Reusable Pads - Tumblr Posts
F.A.Q. about cloth pads
Do they move? They could. To avoid that, use stretchy undies. More loose are the undies, more probably the pad could move.
Do they leak? No, one of their lawyers is always waterproof or water resistant. Obviously, if you wear a light cloth pad in heavy day, it could leak as would do a disposable one. Cloth pads aren’t perfect, they could eventually leak, but neither disposables are perfect. We are used to leakage, but in my experience cloth pads leak very less often than disposables.
Do they smell bad? No. The typical smell we associate with period blood actually came from the interaction between blood and the materials that composed disposable pads. Cloth pads, if they are made of cotton and other natural material, don’t smell, because period blood has the same metallic smell of normal blood.
Waterproof or water-repellent? If you have a light flow or you bleed all around the pad, you can use both. If you have an intense flow or, like me, bleed in only one specific spot, you’ll probably need a waterproof layer in your pads (usually pul). When you’ll feel more secure, you’ll can use both too.
Isn’t that go back in the past? Lot of people told me that and that we have made lot of steps thank to the progess. But I don’t see using cloth pads as go back in the past. I see them as retourning in the correct path, a path that doesn’t pollute the Earth and that is better for my body too. They are more comfortable, less expensive, healthier (I don’t have any rush since I use them) and pretty too.
Period Products
Tampons, pads and panty liners along with their packaging and individual wrapping generate more than 200,000 tonnes of waste per year, and they all contain plastic. Pads are around 90% plastic. The average user throws away an astonishing 125-150kg of tampons, pads and applicators in their lifetime.
Flushing pads and tampons down the toilet causes sewer blockages. Many pads and tampons end up in the sea and washed up on beaches. It has been estimated that 1.5-2billion menstrual items are flushed down Britain’s toilets each year. On average 4.8 pieces of menstrual waste ads found per 100 metres of beach cleaned.
It’s estimated that it will cost over £1,500 for menstrual products over a lifetime so even with the cost of these reusable products being a potential cost worry, in the long run they save the Earth and your pocket.
Options for reusable menstral products:
Menstrual Cups
I don’t personally have any experience with these but I’m aware that these have their own good reviews. Can be worn up to 12 hours. They contain no bleach or harmful substances, they’re reusable, eco friendly and don’t create any waste. Menstrual cups are just as reliable as tampons in the leakage-prevention stakes. You can wear menstrual cups while swimming and every other form of exercise. A menstrual cup should and can last over a decade.
TOTM menstrual cup - £15.99
Superdrug
They come in three sizes.
Size 1: under 18s who do not have sex regularly (40mm diameter)
Size 2: under 30s and have not given birth vaginally (43mm diameter)
Size 3: over 30s or have given birth vaginally (46mm diameter)
Organicup menstrual cup - £18.82
Amazon
Made of soft allergy-friendly silicone. It’s 100% free of bleach, glue, perfume, lotion and basically anything that doesn’t belong inside your body. It can contain three times more than pads and tampons meaning people just need to empty it in morning and evening. It can last up to 10 years too.
Kind reusable menstrual cup - £19.95
Boots
Developed with a super soft and flexible design which is meant to guarantee long lasting comfort. It’s free from latex, BPA and phthalates and is hypoallergenic. 2 sizes available, designed with soft and rounded edges for easier insertion and ‘pressure release holes’ for easy removal.
Mooncup Reusable menstrual cup - £21.99
Feelunique.com
Collects three times as much fluid as a ‘super absorbent’ tampon. 2 sizes available and made from soft medical grade silicone.
Enna Cycle menstrual cup kit - £24.17
Amazon
2 pack. The enna cup comes with an applicator.
Intima Lily menstrual cup - £24.95
Amazon
It offers 12 hours of nonstop protection and has a unique shape for better fit. It also comes in two sizes.
Saalt menstrual cup - £24.99
Feelunique.com
It’s the ideal starter cup. You can wear the cup for up to 12 hours. And it has a scheme available to provide period care to women and girls in need with every purchase made.
Ruby Cup menstrual cup - £26
Amazon
Designed to be easy to use, soft and flexible enough to fold easily for insertion then pop open to create a leak-free seal. Plus, Ruby Cup’s ‘Buy One, Give One’ programme means that for every cup you buy, they’ll donate one to someone without access to menstrual care products.
Diva menstrual cup - £28.99
Amazon
Most well known and spoken of. It has different models also.
Reusable Period underwear
Can be comfortable and generally best for lighter flow days. Can be worn for most of the day in comfort and without leaks.
Thinx - John Lewis - £32
Absorbs around 2 regular tampon amount. A range of different styles including hip hugger, sport, boy short, thong, cotton brief, air bikini etc. Washes well without shrinkage. They’re expensive.
Bambody - amazon - £12.99
There is a leakproof barrier that extends from the front all the way through the back. These claim to be made with ‘bamboo fabric’ which is really rayon. 2 regular tampon absorbency. Styles include hipster, bikini and high waist. They’re more affordable.
Thinx BTWN - shethinx.com - £18.28
Designed specifically for younger women. 2 regular tampon absorbency. Styles include shorty, brief and bikini.
Knix - knix.com - $30
Full coverage shorts from knix are meant for comfortable sleeping during your period. 3 tampon absorbency. Styles include dream short, bikini, thong, boy short, cheeky and high rise.
Proof - shopproof.com - $25
Styles in absorbency that range from super light (1-2 tampons) to super heavy (5 tampons). Styles include brief, hipster, thong and bikini. Made of a comfortable material but it’s only available in two colours.
Dear Kate - soma.com - £10-22
Lined with three layers of fabric and are available in two different absorbancies: mini or full. They’re available in a wide range of sizes XS-3X and have a pretty lace trim. Styles include hipster, brief and thong. They’re not ideal for heavy days or overnight use.
Reusable pads
Washable sanitary pads are an easy alternative, they can vary in size and price depending on where you buy them from. They’re generally pressstud closed. They can have a variety of patterns also. Not the best bet for sporting purposes as increased movement can dislodge the pad and cause paranoia -trust me.
Eco Lily Bamboo Charcoal Sanitary towels - amazon - £21.99
The bamboo charcoal is to neutralise odours, with three layers of absorbant microfibres underneath and a waterproof outer layer. The set includes six pads which are suitable for overnight or heavy flow use a one size fits all design. The set comes with a waterproof pouch. They can be washed by hand or in the machine.
Bloom & Nora - amazon - £72.18
Beautifully made and printed liners and pads. This starter kit gives you a range of different sizes (10 in total) to get you through the heaviest and lightest days. Made from soft bamboo and certified with nothing nasty in them. These can be used up to 10 years which could save £2k down the line. You also get two bringer wash bags in this kit.
Rovtop - amazon - £17.99
Set of 10 including two wash bags. The pads are made with bamboo charcoal fibre, microfibres and an outer layer.
Teamoy - amazon - £20.99
Starter kit comes with 10 pads in three different sizes to suit a range of flow days. Made with an antibacterial charcoal bamboo layer with two layers of microfibre and a waterproof outer, they won’t irritate sensitive skin.
Natissy - amazon - £32.97
6 pack of pads that have wings that come in a range of prints and have a soft organic design.
i learned that each woman spends approximately $5,600 on her period over her lifetime (x)
I teamed up with one of my friends who helped to make menstrual products free on our college campus to make these graphics about periods & sustainability! (info sourced from this natgeo article)