the joy of cloth pads

I'd been thinking for a long time about making the switch to cloth menstrual pads simply to help the environment, but it wasn't until recently that I made the switch. I currently live in South Korea, where disposable pads are easy to find and purchase here, but unfortunately most of them seem to be scented, and my body finds the chemicals used for the scents... irritating, shall we say. After months of misery, I made the plunge and ordered some cloth pads from Crea8tiveMama who sells handmade cloth pads on Etsy. Here's an example of what they look like:


I wasn't entirely sure what to expect: Would they be uncomfortable? Gross? Well, it turns out that they are incredibly comfortable. It really didn't feel like I was wearing a pad at all, and the flannel fabric was much kinder to my body than even unscented disposable pads. Compared to the scented disposables, these were heavenly. Additionally, there was no leakage at all.

The one thing that might be considered a little gross by some people, is that the best way to care for these is to soak them in cold water immediately after taking them off. This means that when you come back a few hours later you have a cold bucket of bloody water to dispose of. I washed the pre-soaked pads in with my regular laundry, and they came through just fine. The staining is surprisingly minor (and it's not like whether or not they get stained is an issue, considering).

Additionally, I haven't yet been in a position where I've had to change pads while not at my house, which is good as I haven't figured out what exactly one does with a soiled pad when you can't throw it in the trash and when there isn't a bucket of water waiting to soak it in. I'll let you know when I figure this out!