Bleed With Pride: Make-It-Yourself Menstrual Pads

I'm not a woman, so at the risk of making an arse of myself I'll just ask this: do they absorb as well as the expensive disposable varieties? After all, if I'm to believe the TV ads you can pretty much empty a bucket of water on them and still stay dry ...

I bet they dont. fabric has slower and more limited abortion (of course depends in the material) But I think is a great idea. nothing new though, but if we can make a fashion out of it, might work. they are very very cute. but I am a guy so I dont think I take this thing as serious as I should.

Those of you living in Sweden should check out menskoppen or m-koppen as it is also called. It's by far the most environmentally friendly way of dealing with that wonderful thing that allows mammals to breed.

http://www.menskopp.se/shop/

http://www.menskoppen.se/Startsida.html

those are two sites that sell them. They also have info for you. I am a man but have fallen for this thing and have passed the idea on to many a women that also like it very much.

you guys are right, well atleast in my experience. i tried the cloth pads ages ago and as a heavy bleeder for about half of my menstruation cycle, i found they didnt absorb quite as well. probably still great for lighter days, though. the ones to the far right look a bit more absorbent than the cutsie ones on the left. cloth pads tend to be less porous than the conventional disposable ones, which blood is so viscous, it needs more pores to encourage absorption into the fabric.

oops, I meant absorption not abortion.
Mea culpa.

Cute idea, and way better than disposable, but I prefer the "high tech" solution to healthy and reusable. Silicone menstrual cups, like the UK Mooncup or the US Divacup. Pads (and I assume rags would be the same for me) keep too much moisture down there and tends to lead to itchiness and a monthly risk of yeast infections. But tampons are absorbent sponges from hell, whereas the cups collect but don't dry you out. My time of the month goes by so easily these days.

In order to continue the strange trend of only men commenting on this topic...

My girlfriend has used a combination of the Keeper and cloth pads for the past five years. The two allow her to deal with any variations of flow and she is perfectly happy with the performance of these non-disposable option.

I don't see mention of a Diva Cup. I've never used one and now don't have a need to (menopause is the ultimate eco-solution) but I hear they are very effective.

i think that's the silliest invention ever
not only they are LESS hygienic then the ones we buy from our local pharmacy, but they are hardly reliable!
fabric will just absorb the blood and it will start leaking within the first 30 mins (sucks to have heavy flow)
they also won't stay put (i mean the ones we stick to our panties sometimes don't stay on one spot)
and lastly, it's going to feel super uncomfortable wearing them! they are not making pads ultra thin for nothing, why go back to diaper-like pads?!
honestly, I appreciate the "demand chlorine free products" idea, but everything else is just plain stupid
find something useful to do with your time!

i think that's the silliest invention ever
not only they are LESS hygienic then the ones we buy from our local pharmacy, but they are hardly reliable!
fabric will just absorb the blood and it will start leaking within the first 30 mins (sucks to have heavy flow)
they also won't stay put (i mean the ones we stick to our panties sometimes don't stay on one spot)
and lastly, it's going to feel super uncomfortable wearing them! they are not making pads ultra thin for nothing, why go back to diaper-like pads?!
honestly, I appreciate the "demand chlorine free products" idea, but everything else is just plain stupid
find something useful to do with your time!

KM: I would argue that the whole point of making pads yourself is to free oneself from the commodification & commercialization of menstruation, like a lot of other things (hosptials vs. midwifery, marriage, motherhood, agribusiness vs urban agriculture). Granted, it takes time, but to reduce our personal waste stream is a timeworthy thing to do - it's the whole point.

Regarding hygiene, if you look at it another way, that's another perception of menstruation that not just companies but society in general has in its self-interests to perpetuate so that women will spend the money to buy their products or to make themselves over to "fit" into some constructed ideal (we are unclean, inferior, weak, etc). There are a lot of social undercurrents behind this taboo against talking honestly and positively about menstruation, and I think it's a worthy thing that many women out there have taken steps to reclaim a healthier way of relating to themselves and a natural (and yet profound) bodily function, no matter what they choose to do.

