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.

I have always faithfully washed mine separately because they aren't supposed to have fabric conditioner on them as it stops absorbency (as with towels). Sounds like everyone else is washing them in a normal load....am I being crazy?

@ememem84 it’s not as bad as it sounds, days 1,2 and 3 are the days I need to change every hour, by day 5 everything slows down and I can swap to normal pads for the remaining days.
Doctors have never said much other than I’m anaemic but I also tend to get a fever and heat rash just before I’m due but the doctors have no answers for that, my body reacts as if I have a virus.
I’m assuming reusables won’t be much good to me if I’d need to change them as often as I have to change the disposable ones :(

@Wittgen I use vinegar instead of fabric softener which is suitable for everything

@EmpressSuiko I only have 5 pads because my periods are light/irregular so can't offer personal experience but I only bought 2 at first to see how I got on with them and that might be a good idea for you as well? Buy a few and see how long they last and then buy more based on that? I got mine from etsy but I've seen bundles on other sites as well.

Yes, I use vinegar with towels too. Hadn't thought about using it on pads though....

@PattyPan I hadn’t thought of Etsy!
That’s a good idea thank you, I feel so bad buying disposables all the time but I don’t get on with the cups at all.

Not read the thread, cba- so sorry if someone's already suggested.
Mesh laundry bag in bathroom, they go in there. Whole mesh bag gets chucked in the machine, done.

@EmpressSuiko I have heavy periods and use two brands
These for lighter days https://www.etsy.com/uk/shop/RagHagShop

These for "I'm flooding" or overnight. I have never ever leaked with these and I have the type of periods where you sneeze and panic
https://www.honouryourflow.co.uk/slim-mega-pads-for-uk-sizes-8-30-128-c.asp

@QueenPawPaws can I ask how many you need in total? I’m the same, if I sneeze I run to the bathroom!

I'm sorry you felt the need to defend saying eww.

Being all PC and thoroughly proud of periods is one thing but in reality absolutely nobody should have to be touching someone else's period blood.

This would be a different thread if DH was leaving his dirty pants on top of clothes / expecting them dealt with.

I didn't know much about recyclable pads but this thread has thoroughly put me off I think.

@Wittgen

I have always faithfully washed mine separately because they aren't supposed to have fabric conditioner on them as it stops absorbency (as with towels). Sounds like everyone else is washing them in a normal load....am I being crazy?

No. You sound the most sensible so far. I can't bear the thought of them just getting chucked in not envy

@Wittgen

I have always faithfully washed mine separately because they aren't supposed to have fabric conditioner on them as it stops absorbency (as with towels). Sounds like everyone else is washing them in a normal load....am I being crazy?

Yes you are. Fabric conditioner is an unnecessary additional environment pollutant - just cut it out.

There is nothing eeeww about period blood, I am embarrassed so many adult women react like silly schoolboys to a natural and healthy part of being a woman. Do you recoil in horror if your DH cuts himself shaving?

@EmpressSuiko trying to think how many I have!
I think I have 4 of the honour your flow (their clearance section is good) and 6 of the Etsy ones plus about another 6 I don't like as much from various other places
One of the honour your flow can do me 6hrs which I would never have got with a disposable

@Wheresmykimchi

I'm sorry you felt the need to defend saying eww.

Being all PC and thoroughly proud of periods is one thing but in reality absolutely nobody should have to be touching someone else's period blood.

This would be a different thread if DH was leaving his dirty pants on top of clothes / expecting them dealt with.

I didn't know much about recyclable pads but this thread has thoroughly put me off I think.

Can’t see why, a quick rinse and they go in the wash. Nothing gross or disgusting, you could just put them on a quick rinse cycle on your machine before they were washed if you preferred. Much more comfortable, and less plastic waste every month than disposable pads.

Why would anyone use reusable pads when you can use period pants? I absolutely love mine it's been a complete liberation to just basically put a pair of knickers on and you're done

@ArabellaScott they’re going to be washed afterwards you know. Babys have survived perfectly well having nappies soaked in Milton.

There is nothing eeeewww about period blood. You had four children so should do your best to minimise environmental impact and reusable pads is the bare minimum. I hope you are more supportive and mature in real life rather than being “eeeeeeww” to deal with something super simple.

A big "nope" from me to her just chucking them in the laundry pile - it's disrespectful to the person (probably you) who'll end up having to deal with them. If she's old enough to be having periods she's old enough to know that's inappropriate.

My 12 year old rinses them with the shower head until the water runs clear (does a quick spray and rinse clean of the shower floor) then stashes them in a particular bucket in a cupboard in the bathroom - I just put them in a with normal load of laundry.

My daughter uses period knickers, they go straight into the washing machine (no need to rinse) we wash every day anyway. Nothing gross about it and no effect on the other clothes.

@OrangeSlices998 I think it's the thought of it chundering around in my machine

There is nothing eeeewww about period blood.

We do use reusable pads. But we rinse them and don’t chuck them in the laundry as they are. I have to say, there is plenty that is eeeeewwww about period blood. It’s blood and fluids with jellied clots. There is nothing pleasant about just tossing cloth with what looks like a crime scene in your laundry basket smeared all over. Nothing pleasant about having a period for that matter either. I am looking forward eagerly to menopause and not having it any more.

[quote Oreservoir]@ArabellaScott they’re going to be washed afterwards you know. Babys have survived perfectly well having nappies soaked in Milton.[/quote]
True. It was more the Vanish that worried me!

@GoldfishParade

Why would anyone use reusable pads when you can use period pants? I absolutely love mine it's been a complete liberation to just basically put a pair of knickers on and you're done

I like the idea of period pants but I'd worry about leaks on the heavier days. And smells. I've used tampons for 30 years though so I'm a bit set in my ways with this stuff.

What brands do you recommend?

UPDATE:

Have had a WONDERFUL chat with my 20 year old daughter. She's far ahead of me and is mortified that some of her pads ended up in the main wash. Whatever anyone may think is, for me irrelevant, I'm proud of her. She does wash them out (when I picked them up to wash I noticed they were wet, and being over the top squeamish about bodily fluids immediately assumed the worse - but should have realised that there was no redness to the 'pad') and is confused that some ended up in the main wash. Whatever! We've had a really lovely conversation and have discussed washable bags, investigated how long these can be left before requiring washing (without infections building up) and she's agreed to put these into to whatever low temperature wash is occuring (and I've agreed, when I remember!) to remind her.

Thank you all for helping me to have a difficult conversation with my eldest. Because of you its been far easier and now the pair of us are actively looking to find workable solutions and enable us to persuade DD2 to move across and be ready for when DD3 starts.

I've said that I will allow DD3 two months of disposables - but I suspect I'm making a rod for my own back. Should I look to using re-usables from the start??? If she doesn't start in the next 3 months feel I will have got my head around re-usables enough to be ready. Fingers crossed, because yes starting her on re-usables is the obvious way forward.

Once again thank you to everyone who has positively contributed. Including those that supported my 'ewww' and weirdly those that were slightly creeped out by it all - cos I am - but I understand that to the save the planet this has to be the way forward. Thanks Mumsnetters - one and all!

I fold mine up and put in a wet bag if out. Then rinse in cold water and sqeeze them then put in a tub with cold water and teatree oil to soak until i wash them. When i have a few days worth i wash with bath towels on a 60degree wash.