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.

Love reusable pads! So comfortable and none of that odour you get with disposables. I rinse mine out after use and chuck them in the machine ready for a wash to go on. On heavier days I do use a tampon as well (natural organic no bleach ones) because I'm not at moon cup confidence yet.

Thanks for the update @Wills, great outcome :) you sound like a lovely family

@DuchessSilver

Thanks for the update *@Wills*, great outcome :) you sound like a lovely family

thank you.

@pinfloy

I don't understand the rinsing to be honest, wetting something and leaving it damp is much more likely to lead to something smelly ime.

It’s to help avoid staining if you are not going to wash straightaway. It’s much easier to get fresh blood out than dried blood.

I'm not too fussed about stains to be honest, I'm the only one seeing them! Having said that, mine don't have any visible staining.

Isnt it great how women always get the dirty end of the stick. Periods and childbirth may be "natural" but they are also disgusting, messy and degrading. Men dont have anything equivalent to inconvenience them. Its a pity that with all our science we have not yet found a way around all this.

It's good of you to think of the planet and encourage re-usable pads but surely doing 14 loads of washing per week kind of cancels it out!

I keep them in a small pot of cold water then wash by hand sometimes or in the washing machine in my building's basement.

For my younger sister's I switched them to 100% biodegradeable by the company time of the month, as I know they won't be able to deal with the washing.

@VapeVamp12

It's good of you to think of the planet and encourage re-usable pads but surely doing 14 loads of washing per week kind of cancels it out!

Well I'll be honest since lockdown its probably coming down since I've just realised that my son is wearing the same PJs that he was wearing Tuesday - that wouldn't seem too bad, except I mean he's worn them around the clock since Monday night! Should I leave him, or demand he strips and whilst he goes into the shower (he's a soap dodger too) pick up said PJs with tongs and a peg on my nose. So the big question now is - should I wash with other clothes, on their own (cos my eldest's pads have got to be a lot cleaner than his PJ bottoms) or simply put in the bin? Which is better for the environment?

Have a container that sits outdoors until the wash goes on. In this weather they'll be kept cold and thus won't fester. In the summer- well, at least they'll be outside the house.

We keep anold small saucepan in the bathroom for transporting such items (washable nappies/soiled pants on our case) to the outdoors container.

@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.

What is your DH doing with his pants? In an earlier post you mentioned 'shitey boxers' not envy. Underwear is not supposed to be toilet roll, I'd be surprised and pretty disgusted to see that kind of evidence on DH's underwear. I do all the laundry here, including my reusable pads which are rinsed in cold water (to get rid of blood, no visible stains as they are dark bamboo fabric) and washed in a hot wash with towels.

I did have a mooncup but find the reusable pads more comfortable. To PP with heavy periods I find reusable pads better than disposables. Some places do starter packs, even if you have a few that's less going to landfill and hopefully a more comfortable solution for you.

@PercyPiginaWig my DP is really clean . I was being flippant

Just hand wash them as soon as they’re used? I wouldn’t leave them in the laundry basket

Glad to hear it @Wheresmykimchi I thought you had a right minger for a husband since you mentioned it twice.

The pads are really not as gross as you'd think but I definitely wouldn't put them in the wash without rinsing.

@PercyPiginaWig

Glad to hear it *@Wheresmykimchi* I thought you had a right minger for a husband since you mentioned it twice.

The pads are really not as gross as you'd think but I definitely wouldn't put them in the wash without rinsing.

I made the same hypothetical point twice to different posters.

Not a fan but just IMO.

My 21 year old dd says her modibodi pants have been amazing, so comfortable. Quite expensive though.

Lovely update OP. If you don’t mind me asking what you do need to get your head around in terms of reusables? You use them as a disposable, rinse, wash? Have a look at something like wearemout pads, you can buy them on next and other places.

[quote Wheresmykimchi]@OrangeSlices998 I think it's the thought of it chundering around in my machine[/quote]
What chundering in the machine? I really don’t get it sorry, you rinse them, they get washed, whatever you washed out of them is drained away. Maybe because I use reusable wipes & nappies too it doesn’t seem odd to me. It’s so peculiar to me personally that disposables (nappies/wipes/san pro) are so normal when we have it so convenient to use them compared to our grandparents or great grandparents for example.

Just ordered my eldest some pads off the back of this thread.

@Lambside

Just ordered my eldest some pads off the back of this thread.

Which site did you decide on?

Wills I went back to www.honouryourflow.co.uk

Get her a separate container or wet bag for them. It doesn’t have to be embarrassing or anything, just say it’s better they go in with towels/flannels because if you put them in with a bundle of clothes and they get fabric conditioner on they’ll leak. She won’t want that.

Think you have lots of suggestions on here - I use a wet/dry bag in bathroom. Dry section for clean pads, ‘wet’ section for used pads, folded in on themselves. Used pads go on cold rinse cycle in machine every day or two them washed with normal load (no fabric conditioner). Easy and simple and lighter on the environment.