Period pants moan/advice needed

[gas1]

I've got twin girls aged 13 who have started their periods in the last year. They were having a lot of leakages using conventional sanitary towels so I invested in some Wuka heavy flow period pants - not cheap, especially when buying for two. Wuka claims that they're a more environmental solution than towels and suggest the initial outlay will be made back because you'll save on buying towels. I really haven't found this to be the case and I'm interested in how others are getting on. I don't have a problem with the performance of the pants, but the washing palaver is really getting me down.
The advice is to rinse them under cold water until the water runs clear, but this takes a real effort - at least 5 minutes a time, with so much wringing while doing it that I've actually developed an RSI in my wrist from it! Even then, the water isn't clear, just less bad. The particular pants I've got are supposed to be washed by hand but I put them in the washing machine anyway as I think it would be impossible to get them clean by hand. I've tried to get my girls to wash them themselves, but they need to change them in morning before school and also before bed, which are stressful enough times as it is! We've ended up using them with sanitary towels as well, to minimise the effort of handwashing. Without that I'd be using my washing machine every day, on top of running the tap for ages to rinse them - hardly environmentally friendly! Either that, or leave them in a bucket or plastic bag and do one wash at the end of the week, but that seems really icky to me.
The girls are reluctant to use tampons and I don't blame them as I was quite a bit older than them when I started to use them, so that's not an option.
The reviews on Wuka are really positive. I just wonder what I'm missing here?

I am surprised how many people don't rinse at all. On my heavier days, I feel like even with heavy duty ones the blood is really soaked in and needs that rinse.

Having said that, I long ago stopped excessive rinsing or hand washing. I do a quick rinse just to get the really hard-core blood out then in a wet bag and in with the next load of darks. I like the idea of rinsing in the shower! Might do that. My biggest problem is that my wet bag is too small - I need to buy one of a decent size!

My 11 year old started her periods a few months ago, and period pants have been brilliant for her. She has a mix of modi bodi and wuka, as well as reusable pads. We just store in a wetbag and wash every other day. I run a rinse cycle first (with the pants and pads only), then a 30° cycle with anything else that needs washing. I don't find it a hassle at all.

I rinse mine in cool water then ring them out and hang them over the heated towel rail. When dry I throw them into the laundry pile. That way I can wait til I have a few pairs, or even wait til the end of my period and wash them all together. I bought a set of 7 from Modi-Bodi 5 years ago and they’re still going strong.

I just chuck them on a rinse cycle in the washing machine.

They are expensive, however if you’re eligible for a Blue Light Card, WUKA do 10% off.

Why are you washing your child's bloody knickers, that's for them to do, they're old enough.

Personally, I put mine in the bottom of the shower and whilst showering let them soak and rinse that way. They then get popped in the machine. Much easier.

What @NannyR said! Even down to the brand - DD has the bamboo shorts and they are fab and cheaper than other brands (I had modibodi initially and the leg elastic wrinkled after only a few washes).

@familyissues12345 sizing is fairly accurate. It goes 4-6, 6-8, 8-10, 10-12, etc.
My children and myself base it on our average size in shops, and that is working well for us.

Thanks to everyone for replying to my thread. There are some really useful tips here! Moving forward, I've now bought a wet bag so the girls can store them until they're ready to rinse them, and I'll not be so hung up about rinsing until the water's clear. A cold pre wash in the machine is also a good idea.

Sorry - can I ask a question to those of you that chuck them in with your usual dark wash?

Do you not use fabric conditioner?

I'm pretty sure I read that fabric conditioner breaks down the effectiveness of their absorbency?

Def no fabric conditioner.

I chuck them in with the normal wash (no fabric conditioner) but I also strip wash them once every few months.

It's worth noting that most period pant places suggest they need to be replaced after 12 months.

Yes I would! It sounds horrible to just throw them in the wash, especially with other clothes.

I usually use fabric softener, but if there’s period pants in the load then I don’t.

Every few months or so, I wash all od my period pants together and add a scoop of vanish, not for stains, more to kill off any lingering bacteria.

I put them in the normal wash but don't use fabric conditioner. To be honest, I can't say I noticed the difference with the other clothes in the wash!

I just have a (dry) bucket in the bathroom for everyone to chuck them into, then I use the rinse cycle on the washing machine, then wash with other darks.

I do all the washing at home, seems inefficient for people to be putting on their own separate loads in the machine. But I would probably draw the line at rinsing by hand and ask my Dds to do that themselves. But no need when the washing machine has a setting that says “rinse”.

Store in a waterproof bag and wash all together at the end of the period. I put DDs in the machine alone on a quick cold wash which rinses them, then was as normal in a full load. Always come out clean and never smell bad (she does only have black ones though!).
On her heaviest day she uses a pad and period knickers as she finds that works best for school to give her confidence that she won't leak.
I use reusable pads with a mooncup and just rinse the pads while I'm in the shower so it's not wasting any water.

DD uses M&S heavy flow and they just go in with the darks like towels and other undies. Never rinsed them.

We don't use fabric softener

Thanks @NCembarassed

Yes should be the girls doing their own washing!

I don’t necessarily agree with this. It is fine for parents who want to ask their children to do this but also fine for parents to provide that level of support for their children whilst they are studying. Different approaches are ok. I don’t believe in ‘should’ in terms of approaches to parenting. Op can choose to run her household however she wants!

Modibodi here:

we don't rinse by hand, we store them in a bag and when there are enough we do a pre-rinse and then a cold wash with bio washing powder.

I think there are 3 of the 30 period pants we have in total where the fabric broke down and DD had leaks over the last 6 years.

DD wears hers with a pad first and removes the pad during break. But only for her really heavy days. She changes when she is back home and then before bed.

I to the same when I have to be in-office, otherwise I change the pants at home around lunchtime or early afternoon, depending on the flow.

Same! DD has M&S ones and I even tumble dry them, they seem to last just fine.

I've been using them for a while and my routine is now...

Walk into the shower still wearing them (addresses the issue of potentially leaking on the floor), take them off and rinse them while I'm rinsing my body in the shower pre-washing. Wring them out and fold them into a pile in the corner of the (walk in) shower. Probably only appropriate because it's an ensuite shower that only myself and DH use. He's not bothered anyway. I then leave them there to get wet twice daily until my period is finished because I've learnt that letting them dry out or fester without regular rinsing creates a smell that I just cannot cope with. I tried storing them in a sealable waterproof plastic pouch and the smell whenever I added to it or emptied it was terrible and also stayed on them even after washing in the machine. I did try adding white vinegar to the bag which kind of helped but it seemed pointless when you can leave them soaking in water. Previous posters recommend a bucket so in absence of a private en suite shower, I'd do that if I were you. And then wash the lot at the end of the week. Personally I'd never wash them with the household washing because A. I believe the composition doesn't take well to fabric conditioner and B. The amount of blood I end up writing out is just astounding and I can't imagine that volume being soaked through everyone else's washing tbh.