Kudos to everyone who mentioned the keepers and cups; they didn't cross my mind to mention b/c I don't use them and I don't know if you can make one yourself (I was taught that tampons were "dirty" as well - another result of cultural perceptions that I realize clearly now). I use cloth ones primarily b/c the disposables really caused a heck of a rash all the time. I don't have a heavy flow but when I do I just pack another liner in there and I'm done. I love cotton and I will never go back.

Maybe all of us, male or female, can begin to question the constructed gender roles and images that we as a society have put up. If we (in some ways) reinforce them unconsciously or otherwise, we can also take it down; we are not beholden to them.

I like the idea of this. Personally, I use a cup. It was brought to my attention about 6 months ago, and I'll never go back.
I'll admit to being a very forgetful person, one result being my constantly ruining underwear due to leaks from forgeting to change my tampon. But with the cup (I have a DivaCup that I got at Whole Foods), I just change it at night and in the morning, when it's easy to remember.
Environmentally, the cup will last 20+ years, I use less detergent (because I don't have leaks, and buy less new underwear to replace the ones that are beyond repair), and nothing goes into the landfills.
I can't believe I waited this long to get one!

if you hate pads of any kind, much better alternatives to the alternatives are the Diva Cup and The Keeper (a link to a TH article on this product is included above). they are silicon or latex cups that trap the flow. Reusable for years and save a lot of money as well as chemical-soaked cotton.

gosh! What a lot of faffing around!! I bought myself a mooncup about a year ago and have never looked back!! None of that smelly, messy towel lark for me!! Good luck anyone who does have a go at making them!! We all need to be considering alternatives, its ALL good!!!xxxxx

Considering the growing appreciation of peroxide as a sanitizing agent you don't even have to worry about using chlorine to get these sterile.

Peroxide won't hurt your garden if you use greywater.

I think this is a great way to keep still more stuff out of the landfill and cut down needless waste caused by disposable products.

хватит постить тупую фигню на дирти.

what do you do when you have to change your pad when you're away from home? do you also sew yourself a little biohazard bag so you can have a place to put it once you take the blood-soaked one off? And how do you keep them from getting smelly?

Addressing the first two comments from the men: it will absorb if it's raw cotton (cotton balls, you know?) but it will probably soak right through on heavy flow days. I can go through 3-4 pads/tampons a day for those 3 days.

...I'd be so paranoid about the possibility of staining my clothes (not to menion leaks!) i'd go through about 5-6 per day. i'm not feeling like carting around a bag of smelly bloody rags is a solution i'd accept.

Maybe i missed something?

I make my own, and I am a woman. (Ha!) I also use a Diva Cup, which is like the well known Keeper, because I don't like sloshing around in my pants.

I use the pads for light days. I just fold them up into themselves when I am done, and pop them into a pocket or a little drawstring bag. ziplocks work in a pinch.

I do prefer the cups, before the pads, though.

I can't help but think of the menstrual market as a "hooked for life" product. Most women are stuck buying disposable tampons and pads for the bulk of their adult life. The products are bad for the environment, and possibly bad for the woman using them. I know I don't want bleached products in my mucous membranes, and I sure don't trust those industries in having my best interests in mind.

I started using a Diva cup about 5 years ago. I made up my first batch of cloth pads about the same time. I have never been happier. I just rinse the pads and toss them in the wash with my undies. No big deal. Also, I don't have to run to the store at 3am, if my cycle comes early.

I converted to the diva cup over a year ago, and it's made a big difference in how I feel about my cycle. It is reusable, comfortable and very convenient. I have never been a fan of pads and the mess they make when they shift or if I feel like doing something strenuous I don't need to worry about leakage. I'd be spreading the gospel to my female friends, but it's somehow a little awkward, and for people who are not treehuggers, probably a little jarring (open talk about girly stuff, that it)

btw, I am in no way affiliated with the company or anything...

If you're worried about leaking onto your underwear buy some waterproof material and sew it into the pads.
If you're worried about movement in your underwear, make them extra wide and/or ADD some velcro. It's not real difficult to do.
They aren't any less hygenic than plastic pads. Because, you're the only one exposing yourself to your blood and you're swimming in it. In fact, you aren't exposing others to the "waste" by tossing them in the garbage.

