They have even been described as “a dressing gown for your lady bits”! But opting out of some of these cookies may have an effect on your browsing experience. These cookies do not store any personal information. Menstrual cups were my second menstrual revolution, and I haven’t turned back since. Plus I love trying new things anyway. When you change your pad, you can pop the used pad into a bucket of water to soak and put on a fresh pad. If you find that this is too long, you can use a dryer for washed clothes or even dry them with a hair dryer. I haven't dreaded the mess that comes with my period in years, and this stuff just feels easier to deal with, since they last longer and work better and I don't have to worry about stuff like toxic shock syndrome (yes this is rare anyway but I'm kinda paranoid). But for most people, just rinsing with soap and putting them in the washing machine is enough. They came without washing instructions. Unpredictable and bulky. You can hand or machine wash the pads, stick to a 40’ cycle and avoid using heavy fabric conditioner – this can affect the absorbency of the material inside the pads. I always needed a sweatshirt to feel safe so I could wrap it around my waist in case of an emergency. My pants AND underwear came out of it unscathed! Usually, the pads can be safely added to your general laundry, and don't need to be on a separate load (that can use up extra water/ energy). RELATED: New Marijuana Tampons Claim To Permanently Relieve Your Cramps. +44 (0)7395 286780, DONATIONS ENQUIRIES I have not used pads since my early period days, and I really had no intention of ever going back since they were total failures for my inexperienced flowing youth. Reusable menstrual products aren't for everyone, especially for the particularly squeamish. We use cookies to make wikiHow great. I had THOUGHT that I would want the patterned side up so the blood would blend in with the design, and the directions said "smooth side up" which was both sides... but then I took a minute to actually rethink it and realized that even though it was working fine, it was wrong. These pads are great. Are cloth pads comfortable? You can hand or machine wash the pads, stick to a 40’ cycle and avoid using heavy fabric conditioner – this can affect the absorbency of the material inside the pads. Those were enough reasons for me to give a menstrual cup a shot, and I didn't regret it. RELATED: 11 Absolutely HILARIOUS PMS Stories Prove Womanhood Is TOUGH. Just like with menstrual cups, they made my five days of gore fly by with ease. Too little to justify a whole cup, too much to go unprotected. That will help kill all the bacteria that has stayed on the pad from using it. RELATED: 5 Reasons Periods Are Literally The Bloody WORST.