About 9 years ago, I first learned about washable cloth pads from the chaotic forums of the babycenter app, when I was pregnant with my second kiddo. We were discussing cloth diapers, and someone referred to them as "mama cloth". I was already using cloth diapers for my baby, so I thought I would look into a washable option for myself.
Here's what made me curious about trying cloth pads:
- Better for the Environment: One person uses roughly 11,000 disposable period products in their lifetime. That's a lot of waste! Cloth pads can last 5+ years with proper care.
- Saves Money: Yes, the upfront cost is higher, but you'll save hundreds of dollars in the long run.
- Gentler on Your Body: No mysterious ingredients or plastic against your skin. Just soft, breathable fabric.
- Surprisingly Comfortable: Cloth pads can feel just like soft cotton underwear. You can choose the texture that you prefer. Some people like fuzzy fabrics like bamboo velour, while others prefer smooth, cool fabrics like athletic wicking jersey or quilter’s cotton.
- Convenient: if you are surprised by the start of your period, you don’t have to wonder if you still have pads/tampons on hand. You can just grab a cloth pad from the bathroom.
- They are fun to sew
Are They Actually Absorbent?
"What about heavy flow days?" Cloth pads can be just as absorbent as disposables, sometimes even more so. The key is choosing the right absorbency level and changing them at appropriate intervals, just like you would with disposables. I usually change whenever I go to the bathroom, because there’s no concern about wasting a pad/tampon that’s hardly been used. I can feel fresh without worrying about waste.
Most cloth pads come in different absorbency levels (different shops use a variety of terms to describe their absorbency levels, but in general:
- Liner (light days/backup to menstrual cup/disk)
- Regular (light to moderate flow)
- Heavy (heavy flow/overnight)
- Super (very heavy flow/postpartum)
How Many Do You Actually Need?
Let's break it down for a typical cycle:
- 6-8 Regular absorbency
- 3-4 Heavy/Overnight pads
- 3-4 Pantyliners
- Total: 12-16 pads
This number allows you to wash every 2-3 days during your period. You might want to start with a smaller number to test what works for you.
Snapped widths. A common width that a pad will snap at, is 2.5 inches wide, in the middle. Some people like pads that are as wide as 3-4 inches. It can be really nice to have extra wide/long pads to wear at night.
How Do You Clean Them?
Here's my simple routine:
1. Right After Use: Rinse with cold water until the water runs clear
2. Storage Until Wash Day: Store in a dry bag or wet bag (more on this later!)
3. Washing:
- Toss them in with your regular laundry, or towels
- Use regular detergent, in a normal amount (avoid fabric softener)
- Wash on warm or hot
4. Drying: Either hang to dry or put in the dryer on medium heat
If you're worried about stains, letting them dry in direct sunlight can significantly reduce their appearance. Using dark fabrics makes it easy to avoid stains. Light blue cotton seems to be the color most prone to showing stains, when it happens.
"But Won't They Leak?"
Modern cloth pads are a reliable option as long as you buy or sew them in a shape that fits your body.
They typically have:
- Waterproof backing
- Wings that snap securely
- Multiple absorbent layers
- Various sizes for different flows
Cloth Pads outside the house
One of the biggest concerns people have is managing cloth pads outside the home. Here's what works for me:
1. Carry a small wet bag in your purse, or backpack (they're cute and look like makeup bags)
2. Change pad as needed
3. Fold used pad inward and snap closed
4. Place in wet bag until you get home
The Price Tag Question
Cloth pads seem expensive upfront. A single pad might cost $12-25, compared to cents for disposables. But here's the math:
Cost Comparison Over 5 Years:
Disposables:
$7/month × 12 months × 5 years = $420
Cloth Pads:
Initial investment for 15 pads at $15 each = $225
(Plus minimal laundry costs)
Are They Safe?
Absolutely! In fact, many people report fewer irritations and more comfort with cloth pads because they're:
- Free from bleaches and synthetic materials
- Breathable
- Easily washable
- Made with skin-safe fabrics
- Fragrance free
Getting Started: Sizing and Absorbency Guide
What length and absorbency should I get? Common lengths to start with:
8” for light pads
10-12” for moderate flow
12-16” for night time or heavy days.
Some people use pads over 20” long, which is not something you can get in disposable form, unless you go with disposable underwear.
Start with 2-3 different sizes and styles to find what works best for you before investing in a full set. It’s totally fine to use a pad that is longer and more absorbent than you need, unlike tampons. Some people find that they like longer, wider pads just because they are more comfy and stay in place better.
Storage Solutions
At home, you have several options:
- Clean pads: Store in a drawer or basket
- Used pads awaiting wash: Keep in a breathable wet bag or hanging wet bag
Making the switch to cloth pads might seem daunting at first, but start small, maybe with just a few pads, and see how you like them. You might be surprised at how easy and comfortable the switch can be.
Sew Your Own: A Creative (and Cost-Saving) Option
If you are crafty and want to sew your own pads, it can be a fun project project. It takes about 20-30 minutes to make a pad, and it helps me look forward to my period, so I can use what I made.
Why Sew Your Own Pads?
- Save Even More Money: Your cost per pad drops significantly when you make them yourself
- Choose Your Perfect Fabrics: choose the texture and decorative pattern that you enjoy
- Customize Sizes: Make exactly what works for your body and flow
- Build confidence: There's nothing quite like learning to make a new thing and using something you made yourself.
If you're interested in trying your hand at making your own pads, you can download my free sewing pattern. I've also created detailed YouTube tutorials that walk you through the process, making it accessible even for beginning sewists.
What You'll Need:
- Basic sewing machine
- Scissors
- Pins
- Fabrics:
- Top layer (cotton, flannel, or bamboo velour)
- Core layers (flannel, bamboo fleece, hemp fleece, zorb)
- Waterproof backing (PUL fabric, polyester fleece or softshell fleece)
- Snaps and snap pliers (or sew-on snaps)
Many people in my facebook group have shared that making their own pads helped transform their perspective on periods. Instead of dreading "that time of the month," they look forward to using their handmade creations.
I love the way you structure ideas to explain all the context, making and using of cloth pads.
I think each of us has a very personal path that led to the use of cloth pads, in my case it was a health issue, I had endometriosis, and my search for options to manage my menstruation and my daughter’s, took me there. I had already learned to sew so i was just getting started, and my first pattern was one from Versodile, I enjoyed the sewing process and testing the final result. If someone does not know how to sew and is considering the idea of learning, I would encourage her to do so, I started at 35 years old,…