Reusable Cotton Feminine Napkins. $15.00
Cotton flannel pads are a good choice for anyone concerned about their health and the health of the planet. Consider giving them to your daughter as a “Welcome to Womanhood” gift at her special time.
Cotton flannel pads are very comfortable, and they are not nearly as inconvenient as you may imagine. They are also surprisingly absorbent for their size. I wish I had started using them long before I did.
Probably not something everyone wants to think about but I’m going to leave this WTF up to you.
Why?
Some time ago Etsy featured reusable cloth pads in The Dorque. Apparently Etsy is the place to buy and sell cloth pads, but maybe there’s a reason for that. Did Etsy’s little feature really convert anyone or were they wasting their breath….again?
And who gives their daughter a “Welcome to Womanhood” present?!
Posted by Life During Wartime on July 20, 2009 at 11:25 pm
Welcome to Womanhood? So she can re-enact how it was in the time before women could vote?
Posted by elizabeth on July 22, 2009 at 8:28 pm
These things sell, and if you use pads, actually make a lot of sense green-wise and economy-wise. They’re really not much different in concept than cloth diapers, you’ll save tons of money not buying disposables, save tons of space in the landfill, and as far as the mess, it’s not much different than a cloth diaper either.
It’s not a new concept, what do you think women used before they invented disposables? Yep, cloth! And they had to wash them and re-use them. I do believe that the term ‘on the rag’ came from women using cloth rags during their period.
I’ll bet this seller is going to do pretty well with the hunky pad there.
Posted by EtsyWTF on July 23, 2009 at 1:15 pm
Yeah, you’re preaching to the choir a bit there. I do know they’re greener, cheaper and not a new alternative, I just wanted to know what the consensus was. I wasn’t suggesting they’re a bad thing, but they’re obviously not for every woman.
And I’m really not sure about the “Welcome to Womanhood” thing. I can’t see reusable cloths being something a teenage girl would even consider using.
Posted by elizabeth on July 22, 2009 at 8:31 pm
oops, I was thinking of this pad when I wrote that last sentence:
http://homemadehilarity.blogspot.com/2009/07/playgirl-centerfold-of-month.html
I had just been on that blog before this one.
Posted by Nicky on July 23, 2009 at 6:55 pm
haha… I’d be PISSED if my mother had given me a welcome to womanhood gift. I am also aware that they are greener. My problem with this ‘green’ movement is that somethings are best left not green in my opinion and pads is one of them. Something about washing messy pads is disgusting. Maybe biodegradable ones would be a step in the right direction. Until those are made I’m sticking to my plastic partners in crime!
Posted by Eveline on July 26, 2009 at 11:34 am
My mum did a little dance the first time she could wear pads, and not have to worry about these cloth ones that would smell and had to be hand washed and dried on the line… Why go back? I too am well aware of them being ‘green’, but come on, it’s just a few days every month. You’re already in pain and grumpy and misserable, why force yourself to worry about washing and drying these cloths?
Posted by Dagnabbit on July 27, 2009 at 9:31 am
Do like the Native Americans did: dig up a hunk of sphagnum moss and ram it up there. It is also antibacterial. I see items like this as a step back, not a step forward. Mom used rags and had to wash them out and reuse them– it was disgusting, smelly, and a chore. This isn’t much different.
Posted by Nicky on August 3, 2009 at 9:04 am
…not to mention you’d ruin the lovely fabric…
Posted by moonpads on August 11, 2009 at 3:48 am
Ha ha I knew reusable menstrual pads would be on here somewhere!
I’m a full time crafter and creator of Moonpads reusable menstrual pads. And i have to say, it is so fun to tell people about what i do at parties… there is this amazing dropped jaw “did you really say what i thought you just said?” look on their faces. or i get a big high five and squeals of delight. It’s awesome!
Reusable menstrual pads are way more comfy than disposable pads, easy to use, better for the planet and your health and save you money. And as strange as the concept may seem to some, they are growing in popularity. And I’ve tried to take the concept as far as possible, with fun patterns like sock monkeys and sugar skulls. I mean, if you’re going to be grumpy and in pain, why not use something pretty or silly or fun that makes you smile a little bit?
Thanks for sharing the fun!
Posted by moonpads on August 11, 2009 at 3:51 am
oh, and speaking of disgusting- how about that disposable pad or tampon after it’s sat in your trash can for a week? come on, now that is gross. and talk about smelly!
you just rinse reusables and hang them out to dry till you do wash. i think they’re actually WAAAYYYY less gross than disposables!
also, they allow air movement, unlike plastic pads, so ladies, you’ll find that there is less odor to begin with when using reusables.
check me out http://www.epicerma.etsy.com
Posted by MadeByM**** on August 12, 2009 at 7:43 pm
But you still have to rinse them out………
Posted by stephanie on August 12, 2009 at 12:18 am
use em. love em. and PLAN on giving a set to my teenage daughter when the time comes. cheers!