Anybody know where I can find the pattern for the knitted one on the far right? I've looked through the links here, but cannot seem to find it (I may not be looking hard enough).

I'm a woman and I believe menstruation is totally unnecessary. We are not meant to menstruate every month - but our bodies were made to bear babies all life long. Since we have power over our bodies, we can control when we wish to have babies and that's why we bleed - because we're not pregnant. We should not bleed. So, the more comfortable we feel during menstruation, the better. I would never use these diaper-like pads, I'm not "proud" of menstruating, I just believe it's like a side-effect of not getting pregnant every nine months. Long life to the tampons!

sounds like renata is missing the big point. here on Treehugger the ultimate goal is to reduce our impact on the environment. the main purpose of this article is to reduce waste generated by disposable menstrual devices. whatever your feelings are towards menstruation, all we ask is you consider the amount of waste produced by your use of disposable pads and tampons. for anyone who is serious about saving this planet, every little bit counts, and using resuable pads is one small way to help out. so some chicks are proud of their period, renata is not proud of her period- it doesn't matter!! just consider the consequences of your actions is all.

I believe in minimizing waste as much as the next treehugging girl, but this is way too nasty.

Just the amount of washing alone for somebody with more-or-less heavy periods, not to mention having to tote around plastic bags for mid-day change. A new set of pants to accommodate this "diaper."

Some green ideas are just not worth it.

Renata, if we weren't supposed to bleed it wouldn't happen, now would it?... just saying... (I hate how we're brainwashed to act like we've got the plague)

Anyways, I don't like the reusable pads too much since I hate pads in general but I'm a huge fan of the DivaCup.

Hi!

I just started using cloth pads and I LOVE THEM. I even bought a cute basket for the bathroom so that I can proudly display my (clean) pads. I keep a covered bucket of water/tea tree oil in the basement and soak my pads in it until I'm ready to do the wash. Since I do a load of laundry a week, it works out fine--I just wait to do my load for the week at the end of my period. I love hanging my pads on the clothesline and watching them flap in the breeze. :)

I'm getting a sewing machine for Christmas so I can learn to make my own. I just wanted to thank you guys for the great article and great links to patterns and advice. Keep spreading the good word!

-Kelsie

To the women commenting that this is "nasty" or messy or whatever else: I've found that a combination of a Divacup and a cloth pad liner makes menstruation cleaner and more comfortable than tampons and pads ever did. No smelliness, no plastic squeaking or rustling when you walk, no irritation from the hyper-absorbancy of tampons, no peeing on the tampon string or having to hold it to avoid getting fecal matter on it, no wastebasket full of bloody pads, no getting pubic hair stuck on adhesive, etc. As for hygiene - we feel perfectly comfortable wearing clean, cloth underwear every day, so I don't see how cloth is any less hygienic than paper products. You can soak your pads in a tea tree oil solution to disinfect them or just throw them in the wash. Many cloth pads come with a waterproof layer such as PUL or fleece backing if leakage is a concern. Bulk was a concern for me as well before I used them, but the the cloth pads I have are comparable to super thin disposable ones.

*Nod, nod, nod some more*

I am totally with Ms yellow. It's like that and that's the way it is.

*Nod, nod, nod some more*

I am totally with Ms yellow. It's like that and that's the way it is.

wow!!! I read some against this idea comments, and personally, I thought the same thing at first. Then I thought, you know I cant really judge this idea if I don't try a couple of things outside my thinking box.

This is what I found... I was heavy enough that for one day a month I could not leave the house. I ordered the Diva Cup, and I love it. When I exercize I still wear a tampon though... Not sure why, just seems more comfortable for that activity. On heavy days I pair the Diva with a cloth pad, and sometimes a store bought pad. (Only because I need to order more cloth, or make some) I found I really still dislike both of the pads. I like the cloth better, and I like the cloth that is hassle free, meaning that it does not have inserts they are just sewn in one peace. BTW my cloth are as thin as the thinnest at the store ;) not much different... Seriously with all that I have found....

