cloth verdict

[copperbeech.livejournal.com]

So I've sampled 3 varieties of cloth pads over the last 3 months and I've several observations.

Products:
Luna Pads were the ones most widely recommended and were my least favorite.  While the concept that you can change the pad without having to change the holder is wonderful, I found the regular ones incredibly bulky.  They are very absorbent, as a result of the pad, and the doubly thick holder.  They were reminiscent of the old days when commercial maxis were an inch thick and felt like i was wearing a mattress.  And even though they were cloth, I could still hear them rustling when I walked.   They also chafed me, I think because everything was so crowded. 

Glad Rags worked really well.  I got a few of their regular pads mostly because they are locally available.  I could get them and try them immediately.  I liked these much better, but they are very $$ compared to others, so I decided to still shop around some.  These averaged $10.99 apiece.  They don't feel like I'm wearing anything at all and worked wonderfully.

Pandora Pads are the bomb.  The regular ones are not too thick and were very comfortable.  It didn't feel like I was wearing anything, and they can be bought in sets of 4, making them a tad cheaper than Glad Rags, with the same basic construction.  These have a terry cloth and flannel lined insert.  They only come with one each but that has been plenty.   These are the ones I am going with for the long haul and will use Glad Rags to supplement them when necessary.

I looked at others but either did not like the design (right angles) or they were not available in any timely fashion (some are made to order and take a long time).

Overall:

• I bleed less on cloth pads.  Everyone said it; I was dubious.  But I swear my period each time has suddenly lasted not quite 3 days.  Generally mine is about 5+ days.  


• Cloth pads are immensely more comfortable than synthetic ones.


• Washing them out is easy and my houseplants are elated.

Comments

[theretohere.livejournal.com]

Thanks for the reviews! Cloth pads really are superior to the synthetic and although the intial investment is expensive in the long run it pays off.

[copperbeech.livejournal.com]

yes and the garden plants as well. =)
they get the initial soak water.

[jennifer0246.livejournal.com]

menstrual blood is great plant food.

[copperbeech.livejournal.com]

in pagan cultures that is called "moonwater" and it's highly nutritious to plant life (after all it was going to host a fetus), and it's also highly energetically charged =)

[auraesque.livejournal.com]

Excellent reviews! Thanks. =)

thank you for this post!!!

[curseoflostdays.livejournal.com]

i have a question, did you go from using tampons to using cloth? i noticed you said you bled less... i know that tampons cause more bleeding, so i was just wondering. i haven't used tampons in years, and i'm actually really interested in switching from disposable store bought pads to cloth.

Re: thank you for this post!!!

[copperbeech.livejournal.com]

no, i don't use tampons at all and haven't. just the random synthetic pads for years. it's been a fantastic change =)

Re: thank you for this post!!!

[curseoflostdays.livejournal.com]

ahh, that's wonderful to know, thanks!

Re: thank you for this post!!!

[tarzie.livejournal.com]

How the heck does a tampon cause MORE bleeding? Aren't you going to bleed whatever you have in there to bleed, regardless of tampon, pad, or whatever else you choose to use?

Re: thank you for this post!!!

[jennifer0246.livejournal.com]

y'know, i've tried to figure this out for myself. i have no idea. it doesn't seem to make sense, but it's true. weird, eh?

Re: thank you for this post!!!

[curseoflostdays.livejournal.com]

there's bleach in tampons, it causes you to bleed more.

[strangersheart.livejournal.com]

awesome, this post is great!

[jennifer0246.livejournal.com]

i already tagged it, but i'll also recommend it for the archives. :)

(check out contact_vp and join up if you like making suggestions like this - we love input, but don't always see every comment)

[nessy82.livejournal.com]

can i ask a silly question?
how do cloth pads stay in your undies? are they sticky like other pads or do they just stay?

[copperbeech.livejournal.com]

the have wings that fold beneath your panties like winged synthetic pads, only these wings have snaps on them =) they anchor pretty well.

Hag Rags!

[solestria.livejournal.com]

Hag Rag (http://www.hagrag.bigstep.com/) are another really good one, that are quite a bit cheaper than anything else I've found. They always have some sale items with really good deals, and they sent me extra inserts with my first order. Also, not only can you buy all-organic, but even the ones that aren't entirely organic have a top layer of organic cotton so you're not putting any icky chemicals on your sensitive bits.

[socal1968.livejournal.com]

Thanks! I've been thinking of switching lately. :) I'm adding this post to my favorites.