Why would I want to use cloth pads?
Why not? What do you have to lose?
Cloth pads are so much more comfortable than disposable pads.
They are far better for the environment than disposables, and save you money after only a short time.
They come in many different colours, fabrics and sizes – something to suit your mood and preference.
Who uses cloth pads?
* I know of women from the age of 10 using cloth pads, right the way up to elderly women.
* Since they can be used for not just menstruation, women who are not currently fertile can use them for day-to-day freshness, incontinence, and simply for comfort.
* I have a special customer who uses cloth pads to deal comfortably with her Crohn's Disease related fistulas.
*Any woman who does not want to constantly throw away disposable pads that take 500-800 years to degrade. Every single disposable pad ever made still exists out there somewhere on our beautiful planet. With half the population needing to use *something* to soak up their blood, it makes no sense for that many pads and tampons to be in landfill. None.
* Women who want their period to be comfortable. Not rashy, itchy, sweaty, crampy or dragging.
* Women who have spent a few years getting excited about the world of cloth nappies – saving landfill from thousands of disposable nappies … then having that lightbulb moment when they realise they are worth that extra comfort, too. And the cool colours.
How do I know what sized pad I need?
If you’re a disposable pad user, then you might find cloth pads are more absorbent than you think. If you use Regular, run of the mill normal pads, then a Regular pad will be your best bet. It is suitable for most women, most of the time during their bleed. Super or Maternity pad users will find the Uber pad appropriate for them, and the women who wear 2 pads at a time, one towards the front, and one towards the back will probably find the Uber Long pad just what they need.
For the lighter days you might be fine and dandy with a Mini pad.
If you’re a smaller build woman (or a New Woman) then the newer style New Woman pad could work for you.
If you’re a heavy bleeder but a small build woman, you might find you need to change more frequently, or even go for a cup with a Mini pad as a backup.
The Regular, Uber and Uber Long can all be boosted with more bamboo fleece to add absorbency. Not everyone wants to add length to their pad for more absorbency, so this gives you another option – just go a bit thicker
Each pad you click on will have a detailed description to give you a better idea.
How Many Pads do I need?
You have to think about how often you will need to change, and how often you want to wash them, and how long your bleed goes for, as well as how many times you might need to alter the type of pad you are wearing.
For example, if you use Regular pads for 3 days and Mini pads for 2 days and Uber pads at night time for the first 2 days, your stash might need to be this:
4 Regular pads + 1 Uber pad for first 24 hours
4 Regular pads + 1 Uber pad for the second 24 hours
4-5 Regular pads for the third 24 hours
4 Mini pads + 1 Regular pad for the 4th 24 hours
3-4 Mini pads + 1 Regular or Mini pad for the 5th 24 hours
1-2 Mini pads for the 6th 24 hours
If you only want to wash all of your pads once at the end of your bleed, you’re going to need around 2 Uber pads, 16 Regular pads and about 10 Mini pads.
If you would wash daily, then you could 1/2 that, reusing the pads from day 1 on day 3 while the day 2 pads are still drying, and the day 2 pads will be used while the day 1 pads are drying, ready for day 3.
The above is just an example, so you need to work out for yourself which pads you would use on which days of your cycle, depending on how heavy your bleed is. You can always purchase more pads in future if you find you’re not quite keeping up.
Also, the larger your pad stash, the longer they will last. You can keep emergency pads in your car or at work so that you don’t get caught short, and sometimes it’s just not a purple cow print kinda day!
Which way up does the pad go?
ALL of my pads have the label sewn on the wing on the bottom of the pad. So when laying the pad in your underwear, make sure that the label is facing down to the floor. Easy.
The pads may have a waterproof side, and sometimes the waterproof side might be patterned, and sometimes it’s the absorbent side. You don’t want to make the mistake of putting the pad on upside down, as your blood will just run straight off the waterproof side
How do you use pads while out and about?
Firstly, cloth pads are a little heavier than disposable pads. Therefore, you will need nice, firm undies to help keep the pad snug up against your body. No one wants saggy pad-undies under their jeans while walking down the street or under their work uniform trying to do their job.
Next, you will need a sealable bag such as a Wet Bag to keep your used pads in until you return home.
Simply put a clean pad in the wet bag in your handbag, and when you need to change your pad, just swap them over.
I found having 2 wetbags handy – a bag for the clean ones, and the other bag inside that bag for the used ones. This is handy if you need to change more than once.
Pads can also be folded in a way that makes them nice and small. Fold the top of the pad to just past the middle and the bottom of the pad up, then snap the wings across the folded bits to make a tiny bundle. This puts a lot of stress on the fabric around the snaps unless you squish the pad to loosen the tension.
Information about using your menstrual cup out and about includes this:
~ I prefer to advise a moist cloth wipe brought from home (same day, not kept for days or weeks in preparation!) rather than toilet paper. Keep it in your bag in a waterproof pouch, such as a wet bag, to wipe out your cup in a public toilet. Just take it home and wash it with your next load. ~ Jo
How do I wash them?
Care Instructions are here
Can I layby?
You can, but terms are here
Do you do custom orders?
Custom orders are taken on a case by case basis. Shoot me an email if you want to discuss a custom order, and we can talk about cost and time frames.
