Updated March 2020. Today we’re going to talk about cloth menstrual pads and answer some questions you may have if you’re considering giving them a try. I’ve been using cloth pads for a few months now, so those beginner questions are still fresh in my mind!
This is somewhat of a taboo subject, so I’ll do my best to be helpful without getting too detailed or graphic.
Before anyone asks, yes, those are brand new pads that I received in the mail yesterday… so they have never been used. 🙂
Tips for Purchasing Cloth Pads for the first time:
1. Measure the pads you currently use. Grab a ruler and an unused disposable pad that fits you comfortably and measure the length. Also, consider what you don’t like about the sizing of the pads you currently wear. Are they too long? Too short? I should’ve followed my own advice on this one because the cloth pads pictured at the top of this post are larger than I thought they’d be.
2. Purchase from more than one seller. Purchasing from more than one seller ensures that you’ll get to experience more styles, and fits, of cloth pads. If you initially purchase all of your pads from one seller, and find them uncomfortable, you may decide that all cloth pads are uncomfortable simply because you’ve only had one experience with them across the board.
Answers to Common Questions
I put together a list of questions that I had as a beginner and that I’ve been asked by friends that are interested in using cloth menstrual pads. Please remember that I’m answering from personal experience, so others may have different experiences and opinions.
What’s the minimum number of cloth pads I need to get started?
Comfortably, I’d say six is the minimum. Though some say three, which is possible, but you’d have to launder them daily. I purchased six to get started and it worked for me because I only needed to toss them in the wash every other day.
Do I need anything else to get started?
Technically, no. But there are tools that may make your experience more comfortable and help keep your pads stain-free. Some of these may be:
- Stain stick (I use a Fels Naptha bar – you can find them at most grocery stores in the laundry section)
- Sanitary method of storing soiled pads
- Oxyclean (off brand is fine)
- A wet bag (if you work a job outside of the home or are a student)
What about odor?
I have found them to be completely odor free.
Will the cloth pads become stained?
Short answer: maybe. Long answer: There is always a chance, but you can take certain steps to minimize staining, like using a stain stick and soaking in oxy clean. A friend that has worn cloth pads for years recommends purchasing black pads and says she never has to worry about stains (good idea!).
How uncomfortable is it to clean?
It may not be as uncomfortable an experience as you might think. Being a fairly squeamish person, I dreaded this part at first, but it didn’t make me uncomfortable or disgust me (which is a word I unfortunately see used to describe cloth pads by those that haven’t worn them). It is an adjustment, though, and not everyone may be comfortable rinsing a soiled pad.
How do you clean cloth pads?
Some rinse and fold after use, and place in a wet bag, bin or laundry basket until laundry day. While others soak in a container of soapy water or oxy clean, changing the water daily. Others prefer to rinse, treat with a stain stick immediately and on laundry day do a quick soak in oxy clean before washing (which is what I do).
There is no right, or wrong, method for cleaning cloth pads. It’s all about which method best fits your lifestyle and comfort level. Most cloth pad sellers will include recommended care instructions with your package.
Note: I also clean the sink with rubbing alcohol so it can resume its normal use without concern. I’m not sure if everyone else does this, but it’s a “for good measure” step that I never skip.
Benefits Of Using Cloth Pads
There are many reasons to consider making the switch to cloth pads, and I wanted to take a minute to share those with you. Granted, I have used regular pads for years, but I am always up for trying new things when it comes to helping the environment and saving money! Take a look at these top reasons to throw out the old pads (pun intended) and try cloth ones.
- Savings – I have to hit this first because it’s such a HUGE money saver. Just like everything else, commercially made pads are expensive, and the prices are only increasing. You can buy a few of these cloth pads and save a lot of money. Seriously!
- Cool Designs – While it’s not exactly a benefit to using pads with unique designs, it makes being on your period a little more tolerable.
- You’re Helping Small Businesses – In many cases, the cloth pads are made by small businesses. When you buy from a small business, you are helping regular business owners and not corporate bigwigs.
- Helping The Environment – This might seem like a no-brainer, but you will be significantly benefiting the environment by switching. It can take a really long time (think years) for disposable pads to decompose.
- Chemical Free – Disposable pads are loaded with chemicals and things that you really don’t want next to your nether regions. Using chemical-free cloth pads is excellent if you have extra sensitive skin.
- Cloth Is More Absorbable – When you use cloth pads, you’ll find that they are more absorbable than store-bought ones — just one more reason to consider trying them out.
What If I Switch To Cloth Pads And Don’t Like Them?
