Reusable sanitary pads

[Louthemoo20]

Has anyone used reusable sanitary pads? What are the practicalities day to day, particularly when out and about? I'm not sure I'll be comfortable washing them out in the sink at work so do you carry them around all day? Not sure hubby would be keen on the idea of them in the wash with our clothes either. Any advice appreciated.

I use cloth pads. I carry a small wet bag in my handbag to put used ones into. No need to rinse them!

I wash them with underwear, or cloth nappies; a lot of people wash them with towels. There's always the option of putting them on a rinse cycle on their own first to get the worst of the blood out.

I've got the Charlie Banana ones having read lots of good reviews. They are... Ok. They are a bit thick and they move about a bit so I end up just wearing them at home really. They have snapper fastenings and sort of fold in on themselves to keep everything clean, then they go into a little zippy bag, so from that perspective they are easy to use. I usually wash mine with the reusable nappies and wipes.

I would wash them with the normal dark wash and just not tell DH though

I've used them for years, both for menstruation and stress incontinence. Absolutely great for me, so much more comfortable than disposables and much needed after hormone issues made using a cup too uncomfortable.

Many places that sell them also sell bags with pockets to store clean and used ones separately for carrying when out. I've never washed them out in the sink, whether at home or when out and about, though sometimes I do dry them a bit with some toilet paper.

I've never had an issue when out and about or with the washing. I actually have a set of pants I use mostly just with them so those I change at home, I often just toss the pad with pants still attached into the washing machine and hang dry them that way. I wash them with the rest of the laundry, whether towel or clothes, and have never had an issue. Neither my spouse, my lodger (male) or my somewhat squeamish teen son or anyone else had made any comment, I think they don't particularly notice even when my spouse or teen does the laundry.

I’ve just had my first cycle with them. I found them really easy. They came with wet bag for out and out but at home quick rinse then shoved in the wash with darks.
Think I may end up getting some longer ones for night time.

I use them for stress incontinence - I have five cloth mama ones, and five that I can’t remember the brand of. I find them comfortable to wear, and as I don’t work, I always change them at home, so I just keep a waterproof bag by the loo, to put them in.

I tend to wash them by themselves, whilst dh is away for work - he was mildly freaked out by the thought of reusable, and does most of the laundry, so I think it’s fairer for him not to have to deal with them. They just go through a normal wash, and I tumble dry them.

Where do you get them from?

If people could recommend which brand they use that would be really helpful - there's so much choice I don't know which to go for

I use period pants from Cheeky Wipes. They're great.

I use cloth pads. I carry a small wet bag with a clean pad in, and then when I change the used one goes in the bag and I carry it with me. It goes in the little zipped bit of my handbag, never smells and no one would know it's there.

I know some people soak used pads in a bucket between washes. My system is a bit different because I don't have anywhere to keep a tub or bucket daily. I put them in a swimwear bag, until there are six or seven in there and then soak them for an hour in a bucket of warm water with vanish. Then wash at 30c without normal detergent, no softener (using softener makes them less absorbent apparently)

I usually manage this system ok when away from home, but did have to revert to normal sanpro when away for 10 days last year. It was just too long to leave them unwashed.

I got mine on eBay, but cloth mamas do have their own site.

That should say WITH normal detergent. I use fairy non bio.

I have some from a brand called imsee vimsee and had some others custom made. It was about £140 outlay at first but I have about 15 pads now so can go almost my whole period without using the same one twice. Have a look at earth girls website.

I used to when I had the dc in cloth nappies but it fell by the wayside a bit once they toilet trained. I used to have a wee zipped wet bag I took to work to put used ones in.

I got a starter kit from - honour you flow (ignore the name), I like them a lot. I bung them in with my clothes wash and if I’ve had a very heavy day I rinse them in cold water before hand. DH doesn’t need to worry! Everything comes out clean! I’m sure the washing machine has seen worse.
Have a similar system to pisspawpatrol. Honestly they’re not gross and I’ve really noticed how much waste I’m saving on.

I have some cheap ones off ebay, £7 something for a pack of 6 and a bag. I am using them from day 3-5 only, when my period is light enough to not have to change them at lunch. Putting them in with the washing is no different to underwear really.

I like Minivivi.