I think that most ladies today would look at you as if you were an alien if you even suggested they switched to using the old school, classic cloth pads instead of the modern sanitary napkins.
But are cloth pads really such a bad idea as we all initially believe? We’ll try to find out in today’s article where two womanly products face off: Cloth Pads VS Sanitary Napkins, and we’ll have our answer to the burning question: “are cloth pads any good?” especially since you can’t always just stop your period.
I believe that everybody knows and has used the disposable sanitary napkins and very few ladies out there used or at least know exactly what these cloth pads are. So we’ll talk about them first because they’re today’s center of attraction!
What are cloth pads for menstruation?
Cloth pads are green. They save nature, they save the planet, they make us feel better as a person. But there’s usually an “ewww” chain reaction that follows once you mention them because, well… cloth pads are reusable, which means that they have to be cleaned and dried before you can use them again.
Yes, it’s a lot easier to pack them, throw them away and forget they ever existed… but gross things are not always the worst. Especially if you care about this planet’s future.
And it’s not just the planet’s future that makes cloth pads a good choice when it comes to your menstrual cycle!
They are also a lot healthier according to studies (unless you buy organic sanitary napkins): the regular ones can contain all sorts of chemicals, pesticides and/or petrochemical products.
Also, tampons can cause toxic shock syndrome – although that’s pretty rare nowadays. Plus, the price element comes into mind: an average lady is believed to use up to 300 disposable sanitary napkins in her lifetime, which makes them a lot more expensive than the ones you can reuse.
If you multiply 300 with the billions of ladies on this planet, you get a ton of waste and plastic and harm done to our world. Sure, many would agree that there are far more serious harms done than traditional sanitary napkins, but every little thing helps when it comes to saving our planet.
Also, cloth pads are not as icky as you might they are – but it all depends on personal preferences.
Have in mind that you will have to wash them and you can’t just throw them in the washing machine – you have to rinse them first which might be a big “No” for some ladies out there. It’s not something that looks, feels or is extremely pleasant, to be honest, but it’s something you can eventually get accustomed to.
Many of us have a strong stomach anyway and we can handle a bit of blood – especially since it’s ours.
Another important thing to know about them is that cloth pads don’t leak, contrary to common belief – even though there is a risk they will. However, some brands even offer cloth pads lined with waterproof fabric if you want to be extra careful.
They are indeed bulkier than your ultra-thins, but nobody’s perfect! Not even sanitary napkins or cloth pads. But the latter are, in my opinion, the choice you should make because the pros outweigh the cons.
Plus, it is said that the classic cloth pads (which can have a life of up to several years if they’re of high quality and are used correctly), reduce menstrual cramps, risks for infections and skin rashes, being healthier overall as we’ve already said.
Plus it’s also a bit empowering for women to use them, which is always a nice bonus in my opinion. And for some, the fact that you can even customize them on some occasions and they have all those cute models and whatnot is also a big bonus. This makes them really yours.
Of course, in the end it all depends on what type of person you are and how much you can get past the “yuck factor” that involves having to clean them after each use. It also does take a bit of time to do so and we rarely find time for ourselves nowadays…
I personally believe that it’s all worth the trouble though and if you agree with me and you want to give cloth pads a try, I have selected some recommended models that I am sharing below to help get you started on the right foot (affiliate links):
– Wegreeco Bamboo Reusable Sanitary Pads
– Reusable Mama Cloth/ Menstrual Pads
– 8 Pieces Menstrual Set (includes cup)
You should try them out and you might just fall in love with them! And don’t hesitate to share your opinion with us about the reusable cloth pads – we’d love to hear your story or opinion!