I hardly ever use store bought products anymore!!! I found that I LOVE CLOTH way more than store brands, and I ABSOLUTELY do not ever want to live without my DIVA!!!!! I can throw it in my backpack on overnight trips, and guess what, it does not take up the entire bag... no more mess in the garbage, no smell!!! The store products stink... there is no smell with cloth and Diva, that in itself is worth gold... my son does not question, why are you hurt mommy? It saves all my space under my counter, oh and !!!If in case of an emergency and no store, I am covered:)

I am so happy I thought outside the box.

Oh and I got over the gross, insecurity of it all in the process. You never know unless you try, with that, make sure you try more than one on your journey. I tried the moon cup first, and it didn't work for me, so I almost threw in the towel, and then thought. We get different opinions from dr.'s so maybe I will give it another shot. I use moon cup on light days, and its in my backpack jic.

Wow, there are a lot of uninformed comments being made here, especially by people who have never even tried these items.

1) No, they don't leak. You sew a leak-proof PUL layer into the pad. Mine leak less than the plastic ones because the soft top layer catches leaks faster than plastic (duh). And I have very heavy flow for a few days every month.
2) No, they don't slip unless you wear synthetic underwear (never a good idea, anyway). Plastic pads bunch and slip more than cloth.
3) Yes, you take along a waterproof bag with you to carry your used cloth pads. When you get home, you put them in cold water. No, they don't smell (unless you carry them around for days or something, but why would you do that?).
4) Plastic pads make you stink and give you a rash(I used to call it "pad burn"). Cloth pads breathe better and don't support odor. I like the ones designed with a refreshable top layer (held in place with rick-rack) so that you can refresh every time you change that liner.
5) Cloth pads are SO MUCH MORE COMFORTABLE.
6) Cloth pads are not much bulkier than plastic. Plus you don't even notice them because the cloth feels just like undies or comfy flannel PJs against your skin.
7) The Diva Cup is solid gold, especially if you have a really heavy flow. Completely nixes odor and leaks when used properly. Plus you have to change it a lot less often. True, it takes a little while to perfect its use (took me 2 cycles), but it's more than worth it.

For those who think this is "nasty," I ask you, what's nastier than pieces of plastic covered in chemicals and things like menstrual blood and baby poop accumulating and rotting in our beautiful green spaces? Just because you throw it into a garbage bin, it's gone and out of your lives?

The whole concept of making women ashamed of this part of their lives and making them think it's so disgusting is very convenient marketing campaigns designed to make them buy things like disposable napkins, tampons, "hygiene sprays" and douches. Who makes big $ on reusable products? I don't think it's exactly a big boon for JoAnne's Fabrics.

THINK about why you think what you think.

I have been using the moon cup for a few months but find that it leaks a lot unfortunately so using it with a disposable pad at the moment. I would like to switch to making my own cloth pads though because of enviromental issues. I bought my teen daughter some last year and she says they are incredibly soft and comfortable and she was really surprised that they worked so well compared with her usual disposables.

I have really heavy periods at the moment as I am on tamoxifen having had breast cancer a few years ago, which means that on days one and two I can not go out of the house because my clothes are soaked almost straight away after putting on a clean pad and emptying the cup. I do sometimes use two super plus tampons and again at times I just get up and i need to change them again straight away. I actually measured how many times I emptied a full cup last cycle and it was about 15 times without counting the pads also. Made me realise why I am feeling so damn tired..probably low iron.

What I really want to know is: does it make a difference if you use the model number one or two of the menstrual cups. I asked for the number one by mistake but I have had four kids (two sections). Could it be that this is why it leaks even though my pelvic floor muscles are pretty strong?

Also is there a difference between the Mooncup or the Diva cups? I don't like the look of the rubber one, much prefering the silicone. I had a rubber diaphragm years ago and sorry to be gross but it seem to really smell after a few uses despite cleaning it all the time.

The moon cup never smells but it does leak. Just concerned the dispsable pads will be even less absorbant than the disposables but for the comments here it looks like they are not?

