Proceeds and commissions from these items will support the We Gotchya period supply program.
LunaPads
If you want to build a lasting relationship with a responsible company, consider Lunapads. No surprise, they are women-owned and focused on helping women worldwide. Their Pads4Girls program provides reusable menstrual products to millions of girls in poverty-stricken countries.
When you make a purchase, you’ll be helping your “sisters in need”. Lunapads works with AfriPads, and other NGOs and other organizations, to provide education, also. AfriPads actually manufactures and sells reusable pads — it’s a brilliant program that not only employs women in Africa, but also provides a sustainable, environmentally friendly product for monthly protection.
If you’re new to reusable pads, Lunapads has a “Matchmaker Quiz” and “How to Choose” sections on their website. You can even start a buying club to order large quantities for you and your friends.
They’re a fantastic group of women who have assisted We Gotchya in preparing menstrual information to House of Hope Haiti, an orphanage we support.
Get $10 off your first order using the links from this site.
Reusable Menstrual Pads
If you’re wondering about reusable sanitary cloths, the best way to know if they’re for you is to try them out. We’ve got a couple here for you to consider.
We like reusable pads because of the obvious benefit to the environment — let’s not flush so many tampons down the toilet. Reusable pads can last for years if they are properly cared for.
If you’re new to reusable pads, here’s how they work: You attach the pad to your underwear by wrapping the wing to the outer side of the panty. This is a typical approach to reusable pads, though some may have more snaps than others.
If you’re using reusables, a wet bag can be super important on workdays or if you’re traveling or, frankly, any time you’re not at home. When you need to change, you fold your used pad in half and put it in one of the two compartments — one side is for new pads one for used. When you get home, rinse out the used pads and then soak them in a large bin of cold water (see options below) with a splash of high-quality eucalyptus oil. Soak the pads until you’re ready to wash a load of clothes — you can soak the pads for days. When you’re ready to wash a load of clothes, just throw the pads in with the rest of your dirty laundry. Avoid bleach and avoid harsh detergents, both of which tend to break down the absorbent properties of reusable pads. Wikihow has an excellent, illustrated information page with more options for cleaning reusable pads.
Some reusable pad manufacturers have different sizes available, like the Teamoy brand here. In general, a pad that is at least 10 inches could be used overnight. Teamoy has a large size that is 11.6 inches long, which is pretty nice for nighttime use.
One option here is by Heart Felt — they are all-natural, charcoal-infused pads that reduce smells. They come in packs of 5 10-inch pads.
Another option is a similar product by Teamoy. Teamoy’s pads are made with four layers of antibacterial, charcoal bamboo fiber with a water-resistant outer layer. This option comes with 6 pads, either small (7.9 inches), medium (10-inches) or large (11.6 inches). You also get a matching wet bag included in the set.
See more reusable menstrual pads at Amazon.
Soaking Bin
We mentioned above that you can soak your reusable menstrual pads until laundry day. Of course, there are many options for this, and here’s one from Amazon: Teyyvn 1.8-gallon trash can, with a swing lid.
If you rinse your used pads after use — or at the end of the day if you are carrying a wet bag — you’ll avoid long-term staining. After rinsing, you can put the pad in a bin or tub of cold water to soak until laundry day. Don’t use hot water, as that will actually make the stains set.
This Teyyvn trash can could be just the right place to soak pads because it’s a good size to hold a nice amount of water, and the swing-top lid is nice and discreet — no one has to look at the soaking pads! Put a few drops of high-quality eucalyptus oil in the water to help with smells. This works better than any detergent in the soaking stage, so, keep it simple!
Change the water every couple of days if necessary. The more you rinse your pad before soaking, the less you have to change the water.
On laundry day, just toss the pads in with the rest of your laundry. You can dry the pads, too, but figure out the drying method that makes your pads as flat as possible for you. You don’t want to have to iron them, so laying flat or hanging on a line might do the trick, it just depends on your pad choice.
See WikiHow’s detailed instructions for washing reusable pads.
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