It’s totally fine if you switch to cloth pads and don’t want to keep using them. Just save them in case you want to try again later. I recommend using them for a few cycles before making the decision, though. After the stigma wears off a little bit, I’m confident that you will actually prefer cloth pads after you give them a try.
How Long Do Cloth Pads Last?
Most cloth pads will last 4-5 years on average. You may find that varies depending on your usage. So, even though the initial price per pad is more, all the usage you get out of them is insane! This is where you will really start to see those savings kick in.
Do Cloth Pads Smell?
I never had any issues with cloth pads smelling, and most women don’t. I know that you would think that there would be a noticeable odor, but because the liquid is going into cloth, it will evaporate some. When this happens, you will notice much less smell than with commercial pads. You should change them frequently to prevent any odors, just like you usually would. You can’t use the same one all day long and expect it to be entirely odorless.
Another anti-smell tip is to pour Peroxide on it to cut the smell and cut down on any stains! There’s an old mom tip right there!
Do Cloth Pads Shorten Your Period?
The jury is out on this one, and everyone has different experiences. However, there are many women who have stated that they have fewer cramps, and their periods tend to be less heavy or last as long. Some women have said that it has no bearing on how long her period lasts or the number of cramps she has. Give them a try and see if there is an effect for you either way.
Can You Wear Cloth Pads When Swimming?
Unfortunately, swimming with any sort of pad is going to be difficult. The cloth pad is made to absorb liquid, and that includes water. In many cases, the flow will stop while you are in the water. As soon as you get out of the water, it may start right away, so making it to the bathroom could result in a mess if you have a heavy flow.
I find that the best option is to use a menstrual cup when swimming, so you don’t have to worry about this. You can easily insert it and swim, and no one will ever know a thing about it, and there won’t be any leaking issues.
Do cloth pads leak?
They can, but this really depends on whether you are wearing an appropriately sized pad and whether it has the necessary absorbency for the particular stage in your cycle. I’ve found it best to wear longer, more absorbent pads at night to avoid potential leaks.
What do you do when changing a pad away from home?
Most ladies use a small wetbag which has a waterproof lining and two pockets –one pocket for clean pads, and another for the pads you’re changing out of. When changing, you simply fold and snap the pad closed and place it into the “used” pocket; while grabbing a clean pad from the other pocket. You can keep this bag in your purse. Then when you get home, treat as you normally would.
Here’s my wet bag (which I haven’t had to use yet) with clean pads in each pocket to give you a better idea.
I’ve had no personal experience with this situation, however. I work from home so the need simply hasn’t arisen. I would love for more experienced ladies to chime into the comments below with their tips and experiences.
Can I throw them in with the rest of my laundry?
If you’d like to. Some prefer to keep them separate from the rest of the laundry (like me), however, so the way you wash them is up to personal preference. But be mindful of the heat settings on your washer and dryer. Generally, cloth pads should not be treated with hot water.
When rinsing and washing, I use cold water. When drying, I use the lowest heat setting. Some prefer to air dry cloth pads, but if you don’t have many pads in your stash, this may take too long to be practical.
Are they less expensive?
There is an upfront cost involved ($8 to $13 per cloth pad, in my experience). But over the long term, it is less expensive than disposables, as cloth pads last for years.
Please feel free to leave any questions you may have in the comments below. I’ll try my best to answer, but if I can’t help hopefully someone else will chime in and answer your question.
If cloth pads aren’t for you but you’d like to move away from disposables, consider reusable menstrual cups as an alternative. I have no personal experience with this, but some women prefer them to cloth pads.
Calling all Cloth Pad Users!
If you have experience purchasing cloth pads, please leave your recommendations and the name of the shop in the comments below. I’d love to help each other out by recommending our favorite shops/providers. If we get enough recommendations, I may add them to the post.
Cloth Pad Shops:
I’ve found most of the cloth pads in my stash on Etsy.
- Pink Lemonade Shop
- Fig Leaves Pads
- Luna Pads (Recommendation from a friend)
Hi!
Ginny Collins is a passionate foodie and recipe creator of Savor and Savvy and Kitchenlaughter. Indoors she focuses on easy, quick recipes for busy families and kitchen basics. Outdoors, she focuses on backyard grilling and smoking to bring family and friends together. She is a lifelong learner who is always taking cooking classes on her travels overseas and stateside. Her work has been featured on MSN, Parade, Fox News, Yahoo, Cosmopolitan, Elle, and many local news outlets. She lives in Florida where you will find her outside on the water in her kayak, riding her bike on trails, and planning her next overseas adventure.
Hi everyone, I never knew these existed until I saw this post and I’m definitely curious. I am worried my husband would be grossed out if I kept a bin in the bathroom for used pads. I know he shouldn’t be and I know periods are natural, but there are just some things I’d rather keep private from him….this is one of them. How does everyone handle this?
