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Ethical living

Discover eco friendly brands and sustainable fashion on our Ethical Living forum.

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Original poster

Washable sanitary pads - icky / not icky?

81 replies

isaidno · 08/06/2008 21:02

While surfing sites for washable nappies I keep coming across washable sanitary towels.

I am interested, but wonder if they are really any good.

Can anyone recommend any?

I have considered a mooncup, but not convinced about that either...

OP posts:

mummypig · 31/12/2008 01:00

I have a mooncup (bought from F&Z) and it's great. Ds3 is only 6m so my periods haven't come back yet (and long may they stay away) but I used washable pads for my lochia once it had died down a bit. As BoyzntheShire says, motherhood has cured me of any ickiness I first felt. After all, even if you don't use washable nappies you are still dealing with body fluids day in day out. Using washable pads and washable nappies was so easy as they can all go in the wash together.

Deemented · 31/12/2008 14:58

I love my eco san pro - much better the disposable.

I've just invested in a Jam Sponge too, amnd amawaiting the return of my period after having my baby to use it...

littleducks · 31/12/2008 15:04

so do you wear the pads on a belt? how do you cope without sticky backing? i read about sanitary belts in judy blume books but have never seen one, and i need winged towels and they still wriggle!

AccidentalMum · 31/12/2008 15:04

Why on earth is it degrading?

I swear by Peeweez pads which popper back on themselves to transport when dirty.

chipmonkey · 31/12/2008 15:34

littleducks, you don't need a belt with most of them, they have wings with poppers.

littleducks · 31/12/2008 16:20

so they wrap around the gusset and popper onto themselves?

Deemented · 31/12/2008 16:24

Yup

fuzzywuzzy · 31/12/2008 16:26

Washable pads are pretty much shaped like disposable pads with wings. I prefer ones with fleece, they don't stain and wash very easily.

Here take a look

bloss · 31/12/2008 16:42

Message withdrawn

FeminineWear · 01/01/2009 03:03

Thanks, Fuzzywuzzy

Flihgtattendant · 01/01/2009 06:30

I use them, well I did when I had periods, am still bfing ds2.

I got mine from Green baby about 6 years ago. They are cool but not enough of them, imo - only got about 8 pads and some of those are liner size. I think I will get some more. They are much much nicer than disposable ones, in a 'you get what you see' type way, ie with the disp ones they kind of absorb everything and you don't know where it's gone

The fabric ones are a lot easier to comprehend iyswim. Though am not sure why this matters..

I would want to wrap them well if I was putting them in my handbag but then they are not bulky like disposables so it wouldn't take up much space.

BouncingTurtle · 01/01/2009 06:42

I've been thinking of switching to washable pads, I don't think I could consider a Mooncup (for personal reasons that I can't really discuss).
Blimey there is certainly many to choose from!
Do you need to soak them? I was thinking that I could just rinse them off and fling 'em in my dirty nappy bucket. And how many would you need - although I'm still bfing (periods came back at 9 weeks!!!) my periods are pretty normal, heavy for 2 days then last another 3-4.

Thanks.

Deemented · 01/01/2009 09:14

I have about 14 of them, in various absorbancies, and i usually do at least two washes during my period.

I rinse them under the sink and them soak them in a little lidded bucket - like a nappy bucket, only smaller - of cold water.

I use them out and about too, and i managed to pick up a small drawstring wetbag for jusp 79p from wilkinsons that i put used ones in until i get home.

fuzzywuzzy · 01/01/2009 12:52

Bouncingturtle- I rinse them out by hand and then put them in the nappy bucket and run two washes in total durig my periods. I've only got plain white ones and non have stains or anything.
I think how many you need depends completely on your cycle, buy a few different kinds and see which ones you get on with, if your handy with a sewing maching you could prolly pull a pattern off the internet and make your own.

Femininewear- Do you know it never even clicked about the website I linked too, just used that website as I've recently used it and got great service (I don't work for the websit promise lol)!!!

FeminineWear · 01/01/2009 18:08

Lol Fuzzywuzzy, that's great, glad you were pleased with the service, whichever customer you were!!

I personally use about 12 different pads, well, I have to test them, don't I???
I rinse them and soak them in a bucket of cold water. If I don't soak them and just put lightly soiled ones in the machine, they seem to hold the stain. So, I would recommend soaking first.

kiera · 01/01/2009 18:18

I tried the mooncup a few months ago and have never looked back since

MamaBear76 · 01/01/2009 21:23

I have just found out about Mooncups by browsing around MN and finding this thread. I didnt even know they existed! I am interested in it, but which one and what size? I would rather buy online as I am a bit shy. Any advice please?

FeminineWear · 02/01/2009 00:09

Mooncups come in 2 sizes, "a" and "b"

"a" for women who have given birth vaginally or who have had a caesarean and are aged 30 and above.
"b" for women who have not give birth or who have had a caesarean section and are under 30.
Does that help?

katch · 02/01/2009 00:13

Another vote for Mooncup. Amazing - even seems to reduce cramps.

Ratface · 02/01/2009 00:21

i have not gotten on with mooncups (i bite my nails so its a bugger to get a grip on the fucker to yank it out as it happens)
BUT i do love softcup thingies ta daaa as they are MUCH easier to get in and out and i can rinse and reuse one for each period.
reduces period pain like the mooncup does. and apparently you can even have sex with it in.

i do have washable pads as well. hell, i had to use washable nappies for a bit and once youve done that, then pads are about a 0.2 on the richter scale of ickiness ime.

would personally recommend:
-black coloured topping (no stains will show) i like minki coz its silky soft.
-bamboo inner - is most absorbent fabric, so thinner towel needed.
-wool backing - is breathable. makes a differnece to comfort, trust me.

you can get those from that bumfluff website too, just mail them if you cant find it on site.

hth

morocco · 03/01/2009 17:05

I bought a few washables in the end, from weenotions, they're great. not gross at all, in fact they feel 'nicer' than dispies do and are dead easy to wash. no stains either (but have gone for dark violet pattern so that could be why). no leaks. much much better than I ever thought they would be and far superior in performance to dispies

MamaBear76 · 03/01/2009 19:34

Please excuse my naievity but why would you wear a mooncup when you are not menstrating? To collect discharge? Can you really wear them during sex?!

Doesn't the collected blood smell?

morningpaper · 03/01/2009 19:37

I do feel that if DH had to launder my soiled washable sanitary towels, I would lose some of my feminine mystique

Mooncups a-go-go chez MP

Ratface · 03/01/2009 23:23

mine are from weenotions too morocco. via bumfluff nappies.

mamabear - were those questions to me about the softcups? if so, ive no idea why anyone would wear one when not mentruating, think you must have wrong end of stick there.
it says you can wear them during sex... i havent tried it personally so couldnt vouch for it.
and no, collected blood doesnt smell. its still inside you, in the same way it would be with a tampon, so you cant smell anything outside of you. and when you take it out, i havent noticed any smell either. i just tip down the loo, reach into the sink and rinse it out and put it back. i have fairly light periods too and need to change it far less often that i would a tampon. and they dont dry you out like a tampon does, hence less period pain.

i dont let anyone but me wash my washable pads MP, my sense of dignity wont allow it

nappyaddict · 09/01/2009 15:46

If you use a softcup during sex does it stop you getting wet when turned on? Cos if it does won't it be dry and therefore quite painful?

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