Getting stressed with Mooncup/reusable sanitary pads/wipes

[MissMrsMummy]

I am trying my very best to be more 'green' by using the above-mentioned products but I am finding it quite hard and time-consuming. I am hoping someone may be able to help with the following issues I'm experiencing as I really want to stick with these methods.

• Mooncup leaks. I have had a replacement in a different size from Mooncup but it still disappears up inside me and leaks. How do I get it to stay in position?!

• Mooncup is messy to use. I get blood all over my fingers when emptying it and I have to bleach the toilet (which is not Eco-friendly) after I have emptied my cup as all the blood collects in the bottom even after flushing. I also feel like I need to disinfect the wash basin after rinsing my cup as it's had blood in it. Do I?!

• My cloth pads slip around in my knickers so I have to use a safety pin, which is annoying.

• The box in which I keep my used sanitary pads and cloth wipes constantly needs the water changing (every day?) and I get in a mess trying to transfer the used pads and wipes to the washing machine as I am worried about bacteria and blood getting on things. I have to clean the box with Dettol when I wash the pads etc as it gets stained with blood and I feel it is unclean. I don't have children so I do not do a nappy wash or anything so washing the pads and wipes is not very frequent.

• My sanitary pads are stained a bit and I can't get the stains out. I soak them in cold water immediately after use as advised and then wash them with stain remover for whites and laundry disinfectant.

Basically I am finding the Mooncup messy and am very worried about the blood/bacteria from my pads just lying around in a box and then I don't know how to get them to the washing machine. It's all just a bit gross!

Any advice welcome..

I don't think the mooncup works for everyone but it certainly never leaks for me. I have to change it quite regularly as I have very heavy periods.
You need to create a seal when you put it in so you should squeeze the air Mooncup as you push it in. When you release the Mooncup it should form a seal.

There is no need to have to repeatedly flush the toilet after pouring the blood into it. If you put some toilet paper in first and pour the blood onto it it should flush away first time.

You also don't need to sterilise the sink. The blood is 'clean' - you just need to wash it away.

I have used my Mooncup for a year or so and have got a lot better at it. I still can make a bit of a mess but it's definitely worth it for me. I carry a little bottle of water with me so I can empty it when I am out and about. If possible I use a stall with a wash hand basin in it but if I can't then I can manage ok.

If the Mooncup really won't fit you you could try another brand.

I still use a pad a night but only because my periods are so heavy. In the daytime I am leak free.

If you get the Mooncup up and running you may only need to use panty liners so maybe you could justify using disposable ones if you only were using one little one a day?

I'm a Mooncup fan if you can't tell

Hiya, I think some people keep their pads in an ice cream or lidded box near the toilet (with water and a bit of tea tree oil), so you don't look at the gross stuff. The lid might help you get it to your machine without spills. I just chuck them in with my usual washing, and I don't soak them. I see it as cleaner than letting the blood fester for a few days in a tub. I probably do a load of washing a day though as I have kids - and I don't have enough pads to last a cycle if I don't wash them quickly.

I bought black pads as all of my underwear is black, so staining doesn't matter and I got ones that popper under your knickers so they stay put - www.honouryourflow.co.uk/black-bamboo-velour-slim-pad---regular-1779-p.asp These are really soft and wash well.

I didn't mind my mooncup, I just washed with soap and water and boiled at end of each period before packing away for next time. But I chucked it when I got pregnant last time and prefer reusable pads. I didn't disinfect my sink after cleaning it, just soap and water until everything - sink and mooncup came clean.

I rinse pads out in cold water (which helps reduce staining) and then squeeze the water out and then I just add them to my normal wash - I find that they get washed regulary and no need for any tubs of dirty soaking pads (not that I have anywhere to put a tub in my bathroom!). There's no need for laundry disinfectant and I don't use any whiteners or anything, I have a couple with slight stains but no-one but me sees it and it is for my period not "best undies"! You don't need to sterilise the sink, just wash it out as you wash your hands.

Mooncup - I much prefer to pads! I only get leakage on the heaviest first couple of days and that's when I use a pad as backup plus I empty the mooncup more often on those days which helps reduce any leakage. Any blood left in the toilet after flushing does wash away in the next flush so I drop a bit of loo paper into the bowl after the first flush just to "hide it" till the toilet is next flushed. When out and about I use either toilet paper or baby wipes to just give it a quick wipe and then pop back in ( baby wipes good for my hands to if I get messy) but at home, I rinse it out in the sink. I wash the mooncup in soapy water at the end of my period and I sterilise in a pot of boiling water before I put it away.