My daughter love them but then again she has very very light periods like I used to have before the breast cancer treatment.

ANother plus I find with the mooncup is that there seems less menstrual cramps that when I wear bleached tampons and also the slight suction seems to end the period a little earlier than when I used pads or tampons alone.

Thanks very much for your help

Jo :)

This may sound gross to some of you but at home, btw I live alone, I free-bleed. I just use a washable reusable underpad to sit on and just wear a long shirt. When I go out or have visitors, I wear cloth pads or the Keeper. This works for me. I have a light period and no discomfort with it. I love my period and I love being a woman!

I just switched to cotton pads two months ago, and LOVE them!

Disposables were the most uncomfortable things for me, they made my period even more uncomfortable than it usually was. With the cramping, bloating, etc., I didn't need any extra irritation, not to mention the guilt every time I threw more plastic into the environment. Just looking at the box of them made me cringe.

So I switched to an organic unbleached cotton disposable brand for a little while. They were nicer than the plastic kind, and more breathable, but not particularly comfortable or absorbent. Plus, they cost quite a bit more (haha!) My Mum finally mentioned to me that "some people use washable menstrual pads." I never thought of that. What a revelation! (Funny how humans don't tend to think outside the box.)

So I sewed my cotton pads myself, with some bright happy cotton flannel! They are comfortable to wear, much more breathable (and thus, less stinky!), cheeper, nice looking, good for the environment and women's bodies, and so far I haven't even "leaked". I think they've made me feel more positive about my period, and maybe even about being a women in general!

Thank you so much for writing this article. I found it when I switched, and the links were very helpful. Keep up the good work!

AlliBaba1234 pretty much says it all.

For those of you worried about bulkiness, hemp is a wonderfully thin and absorbant cloth that works beautifully inside of the pads. As Allibaba said, you use a waterproof layer of fabric to back your pads and leaks are basically non-existant as long as you change your pads on a regular basis (just like you would the store bought).

Kuddo's to all the men who have posted here. Its good to see men who accept menstruation as a part of life and don't make it out to be some horrid nasty thing!

I recommend:
www.saucytots.com
www.vajpads.com
www.perfectpads.net

Good luck ladies!

Hiya Folks! I'm actually doing a huge project on the social construction of menstruation. This project came about on afternoon when I realized I was broke and I needed tampons. Why are they so expensive? Why is it that they are dangerous? So, I made a blood towel for sleeping, I made my own pads for daytime and I also use sea sponges. Haven't got around to the DivaCup, although my friends use them. I did not see mention of this, but you can feed your houseplants the blood. Squeeze it out into a container hidden behind the toilet, dilute it and feed the plants! It's free fertilizer and the plants love it! (I have large hostas now, thanks to my own body). Besides, tampons aren't regulated to be sanitary, the rayon can cause tears in the vagina, the cotton has probably been treated with pesticides, then bleached. No more giving to the patriarchy! No more shame of my blood! I'm proud of my period and I'm glad to say, the all naural, tens of thousands of year old methods work way better than the possibility of vaginal infections, TSS and reproductive failure! Long live the vagina!

... so it is more complicated to use you still need to wash it... and if you have a strong one well probably you will have a hard time thanks : >

This is a great article! I first learned of reusable menstrual options last year, and it was like an awakening. I immediately knew I wanted to switch. It makes me kind of mad to think how reusable options are often stigmatized and not presented as an alternative to commercial products.

To those questioning the reliability of reusable pads, that depend largely on what kind of pads you buy. There are many brands and types. I bought a few from Perfect Pads. They have a hemp core, and they are very absorbent. I was a little skeptical at first, especially since the pads are so thin, but they really do work!

I did not use the pads long, though, because I decided I would prefer a menstrual cup. I bought a DivaCup, and I really think a menstrual cup is the best option personally. The cups are not the most intuitive products to use, and they take some getting used to. I have to admit that it took me a long time to get used to it, but that is because my cervix is off-center and causes the cup to tilt. I have been able to use the cup very effectively, and I would definitely recommend it.

