Reusable sanitary pads or liners are often made from layers of cloth or flannelled material which clip to your underwear. They are super-absorbent and gentle on your skin, and they are often hand-made with a wide range of patterns and sizes available.
Reusable period pads work in a very similar way to disposable sanitary pads. You simply attach them to your underwear, with the patterned side facing down and the fleece side facing upwards. Use the poppers to keep them attached to your underwear and prevent them from slipping. Just like disposable pads, you’ll need to change them regularly to ensure they aren’t saturated.
Before you use your new reusable sanitary pads, it’s best to pop them in the wash. This will not only clean them but increase their absorbency. Whether you’re washing your pads for the first time or after your period, you can put them into a normal wash on a 40℃ cycle, but don’t add fabric softener as this can affect the absorbency of the material inside the pads.
After you’ve worn your pad and you’re ready to wash them, it’s a good idea to pre-rinse them with natural soap or cold water to help prevent staining. Soak the pads and ring them dry until the water runs clear.
After they’ve been in the wash, leave them to air dry.
If you’re out and about and need to change your pad, bring a waterproof bag such as a zip lock bag with you to store your used pad until you get home. The pads you buy might even come with a handy reusable bag!
“All of a sudden, it clicked for me one day that my period was creating so much waste. I decided to try reusable period products in an attempt to be more eco-friendly. First, I tried a menstrual cup but it just didn’t work for me, maybe because I’m not used to using tampons. Then I tried reusable pads and period pants and I LOVE them so much! They are so soft and comfortable; they make my period a little bit easier to handle!” – Amanda
Make your pledge to switch to reusables