Wow, I can’t believe I’m writing about this! Let me take a deep breath…
Although this blog is intended to provide support for those of you who are or would like to try using cloth diapers, I want to talk briefly about a mommy related issue…menstrual pads. So we take care to be attentive to what we place on our baby’s bottom, but what about our own bottom??
For months after hearing firsthand stories about the joys of cloth menstrual pads I avoided the subject. How could the plastic from the few pads I use once a month have a significant impact on the trash in our landfills? I am ashamed to say that I used this as an excuse for so long. Plastic is plastic and no matter how much of it I put in my trash can it still takes lifetimes to decompose (if it ever really does decompose).
After a horrible incident with a plastic menstrual pad that did not perform as expected (how embarrassing!) and months of dealing with a guilty conscience (all that plastic!), eventually I came to the realization that just like cloth diapers, it doesn’t hurt to try.
So I took the plunge and bought my first set of cloth menstrual pads. My first thoughts were “hmm…this is interesting, and strangely comfortable.” How nice it was to have cotton against my skin instead of plastic. I’m sorry to Always brand who has spent billions of dollars trying to make plastic feel like cotton, let’s be honest- no matter how the plastic is “weaved” it still feels like plastic!
I LOVED that cloth pads make virtually no noise! How I hated waking in the morning and walking into the living room feeling and sounding like I had a plastic bag between my legs. And I can’t express how exciting it was to go into a public restroom and not feel humiliated by the sound of the plastic pad package opening and the horrible sound of the pad being “ripped” out of my panties. The only noise a cloth pad will make is when it is snapped into place- and even then it is a quick and simple “snap” noise.
Cloth is so much more absorbent and I have never had a leak. Reason enough to switch to cloth!
I think we are all aware of the horrible reports about how tampons and cloth pads can affect our health so I’m not going to get into this. If I’m honest, it’s not the reason I switched anyway.
Before I conclude I need to talk about the most intimidating part about cloth pads, washing them. Just like with cloth diapers we have been trained to be terrified to touch the products which come out of our bodies. It’s the reason I avoided trying cloth for so long. I knew that washing the pads required soaking them in a tub of water before wash day and the thought of that just grossed my out. Well, just like with diapers, it has become a normal part of my day for a week once a month. It’s totally no big deal!
Let’s talk about washing cloth pads. Here’s how it works:
• I collect the used cloth pads in a zippered mesh laundry bag (the kind that you can throw in the washer).
• After a day or two of collecting I place the now filled laundry bag into a bucket with cold water. I usually add some sort of soap to the cold water like a little bit of laundry detergent, some dawn, oxygen bleach, whatever suits my mood.
• After the pads have soaked overnight I take them out of the bucket, letting the water drain and then throw them into my washer. I dump the “blood water” outside- often in my garden (not with edible plants). The iron content makes them happy : ) just make sure the neighbors aren’t looking- that could be embarrassing and require much unnecessary conversation!
• I wash the pads with the rest of my “whites” laundry. I wash on hot with some grapefruit seed extract and an extra rinse.
• Either hang the pads to dry or take them out of the laundry bag and put them in the dryer with the rest of the laundry.
There are a number of types of pads to choose from, many of the companies are small businesses that make custom pads to order. I have a variety so that I can choose based on my mood.
My favorite brand is Sckoon, they have a design that allows you to use the outer wrapping more than once and just change the insert (much like Grovia diapers). I like that with these I can adjust absorbency according to my needs and they sell irregulars for a discount on their website.
www.sckoon.com
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