit on the planet for hundreds of years, which is why I use reusable nappies and sanitary products

*It is strange that we have gone full cycle...Victorian and before women suffered the ghastliness of period cloths...

I commend those who use them however*

I find that reusables are more comfortable, absorbent and don’t give me a rash like disposables. I can’t use tampons since childbirth and a moon cup doesn’t appeal to me.

I have my DDs rinse them in cold water, and then place in sink in laundry/utility room. The same with any clothes that have been leaked on. I then run a quick wash for those.

They definitely should not be dumped in a regular laundry basket all bloody and such.

@Hurtandupset2

Don't use them, but I did use washable nappies, so would be tempted to treat pads similarly and keep them in weak Milton solution once used and then put a wash on every 2 days.

This is what I would also suggest.

Milton solution in a lidded container, and frequent washing.

Diaper pail. Works just as well for those. And make her responsible for washing them. If she is old enough to need them, she is old enough to do her very personal laundry.

@Wills I assumed she was still at school
As an adult, just ASK her how she deals with them when she's at Uni.

Mine just go in the laundry basket, they don't smell any more than my knickers do.

I do wonder if some people are imagining they smell like used disposable sanitary towels - it's in no way comparable.

Does nobody else think that 2 loads a day is excessive? There are three of us and we do two loads a week on average, plus one load for bed linen every other week.

This is a step too far for me. I would insist on disposable and yes I know about saving the bloody planet.

My daughter rinses hers and puts them in a wet bag

I didn't even know these were a thing! (I'm post-menopause and have no DDs, so that's not as witless as it sounds.)

Not to derail your thread op but does anyone know how many cloth pads you need if you are a heavy bleeder?
I go through a pad every hour and I’m on for 7 days but I really want to use reusable ones, I’l just don’t know how many to purchase.

@EmpressSuiko

Not to derail your thread op but does anyone know how many cloth pads you need if you are a heavy bleeder? I go through a pad every hour and I’m on for 7 days but I really want to use reusable ones, I’l just don’t know how many to purchase.

That’s a lot. Have you sought medical advice for that?!

That aside. I have about 15 pads. Never on for the full 7 days though.

Mine get rinsed in cold water and them put in a waterproof bag that hangs in the bathroom for damp stuff (flannels etc) and gets chucked in the next wash with everything else.
Can't get too precious more bothered about DHs scrubs that come home from the hospital or DSs rugby kit eww