I had same problem with mooncup, I have sacked it off as I was just resorting to more pads/emergency tampons which totally defeated the object!
I've just discovered sea sponge "tampons" and I'm much happier with them, although you do have to be comfortable with your own blood as you have to rinse them under the tap.

OP you sound like what I would be like if I used a Mooncup or reusable towels. Thats why I can't get myself to do it!

Hullo.... Am researching reusable pads but not quite brave enough to actually go for it yet! Can anyone tell me - do they feel wet when you use them? I just have this image of carrying around a soggy bit of mush in my pants all day. I know this is pretty much what normal disposable pads can be like but because the reusable ones are fabric does the wetness spread more?

I used a mooncup and a meluna cup and reusable pads and tried so hard, but even after 6 months the bathroom was still a blood bath each time I emptied it, It was impossible to do in a public loo. My periods are very heavy, I had to empty it every hour and it was just too much hard work.

I have a mooncup and reusable pads. I wouldn't go back to disposable pads or tampons. I use a pad with my mooncup because it leaks a little on heavy days. On lighter days I just use the pads. Rinse the mooncup under the cold tap each time I empty it and sterilise it in milton at the end of My period. I rinse the pads under cold water, and leave them in an old nappy pail til I do some washing. You do have to get your hands dirty but it washes off. Saves a fortune and no leaks ever with the reusable pads.

I think you might need to relax a little ont he cleaning front

I prefer pads with a more textured fabric backing, eco rainbow for example. I find they don't slip around. Can't say I've had too much trouble with others though. We get through a lot of big 1l tubs of yoghurt and big 1kg tubs of stork (baking). We wash and use tubs for leftovers and stuff but they stack up and sometimes we need ot get rid of some in the recycling so I use them for my pads. I just cold water soak and pop in with normal washing, usually with nappies, towels or bedding rather than clothing. Quick rinse of tub and in the recycling. How to get to the machine? Well I just pick up the tub and tip it into the machine . And staining doesn't matter, it is a pad, I don't go around showing it off to people.

Blood down the loo with a cup. Pop a bit of loo roll down then empty cup on top of paper. Or, chin up and leave the collected blood. It will go after a couple more flushes and hey, women have periods and periods involve blood. So what if there is a bit of blood in the otherwise freshly flushed loo after a woman has used it?

Can't say I find emptying a cup particularly messy as the blood has been going in to the cup so vaginal walls are largely blood free.

Regarding the cup working for you or not, mooncup never worked well for me but I have a meluna that is fab. Different people get on with different cups.

Doh! TOtally missed that this was a zombie thread. This is why the zombie warning needs to stay for longer!

mooncups are supposed to disappear up inside you. Where have you been trying to place it? A the entrance?

I'm so glad I went for the coil. I am saving a fortune on these products. May be worth considering these long term options?

I use a mooncup and also a bit squeamish about germs. Some things I do:

A bit of loo roll down toilet first to catch the blood that might otherwise linger at bottom of bowl, at least if I'm in a public loo. Or if it does linger usually a brush with loo brush is enough no need for bleach.

Change it sitting on loo and have another bit of loo roll ready to catch any leaks as you remove.

I prefer to empty mine over bath than in basin when at home. Like pp said the blood is clean but I'd still rather not splatter it on the toothbrushes. But it's only the first couple days I need to empty it more than morning and night and then I can do it in shower anyway.

I find it works best if I use it for my whole period. I used to take it out overnight at first but then there would be leaks in the morning (not really leaks I guess but blood that was already further down).

I wash with soap and water at end of period and sterilise with Milton's just before I use it.

This keeps me happy as a slight germ-phobic. I even let mumsnet persuade me on a previous thread that it was okay to use again after I dropped it down loo at work (once I had sterilised it). I think it is good for me!

But let yourself off the hook too. If it doesn't work maybe it's just not for you. You could compromise at organic unbleached cotton disposable products? Still going to landfill but at least not making as much of an impact as brand leader sanpro in manufacture.