Washing Cloth Sanitary Pads

[Howdyhihi]

I switched to CSP a couple of cycles ago. I'm slowly building up a collection. I have some that are cheap and cheerful bamboo topped ones and others that are cotton. The bamboo ones wash really well and never stain but the cotton ones stain unless I scrub them with stain remover and even then they aren't exactly as good as new.

One of the reasons I changed to CSP was because I wanted to avoid harsh chemicals. The stain remover seems to be defeating the point, though I did use bicarb on a few and that worked, but worry about the impact of that on my PH.

I keep them in a wet bag for no more than 2 days, put them on a rinse cycle, let them stay in the water for a bit before draining and then wash at 20. I used to rinse each one out immediately after use but honestly, I found it gross and the cotton ones still stained.

Everywhere I look online is insistent that they shouldn't stain. Please someone, tell me that theirs are also a bit stained and that that's okay. Or let me know a step that I'm missing in caring for them!

Mine are definitely a bit stained!

I put a scoop of vanish in with mine which seems to keep them fresh and soft.
Not sure if that would be too chemical for you though?
I switched a few years ago as disposables started to irritate me dreadfully and it was awful!

Could you hang them on the line on a sunny day, I recall that did wonders with washable nappies.

Also a bit stained is fine as no one else is going to see them

The old fashioned method would be to put them in cold salt water for a few hours then wash at 40 degrees.

I soak mine in salty water (old margarine tub!) And then chuck in with anything I'm washing at 60. I wonder if washing at 20 may be too low for the stain? Also, dry them in daylight where possible as even low levels of sunlight can massively improve biological stains.

I agree with pps. We hang resuable nappies in the sun and they get bleached well. My DH was most impressed when he saw for the first time! It even worked today and it wasn't particularly sunny.

I chose dark coloured fleece topped pads to avoid this. The cotton will stain and bleach (if you are acidic, as many women are).

Thanks for the replies!

I've never tried vanish, I get yeast infections really easily which is why we use a really boring non-bio washing powder. Though saying that I haven't had an adverse reaction to the stain remover so maybe it's worth a try.

OrigamiZoo we live in a flat at the moment that doesn't have a washing line. When it starts getting sunnier I plan to put the airer by the window and hope that has the same effect!

I use cotton ones and they don't seem to stain. I have a small bucket with a lid that I keep under my sink and I put the used ones in there with some cold water. I change the water every day. At the end of my period I put them on a short, cold rinse cycle, then add the rest of my laundry and wash with bio powder on a 30 wash.

I've also got a set in the post which are cotton but have a black top so they shouldn't discolour! I've found that I can be a bit irritated by the fleece texture sometimes whereas cotton ones are more similar to normal pants.

I adore the fleece- I get very irritated, and the fleece is so comfy. I don't think it's standard fleece though, it's not at all prickly.

I got black ones!

My flow isn't heavy when it happens anyway (Mirena coil) so I just chuck them in a dark wash. If I was worried about stains I'd probably treat them like bloodstains on clothes and sheets - soak in cold water, then wash the stain with hand soap, then 20 degree wash with normal detergent. (I read somewhere that this was the best way to get bloodstains out of sheets after dc 3 had a particularly gruesome overnight nosebleed) as higher temperature 'sets' the stain due to proteins in the blood. Don't tumble dry either.

Sorry lots of cross posts!

I've heard that washing at higher temperatures sets the stain which means it'll never come out. At least that's what I've read online. maybe I'll do some experimenting at different temperatures and just chuck them in with the normal wash.

I haven't figured out a way to discretely soak them. At least I'd be horrified if a guest opened the tub in the bathroom or if a DC thought it would be fun to play with.

Could you use fabric dye to change the colour? The chemicals from the dye would wash out but leave a better colour than white, which obviously stains easily.

I have black charcoal CSP which are great as they never stain!

I just dab on a bit of bleach as I tried lots of eco cleaners and found none of them worked.

Can I ask where you are buying them please ladies?
I have some but I'm not overly impressed and I can't wear them when I'm out of the house.

I buy mine from Earthwise Girls and Minivivi

Have you tried the ones from Cheeky wipes? I have also had quite a few from Etsy, I really like Novel Red and Imse Vimse.

Also Eco Femme and Honour your flow.

I have ones from cheeky wipes & a box for soaking them in. I also rinse them out after use & still some of them are a little stained. Doesn't bother me though - they smell clean!

@MumOfTwoMasterOfNone

These are the bamboo ones that wash really well and very reasonably priced.

www.amazon.co.uk/Rovtop-Reusable-Sanitary-Washable-Menstrual/dp/B07CZ93GCT/ref=sr_1_6?s=gateway&crid=2OHMDDDSCHOQ6&keywords=cloth+sanitary+pad&sprefix=cloth+san%2Caps%2C160&tag=mumsnetforu03-21&qid=1553788994&sr=8-6

Thank you! I have the ones from cheeky wipes but I'm not too impressed, I can't go out in them as they ride up in spectacular fashion no matter what underwear I'm wearing
I use them at night though and they're largely ok

I find I need quite snug knickers to hold them in place.

I'm in the process of washing my first pair of waka period knickers. They are quite expensive, at £25 a pair, but I have been impressed with them so far.