Do any of you use cloth sanitary pads? Whats your experience?
No. In fact, the thought has never crossed my mind. The thought of that sloshing around in my front loader is just too much.
I have to admit, I have never tried them. I try to be as environmentally friendly as most, (and more so than many). I recycle trash, I donate items, and I try to leave as little a footprint as I can.
I draw the line here! I no longer have to worry (post menopause here), but when I had cycles, I loved tampons and disposable sanitary pads. I might have considered a 'cup' at some point, but by the time I heard of them, I no longer needed them.
I love living in this century for many reasons...but disposable feminine hygiene products are probably near the top of my list!
I have used them. They are softer than the other kind, but can be a mess to clean. I opted for natural, unbleached one (not cloth, in the box). If you decide to try this, don't buy the unbleached ones at the regular grocery store though - they are rough and hurt. Get the ones from the natural food store. It's more money, but if the person using them needs something non-irritating, it's worth it.
ETA: Many folks here will claim EVERYONE can use tampons and if you can't, then you're doing it wrong. I am not a complete idiot and have had spells in life when I could use tampons just fine and spells when I was just too darn fragile, sensitive, dealing with too many health issues for them to be an option. I don't usually like to share that, but I do get tired of hearing "you must have been inserting them wrong" from people who didn't have to spend years of their younger days getting weekly pelvic exams and crying the whole time because it was that painful.
Anyway- I do think the cloth pads may be a good option in such cases, but then you have to be sooooo careful about bleaching them, because then you are still going to deal with irritation. I don't need any of this anymore (yay?) but I do recommend getting pads, if you need something super duper soft and non-irritating, as noted above.
I did end up reasonably healthy and took two reasonably healthy pregnancies to term, which brought 2 of my 3 lovely sons into the world. But yeah, I had to be incredibly cautious since almost anything could have caused a flare-up and irritation and external bleeding.
Do you want you need to do and be well.
Good luck,
e
M.
No. I did not use cloth sanitary pads. I don't think they "save the environment" as you are still using water to clean them. Isn't Massachusetts in a drought? Why would you want to consume MORE of a limited natural resource by cleaning a sanitary pad?
Do I know anyone who has used them? Yes. They said their yeast infections decreased. However, the cleaning and having enough on hand as well as leakage. For heavier periods? They had problems with leakage.
Good luck!
A lady in my neighbourhood has gone into business making these and has been very successful. I think they are a great idea, but I haven't tried them. My issue is that I have been having extremely heavy periods and have to change tampon and pad every hour, so I definitely wouldn't be able to keep up with cloth. I bought the cup and besides the fact that it was super uncomfortable it also couldn't keep up with my flow.
ETA: I don't see how this is any more gross than cloth diapers. Our planet is not going to sustain our population much longer if we don't get over ourselves and change the way we do things!
ETA: Really, the amount of soap and water used to wash these would be very minimal. I can't imagine anyone would generate more than one load of laundry per cycle, and with high efficiency washers that translates to very little soap and water being used!
I have a friend who is as crunchy as they come- sees her own clog diapers, grows her own veggies, recycles everything, etc.
She did do the cloth pads for a while, but even she wasn't a fan. She wound up switching to a menustral cup instead. maybe that would be a better option if going green/saving money is your goal. If you really need to use pads, I would say to go ahead and try it. If you decide you like them, I would probably get a diaper sprayer so you can rinse them straight into the toilet to keep so much of the ick factor out of your washing machine.
I think it's a great idea in theory- less chemicals, greener option, saves money... But I really prefer the convenience of tampons and cups. :)
Please don't say you are forcing a teen to use these methods.
There is a time and place for "going green" but please.... Not this. Even in my day this was old and forgotten due to convenience factors.
Most teens use tampons so they can go about their daily routines.
Sounds gross! Why would anyone use cloth sanitary pads when there are tampons.
Nope!!
Didn't even know they still made 'em...thought they only exiisted in my grandma's day...but, I agree; I too draw the line in regards to feminine hygiene! Even if had known they were around when I needed them, I would have taken a rain check and stuck with disposable.
Yes!
I have been using them as my back up method (cup being primary) for years. I love them. I save a ton of money and love that they are breathable and non-sticky -- and that they don't contribute to landfill.
Easy care: rinse well immediately after use (bring sealable bag with you if you're on the go). Hang to dry. Then wash on hot with your whites with a combination of detergent/borax booster and non-chlorine bleach. Use an extra rinse cycle if you're concerned about sensitivity to bleach, etc.
And my editorial comment: I might be fanning the flames of indignation here, but I find it lame that so many people would post "ick" and other squeamish comments. A women's monthly flow is normal and cleansing -- nature's gift that helps us naturally detox, and indicates fertility and life-giving powers. It's something most of us have for multiple decades of our lives. I am disturbed by how many people seem to view something so ordinary as "dirty" -- what messages does this send to our children about their bodies?
Fact is, nobody is as hygienic as they think, and even so-called hygiene products are proving themselves to disrupt be unsafe. For example: http://www.huffingtonpost.com/2013/11/08/personal-hygiene...
Personally? Bleccch.
But this has been asked here a few times.
Use the search feature to find more information.
Here's O.:
http://www.mamapedia.com/questions/12716209697737342977
Here's another:
http://www.mamapedia.com/questions/17197057171225968641
Respectfully....no, no way......I would save money, or go green by doing something else, but not this......
No.
When I still had a period I used tampons or Diva cup.
While it's true re-usable pads will not fill up a landfill - you still spend a lot of soap and water to wash them every month.
It's not necessarily a greener choice.
A Diva cup or something like that (there are several similar items on the market) is easy to use, is comfortable for most women, reusable, easy to wash/rinse out, and is easy to carry in a purse.
It wins every which way around.
I have a friend that discovered a whole new income making these in decorative designs. There are all sorts of styles and designs.
I think if this is something you're okay doing then you should go for it and just keep it private, don't share it with just anyone.
Some people think it's totally gross to wash that in their washer but they might not realize they wash a lot of stuff in their washer every day....if you use cloth diapers that's disgusting to me. I can smell the poop on a person's clothes when they sit next to me. I have had complete strangers sit next to me and smell like they forgot to wipe. I eventually find out they have a baby and use cloth diapers.
If a person uses hot water and some bleach then their machine is sanitary for the next loads. Even if you have a load of pads and wash them you can keep your clothes smelling good if you just recognize that you need to keep the washer clean and the pads sanitized.
There are lots of websites dedicated to cloth sanitary napkins.
She uses Pul in the pads she makes and white plastic snaps in the ones with tabs. Then she sews the seams with a polyester thread that melts when put in the dryer and makes the pad area waterproof.
She made a whole selection for her daughter, her daughter's friends, and then their moms too. They seem to be incredibly popular right now. I'd have never thought of them but there are tons of women making them, selling them, and buying them.
Google fabric sanitary pads, then go to images to see the variety
Here is one sight that sells them:
Here's what's on Amazon:
http://www.amazon.com/s/ref=nb_sb_noss?url=search-alias%3...
http://www.hillbillyhousewife.com/sanitarypads.htm
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=tR4CfO-cUWU
http://www.fuzbaby.com/articles/make-your-own_cloth-menst...