I have developed a product that is a pair of underwear made from organic cotton that actually holds the moisture away from the body in a containment chamber built into the undies. They can be thrown away or reused by replacing the stuffing in the containment chamber and washing them. They will break down if thrown away so they won't create a pile of trash to be there forever. You can check them out athttp:// www.environmentallycreativeproducts.com or see a video at http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=PGql8LkmTn8

On Absorbency:

Reusable cloth pads are not very different from disposable pads. There's a wide variety out in the market (although still hard to find in a retail store here in my area, but easy to order from online). Some of them are sewn with a waterproof backing, and use layers of different cloth to find the ideal thinness to absorbency ratio.

Not all reusable cloth pads are made alike though, but I recently found a site with lots of reviews of different online suppliers. http://clothpadreviews.makeforum.org/. The feedback can be graphic, but incredibly helpful. Some suppliers even take custom orders.

On Hygiene:

Reusable cloth pads feel more comfortable than disposable pads because with cloth pads there is more absorbing and less "pooling". Carrying around a used cloth pad is not that different from carrying around an unused cloth pad, just put it in a ziploc bag and stick it out of sight, not a big deal.

Cloth pads don't always have to be handwashed. They can be machine washed in cold water. This is obviously a lot easier if you live by yourself and have your own washing machine, but if you prefer not even family to see it-- washing it in the bathroom sink is not rocket science either. It only takes 3 minutes maximum to wash one that's not dried out, but if it's dried out-- stick it in a container with cold water and wash it later. Again, not rocket science. If you can hand-wash a nice knit sweater, you should be able to handwash a tiny piece of cloth.

People for eons got on fine with reusable hygiene products. It doesn't make sense for us to generate this much waste just because we are disgusted with our own bodies. What's next, disposable underwear? If you can reuse your underwear, you should be able to use reusable feminine hygiene products. Isn't 3 minutes of simple rinsing worth it to avoid the landfill? What's the point of biking everyday if you still continue to be as wasteful in your other consumer products?

You don't have to waste lots of water to clean the pads. Just rinse with abit of water to remove most the blood and soak in a container; wash the pads in a aundry bag along with your usual laundry.

I just got mine inhe mail from www.littleclothkiwis.co.nz and i'm actually looking forward to my next period to try them out. :D

I'm so pleased that so many people have commented on this!

I've been really riding the "green living" wave lately and I'm so thrilled. I'm glad that some others are taking it seriously, too.

I just got my first cloth pad (pantyliner, actually) from partypantspads.com (OH MAN, such CUTE pads)-- if you're looking at this in January 09 sometime, I think they're still having a "try for free" sale for the cloth curious (you just pay $2.99 shipping)-- I'm so happy about it. It's so cute and soft-- much better than those ugly and uncomfortable disposables.

I'm thinking about trying the divacup, too (right now my plan is disposable tampons and cloth pads as a transition-- it's so unfortunate that these things cost money-- I can only buy one thing at a time! It's like paying out the nose for a hotel room when you can't afford the down payment on an apartment)...

and what you're all saying about the patriarchy and the social construction of menstruation (sounds like an AWESOME project, whoever mentioned that) is totally right. I'm a sociology major and it's true; everything we're told from birth about our menstruation is that it is gross and disgusting and that we should be ashamed of it. It is all lies, friends, made up by our founding fathers (and their fathers) and kept up by the corporations that make $$$ on our shame. This is my body, and I love it!

I have severe eczema, yes, even on my labia. I literally "broke out" during my period into welts and raw spots. So very painful! I was talking to my GYN, and he (brilliant, insightful man!) suggested I give cloth pads a try, to see if the more breathable cloth would keep the break outs less severe.
Well, I will NEVER use disposable pads again. I get no break outs on my labia at all now! Of course, I don't use chlorine bleach or anything (Seventh Generation if the stains are super bad, but I have colored pads, so usually don't even worry about it). But it seems the moisture being "locked" against my skin was making the eczema worse.
I am a super-heavy bleeder a couple of days, and have only had one leak, but it was my fault because I went too long without changing. I use probably two more a day than I did with disposables.I don't use PUL, nylon or other waterproofing because I'm afraid the eczema will return. So I just have a stash of pads with bamboo as the core, with cotton to help absorb, and nice soft flannel. Not any thicker than the "overnight" pads I used to spend a fortune on, and absorbent enough to work great! When I bleed it's not like turning on a faucet. It's more like a water-bed leak. (LOL) So there is time for the cotton batting to absorb the blood even though it's viscous.