Posted by MadeByM**** on August 12, 2009 at 7:38 pm
I understand the “green” part of it, but I am so grateful someone invented the disposable ones, along with diapers! It’s bad enough when you leak and have to get it out of our underwear or pants or bedsheets! My grandmother used to tell me the reason why you say “you’re on the rag” is because that’s what you used for that back in the day……There are many things that I prefer “green” but that’s not one of them…………they are “cute” though! But how long do they stay that way?
Posted by MadeByM**** on August 12, 2009 at 7:41 pm
Oh, yeah, I was going to comment, too, on the “welcome to womanhood” thing. One of the makers of sanitary pads has a starter kit you can buy……..it comes with samples and a booklet and a little pouch to carry them in your purse. I’m guilty of getting it for my daughters. The booklet was very informative…not just about your actual period, but PMS, acne, cramps, etc. My daughters liked it………..
Posted by Graceless on August 21, 2009 at 10:46 am
This is one I have to disagree with, and I say that with a heavy heart because all the other WTF’s I’ve seen have been horrific and eye-bleach worthy. I actually converted after researching it and talking with a lot of buyers/sellers (after having initially seen them on the Dorque) (I know, I know) and you couldn’t pay me to go back to using only disposables.
Note: They do make biodegradable ones – I still use the ones made by Natracare to supplement my reusables, like when I’m traveling. I *highly* recommend that particular brand.
I’ve been using mine for almost a year now, and I don’t have ruined or spotty fabric. The shops I’ve bought from generally use fabrics that take that into consideration anyway. I haven’t had one case of “oops” yet, and I think it is because the designs are pretty generous with fabric coverage in the crotch area due in part to the length of fabric needed to wrap over the edges to snap together.
For me, it was a mental hurdle that wound up being nothing at all. I save a bundle of money, and I feel and smell cleaner (fake baby powder scent + periods = the second most disgusting smell on earth). For average day to day, they are a very good go-to. I definitely recommend that people try using at least one, like replacing their bedtime pad, and give it a fair shot
Rinsing a pad is nothing when you consider how willing we are to stick our unwashed hands in our crotch to put in tampons, and then yank on the bloody strings afterwards.
Posted by EtsyWTF on August 21, 2009 at 11:59 am
So The Dorque did convert someone! This wasn’t a usual WTF as, like I’ve said, I just wanted to know what most people thought and also if Etsy was promoting them because they *think* they’re cool or because people are actually interested.
The main reasons I don’t use them are because I don’t think the people I live with would appreciate seeing pads hanging out to dry, and also because I’m extremely lazy.
Posted by MadeByM**** on August 25, 2009 at 9:04 pm
It appears in the photo that there are some without the “wings” and snaps. How do those stay in place?
Posted by PussDaddy on August 29, 2009 at 9:33 am
Where is the proof that these things are better for your health? Who said it? Where is it written? By other than people who make them? I used regular, normal, everyday, off the store shelf tampons and pads for 40 years and they never made me sick. Why would anyone leave used pads or tampons in the trash for a week anyway, when you can just scoop up the little plastic sack you got free at the grocery store that is probably lining your trash can, take it out of the house and put it where your garbage outside goes, and put in another free plastic grocery sack of which people usually have plenty? Having these things laying around the house a bloody mess is disgusting. And I damn sure wouldn’t wash any of my clothes with them, so that means running a washer full of water and then a dryer just for them. How green is that?
PussDaddy
Posted by Orlana on November 19, 2009 at 5:07 am
There are chemicals used in disposables that work to pull the lining out, rather than letting it fall out naturally. That’s the health issue they are talking about.
Posted by Nicky on September 1, 2009 at 4:59 pm
“And I damn sure wouldn’t wash any of my clothes with them, so that means running a washer full of water and then a dryer just for them. How green is that?”
I totally agree with you on that PussDaddy…. and I’m gonna stick to my disposable ones thanks!
Posted by professor on November 23, 2009 at 12:50 am
The chemicals used in the printing proess can be harmful when placed near sensitive areas for an extended period of time.
Posted by Kimba on November 24, 2009 at 4:10 pm
My mother gave me one of those “welcome to womanhood” starter kits when I was a little girl and I loved it–it made me feel special and whats wrong with making your daughter feel good about being a woman? I think these pads are a great item and would really save me alot of money–I do wash almost everyday anyway so whats a few more pads thrown in a few days a month?