Yep! I’ve had this discussion with a friend when I had the exact question! She said that she kept a container in the bathroom with a lid and emptied it everyday and cleaned it out for the next day. She told me to not leave it on the counter or all out in the open-just discreet but keep a lid and covered. It is such a hard balance for this one. I hope this helps to know we are all in the same boat! 🙂
We use cloth wipes for toilet purposes (toilet paper) and I also use cloth pads: we have small step-on garbage bin that sits right next to the toilet: used cloths and pads go directly in the bin. It has a removeable liner, so when it gets full or at the end of a period, I just take the bin out and directly to the laundry.
Hope that helps.
I love that, Melissa!!
Hey,
Totally get it. I’ve done cloth pads living with a roommate and living with my man. No issues. Actually I find them less gross than disposables, and i’m really not shy about the cloth ones.
You rinse them when you take them off, so they really just look like wet version of the pads you buy – they dont look dirty or gross. Cute designs, and typically a grey liner – no one has ever said anything. I do hang mine out to dry rather than put them somewhere wet. Anything from the conveniently placed had towel bar (i miss that bar) at the roommates house, to now the towel bar on the back of the bathroom door, or even just the side of my laundry basket works great for a place to dry (and much more discrete if you are concerned). Really I just do a quick round of the house if the In-laws come for a visit.
And as a side note, I just overall love them, hate when I have to use a disposable and its that horrible plastic feel. These feel like nice soft fabric, and i personally know to switch hit when it starts feeling slightly damp – cause my flow is allll over the place. I noticed my cramps were slightly less when I switched – not a promise, but a bonus.
If anyone is having issues with slipping I personally just wear tighter underwear, but lapetiteourse.ca has them with silicone dots on the back to prevent slipping, and two snaps for fit. I haven’t tried them yet, but my bestie adores hers. Also the prices are better than most, and the prints are classy/cute/adult.
Overall I didnt switch to cloth for the price or the savings, but for the waste and now how much more comfortable they are.
Monica, I agree. I love the idea, but can’t wear them because they don’t stay in place. Ginny, I bought mine from Party in your Pants. They have wings and snaps, but turn and twist anyway. I don’t understand why I have such a problem and others don’t. I’ll try the velcro, but I think that may be uncomfortable.
Laudia, it may not work for everyone-which I understand! I think cloth pads are tough overall like you are saying! They don’t have the sticky strip to keep them on all the time like a store bought one. I chatted this week with a friend who uses several versions and she said the wings with snaps are the ones she goes to as well and they are the best option…..so I think we are at the best it can be given we want to go this route. Best wishes, I’m so glad you stopped by!!!
Hi, is there any easy way to get a cloth pad to stay in place during the day? I’ve used them before but had to stop even with double-sided sticky tape because the pad never stays in place. What should I do? Thank you so much!!!
Absolutely! No matter which ones you buy, go find Velcro and there should be double stick Velcro. You can find it in the craft department at Walmart or order it online. If you have flaps, put them on the flaps underneath like you would a traditional pad. So if yours did not come with a flaps/wings, then I would set aside a separate few pairs of underwear where you Velco them to the underwear itself. When I think of what our mothers/grandmothers went through, I settle myself down and count my blessings! Let me know if you can’t find the Velcro! Thanks for stopping by! Ginny
This is my biggest problem. They move all around in my underwear every time I move. They’re the kind with wings and snaps. Snug underwear doesn’t help, they literally roll around so the pad is outside my underwear. I’ve tried safety pins but I’ve ripped several pairs of underwear now where the pin is. I have zero problems washing and using them, just hate that they move around so much. I think I need to make the jump to full period underwear instead, or maybe just sew the pads into certain pairs of underwear. I love the cloth ones but I can only use them if I know I’ll be spending most of my day sitting down and I absolutely can’t trust them to stay put while I’m out. I’m so confused how others don’t have this problem.
Monica, have you bought the ones with the little snaps? They work a lot better, for sure. I think the hard part is they are never going to be as sticky as the store bought pads-which just stinks. I think it is the sacrifice we are making. But! I do find the ones with the snaps are so much better!
It also depends on the material of the backer and material of your panties – the combination can be slippery. I made myself a cloth pad with the backer out of fleece and my panties are jersey, there was no problem. But when I made myself a cloth pad with jersey backer, it’s not ok – it’s too smooth so it moves around …
Great thoughts, Helena! What is your favorite then?
Thank you so much for this post! I read this last month and now using reusable pads for the time this month! Omg I’m not going back! I can’t believe I’ve been putting up with those gross uncomfortable pads for so long!!