Kudos to you men! My husband is not "directly involved" with my monthly cycles, but likes the fact that I am no longer in severe pain for the week of, and the week after my period. AND he likes the fact that I've gone from spending $20 or so a month on disposables to spending nothing past my initial investment. (about $50 at Joanns Fabrics, and time)

At first it was a little "ewww".... but there's no more effort to my laundry than there was before, and the blood-water gets poured on my roses (diluted, of course). (Which are now the envy of my neighbor, the green-thumb!) I feel better physically, and knowing I'm not contributing to the landfill/disposal problem is just a bonus. It was basically a cultured "ewww", and I'm over it now! (LOL) During my period I carry a two pocket makeup bag, and use one side for clean and one side for used when I'm out and about. Not a big deal.

Try it before you bash it. It might cause you greater menstrual comfort.

oh my god!!! this is so f-in nasty...as i woman i know what its like to get ur period and it is very uncomfortable i change my pad 2 in one hour and when i do i just want to throw it away and put it in the furthest garabage can i could find i could only imagine what its like to reuse this cloth thing and if the blood doesnt come off u will have it stained and the smeel of having it in ur laundry room until laundry day or even worse having to touch the blood and scrub it off while ur cleaning it...this is gross there are some things we should maybe think off better ways to do it but leave it just as cleanly...

For all the doubters, I have bought reusable cloth pads and they absorb better than disposables, are very easy to clean, and they're comfortable and really soft!

I use both the DivaCup and cloth pads. I don't have any problem with the cloth pads leaking, mostly because I use them more for back up to the Cup. The DivaCup is a GREAT product, I never get that itchy feeling that I used to get with Tampons, I wash both the cup and my hands before I remove and I haven't had an infection in the 6 months that I have been using it. The cloth menstural pads are great, the material I use is a flannel type, not only do I not get infections but the diaper rash I used to get from disposable pads is also gone. I love the cloth alternative because of the results on my body, saving the environment is just a bonus.

I first used cloth pads after having my youngest son. I had very long post-partum bleeding after my first two and it really killed me to use disposables for that long, with them not "breathing" and my skin getting rashy. So, I tried cloth and not only were they waaay more comfy and reliable, but my post-partum bleeding was cut to only two weeks! I've read that the chemicals in disposable products can actually cause you to bleed longer.

Because cloth pads are breathable, there is virtually no smell at all. That smell that comes from "sposies" is not only the menstrual blood pooling in plastic, but also from your skin not getting enough air and sweating and getting too hot. Gross.

My pads are backed by microfleece, which is a water barrier (those who do a lot of outdoorsie stuff like hiking probably know that), and also prevents my pads from sliding around. Some pads have wings if you like that. Material like fleece and flannel are naturally "clingie".

I think it's sad that there are women who are very closed minded and find their monthly flow disgusting. It's not unhygienic. You will not become infected if you touch it. Your uterus is normally a sterile area. Unless you're planning on sharing your pads, then what is the problem? I dunno. I think they need to chill a bit, lol.

what am I gonna do at school when I have to have a change? Carry a soiled pad around in my bag all day?

Well, once I ran out of the store bought pads and I was like,"What to do???" So I grabbed a washcloth and folded it and placed it in my undies.........I had no leaking problems, but then I'm a light bleeder lately. However, because it was a washcloth, it did bunch up. It didn't have that funky odor that the plastic pads have. AND, I didn't itch down there at all when I wore the washcloth! It just feels healthier and cleaner because your vagina gets to breathe! And it was simple to rinse and ring out! Then toss in the laundry. Now, armed with plenty of pad templates, I'm going to start making my own.