Interested in cloth pads

[korfire]

Hi there I'm searching for info on what brands are good etc.

How many layers of bamboo is best for the average person? Do stains come out? Bit overwhelming.

Advice pls and any experience is welcome.

[MagicGirl79]

I'll be stalking this thread cause I'm curious too.

Not sure about all the different options: PUL/no PUL, cotton/velour/flanelette top, microsuede, hemp/bamboo

Argh! It's tough...

[ElizaDoLittle]

Very interested but very confused too....

[Bellini]

I have cloth along with my cup. I mostly use Scarlet Eve, although I have a few other WAHM ones too.

The SE ones are all bamboo inners topped with flannelette, which I find is soft and comfy, and they also have PUL to prevent leakage. I bought a big pack for $100 or so.

Most stains come out in the sun, just like cloth nappies. Although I can't say the stains bother me in the slightest, i'm the only one that ever sees them and it doesn't mean they aren't clean. A number of mine are red/dark colours anyway or have lots of patterns, so you wouldn't be able to tell either way.

The absorbency entirely depends upon how heavy your period gets. Some need more absorbency, some need less :)

[korfire]

Thank you for that info. Thought I might just buy a few to try them out i the future.

Are the silk ones any good?

[Bellini]

I haven't tried silk ones yet, but i'm sure someone on here has :)

[RaryGirl]

I like the Twinkle Lily ones ... I like the bamboo topped cloth pads ... very comfy against the skin.

I tend to stick with a darker colour fabric as I've found stains harder to get out of the lighter colours.

[NibbleCurlynBub]

With cloth pads there are so many variables.

Waterproofing: Some pads will have PUL, a breathable but waterproof fabric just the same as that used in nicer MCNs. It is not thick and doesn't feel like plastic.
Some will have wool on the back as an anti-leak barrier, its not as leak-proof as PUL but is still a great option.
Others will have no waterproofing. I honestly prefer mine this way, I tend to use PUL only overnight.
Inner fabrics: The best choices are going to be hemp or bamboo. Both are fantastic choices, both absorb more than regular cotton and are less bulky than terry.
Styles: There are tons of different kinds. Some are fold-up, some are pockets, some are flip-out, some are AIO (all-in-one, so one piece), some are flip-out etc.
Securing: Obviously you want a good pad to stay where it belongs. I personally would always choose polyacetal (sp?) resin snaps. They are a kind of plastic. They do not rust and hold very well. Other kinds of securing are velcro, a button or even a metal snap.
Pads without wings would usually have a backing like corduroy, to keep it from moving around.
Outer fabric: The fabric that you wear against your skin.
This can be most commonly bamboo velour, cotton or flannelette. Many people prefer organic fabrics, which many pad makers will have.
You can choose undyed organic fabrics, or colourful, fun prints, colours or even (my favourite!) hand dyed fabrics, usually velour.

Care/washing:
Having a soaking container in your bathroom is a great choice. I have a honey container.
Each time you take one off, you pop it in there and fill the container with cold water.
When you are ready to wash your pads, tip them into the machine and put through a quick rinse, then through a wash. You can wash other clothes with them, or towels, though I would understand not wanting to. The soaking water is GREAT for plants, so if you are inclined to, tip the water in your garden.

Normal wash, on cold.
DON'T wash on hot, this will 'set' the stains.
DON'T use washing powder with softeners in them. They will ruin the PUL and the absorbent inners.
DO pre-wash your pads when you get them.
The fabrics will probably have been washed before by the maker, BUT it is safer to wash yourself, as some people can have reactions to certain kinds of washing powder.
DO hang them out in the sun to dry. This will get rid of stains, yay! :yelclap:
If you have thrush, washing with canesten might help, although the sun really is MAGIC and will kill any bacteria.

Disclaimer etc:
Cloth pads are NOT dirty, are NOT unsanitary and are definitely not gross. The disposable ones are the new way and they DO contain bleaches and perfumes and in my case I found that I would get a bit of a rash when using them, as well as feeling very yuck with them. I was very uncomfortable with the idea of having something plastic and with sticky bits in my underwear. Since changing to cloth, I not only have the need for less pads because I am bleeding LESS overall (ie not as heavy) but I feel like I am RESPECTING my own body.
Plus, being very fussy, I am able to choose what my pads look and feel like, yay!

Not many people think about cloth, but this was the default thing used thing for women for SO LONG! Modern cloth pads are similar to modern cloth nappies in that they are EASY to use, easy to care for and are nicer than ever!

I have NOT found cloth pads to be bulky (a really common concern). Quite the opposite, I have found that they don't 'bunch' or 'crinkle' in the crotch like disposables did when I used them.

One cloth pad will last anywhere from 2 to 10 YEARS, some even longer. HUGE savings and not having to pass disposable pad packets through checkouts is something I do not miss!

Where to get some!:
BubHub has a link directory, but googling these names will find you some stores:
The Cloth Pad Shop (a collaborative store)
Scarlet Eve
Twinkle Lily
Go With the Flo (US but beautiful)
Etsy (search for 'cloth mama pad' or 'cloth menstrual pad')
Bohemian Rainbow
Obsidian Star
Outrageous!

Hope that helps. I remember feeling very confused and 'new' to all of this too!
I know its long, but sadly respecting our bodies and our world in a more sustainable way is beginning to be lost to us, such is a disposable society!

This section is a tad lacking, so anyone feel free to pass this around anywhere if need be. :)