What is this?

Reusable cloth pads with wings are designed for managing menstruation and maintaining menstrual health. These pads are composed of multiple layers:

• Top Sheet: Made from materials like organic cotton, bamboo velour, hemp fleece, cotton flannel, cotton jersey, cotton fleece, or poly jersey.

• Middle Absorbent Core: Includes absorbent fabrics such as cotton, polyester, cotton terry toweling, cotton fleece, hemp fleece, bamboo fleece, bamboo terry, cotton jersey, Zorb, and microfiber terry.

• Leak-Proof Layer: Typically made of polyurethane laminate (PUL) at the bottom to prevent leaks.

The pads feature securement mechanisms like plastic buttons, waist straps, Velcro, or similar attachments to ensure the wings firmly attach to underwear, preventing dislocation during use.

What is it made of?

Some commonly used fabrics for making include terry cloth, cotton, silk, hemp, and Gore-Tex. Specialty fabrics such as hemp, bamboo terry, bamboo velour, soy French terry, wool interlock and polyurethane laminate (PUL) may be used as well. 

How to use it?

• To wear, place the reusable cloth pad onto your underwear, just like you would place a disposable pad.

• Unlike adhesive to attach to the underwear, these pads have clip-on buttons that fasten around the bottom and prevent any kind of pad movement. 

• Note that wearing a fitted regular underwear works well. Avoid a loose fit panty.

• Use it like a regular sanitary pad for 4-5 hours, depending on the menstrual flow. You may be surprised to see that cloth pads may last longer in terms of absorption and require change less frequently. 

• How to wash your cloth pads- Once you are done using the pad, soak it into cold water. If you were outside and stored the pad in a wet bag, soak it in once you are back. Soaking the cloth pad helps lift the blood stain. If soaking is not possible, rinse the pad properly. Once the bloodstains are out, toss it into the machine with other delicates or wash it by hand using liquid detergent. Rub it gently. Do not squeeze them.

Pros and Cons :

Pros

• Reusable 

• Cost-effective

• Good for the environment

• Fewer chemicals

• Comfortable

• Cloth menstrual pads are healthier for your body

• They are good for the planet

Cons

• Cloth pads can leave stains

• Washing them can be time consuming

• Initial investment is high

• Heavier/bulkier than disposable pads

• Not as easily available as disposable pads

• Special care needs to be taken in case of any blood disease. 

• Can shift more than stick on disposable pads