I have a question as well. I have a bin for my dirty pads at home. I put a little lemon, vinegar, and some water in it for the pads to keep soaking until laundry day. I thought I remembered reading that somewhere but now I’m thinking my mind made it up lol…will they be okay sitting in that solution? Also will it be okay to wear with using vinegar? I will still wash them.
Thanks so much!
Hi,
I know this is a silly question but where did you buy the pads that you got in the photo? They’re very pretty and I’d be interested in buying ones like those.
Sara! No silly questions! At the bottom of the post is a link to the Etsy shops where the items were purchased. Designs change though so I’m would not expect the same fabrics as in the photos. The wet bag was purchased from Amazon and there is a link in the post as well. Let me know if you have other questions! More than happy to help as much as I can!
Saw you were looking for recommendations for pads and wanted to point out Party in my Pants (www.partypantspads.com) they have tons of cute patterns and designs in organic and regular fleece and cotton and varying sizes and thicknesses for users. They are also quite thin and have a breathable waterproof backing. A lot of people skip over this awesome company for whatever reason.
I liked your post a lot. I recently bought a 5 pack of cloth pads and I really LOVE them. I have not yet started my period and had to use them for that yet, but I practiced wearing them for a day and overnight to see how comfortable they would feel and if they would slip around in my underwear, they do not and they are super comfortable! I practiced washing them too after wearing them but they take forever to dry! My cloth pads came with 0 instructions, so I just washed them by hand with soap and water and hung them to air dry, but even after 48 hours they were not dry and I tried putting them in the dryer a few times and they are still damp.
Also could I just simply rinse the discharge from the pads and then throw them in the washing machine with cold water and then put them in the dryer like I would with my regular clothes? I was worried about the cloth pads getting damaged in the wash. The outside of the cloth pad is different than the lining.
Suggestions?
So when i had a nice spot for them to dry I just washed them by hand – used a old foaming soap pump with a mix of laundry detergent and water by the sink. Most sights say not to wring them, but I give them a good squeeze without wringing. I used three, so they weren’t dry after about 8 hours, but they were after 16. I live in a VERY dry climate.
If you give them a good rinse then let them dry – again most makers dont suggest letting them sit wet – then you can just throw them in with whatever laundry you have. Some makers say not to use high heat, I’ve never had a issue and these are china cheepies from Wish – but i’m sure it depends on what they use for the waterproof layer. Mine are in good shape 3 years later (thats ~1 year or hand wash and wear everyday with a machine wash at the end of the period, now I have a larger supply and just wash them in the laundry anytime there is a load throughout my period. Period time has become laundry time in my house as a result)
Wow, Kai! You are awesome! I love how passionate you are about these! I know your tips and tricks will helps others as well. Thank you for taking the time to share!!! Cheers! Ginny
I bought mine on wish. You can get 6 regular pads and a wet bag for $10 they seem to be well made.
I’ve made my own pads and I wear them when working outside of the home. I’ve found it to be exactly like using disposables; I take a couple pads with me in individual pad wrappers (which I also made… isn’t sewing awesome?!) and when I remove a used one I simply snap it shut and place it in the wrapper of the new one I put on. Since cloth is more absorbent than whatever is in disposables, I can usually get away with taking fewer pads with me!
I’ve found that my favorites are the Alvababy brand that you can find on Amazon. They have the charcoal ones in a 6 pack with a wet bag for like $25. I’ve tried a few other brands and so far they’re my fav bc the lining is black, they fit snug, are very comfortable, and after 3 periods in them, I’ve never had a leak.
I just bought my first reusable pad. One of our local retailers (in South Africa) sells them for 30 bucks (basically $3)! And every time you purchase one,the retailer donates one to an underprivileged girl in need! What a win!
My preteen daughter has also mentioned she would like to try these…
Can’t wait to give you ladies feedback.
What’s the best setting to was pads on washing machine or best laundry detergent to use or powered detergent to use? I’m new to cloth and really interested in trying this
BerlynnsCloset
Its on etsy
I recommend MotherMoon pads on etsy. They are great.
I love the Etsy shop Hand Sewn By Me – she’s a sweet lady and has starter kits on ocassion to get a few at a discount to try them out. I have several different sizes and she has cute fabrics to choose from, dark and light. It’s always different. I switched a few years ago because I started having bad skin issues with disposables. My mom finally told me that I was allergic ti disposable diapers too so she cloth diapered me in the 80’s….
I hadn’t thought about an oxy or baking soda wash. I will have to adjust my routine to add that because I had thrown a couple away that I just didn’t feel were getting clean enough and were part of my original purchase anyway.