I also don’t like the way many pads life to the back. Would you be able to share your pattern, Karen?

After trying both Glad Rags and Luna Pads, my vote goes toward Luna b/c you only have to change the top layer throughout the day instead of the whole pad. I like that this means less wash and less pieces to wash, which is certainly a conservancy issue for me.

Never had any problem getting or keeping them clean. I do line dry outside when possible and inside the rest of the time. This is partly b/c I was raised not to use the dryer much and partly to help them last longer as they are a bit of an upfront investment!

I also love all the different color options.

If you live in a place that tends to get warm and humid in the summer, the cloth pads help to prevent the dreaded summer “pad rash” from the heat. The cloth pads are way more comfortable and hold a comparable amount of liquid to the disposables.

Best of luck with your transition. Hope that it goes smoothly. All it takes is a few cycles to find the routine that works best for you.

I think cloth pads absorb better than ‘sposies and have to be changed less often. Plus you can customize the absorbency of cloth pads by choosing the number of inserts you use.

I tried sea sponge tampons but had difficulty inserting them (maybe it’s the vaginismus, maybe I just hadn’t gotten the technique down). The great thing about cups is that you can safely practice with them when you’re not bleeding as they collect instead of absorb, this also means one cup works for light and heavy bleeding!

I checked my menstrual cup a couple of times a day in the beginning and used a cloth liner or light day pad as backup protection, but now I can often go almost twelve hours before feeling like I have to empty my cup (clues: it starts to sit lower, feel heavy, or leak a bit). Lately I’ve only bled around 7.5 mL (sometimes more, sometimes less) or about a tablespoon in half a day – being able to measure with the cup provides more useful data for me and my OB/GYN than how many GladRags I’ve soaked through.)

Using cloth pads decreased the volume of my flow and how many days I bled, and seemed to ease cramping a bit. Less plastic and chemicals near my body is always a good thing! I’d read other women say the same thing online, but honestly I thought it was an exaggeration until it happened to me too! I know this is not the case for everyone who switches over from disposables, but it may be a pleasant side effect of using cloth pads for some people!

I rinse my cloth pads in cold water, and you can soak in plain water or with a bit of vinegar or hydrogen peroxide before/until you wash. Change the soak water once or twice a day. But you don’t have to soak at all, you can just rinse, air dry, and wash. I put my cloth pads in a lingerie bag to keep the pieces together and wash with my regular clothes. If I fall and scrap my knee (oh too common!) I don’t wash the pants separately from my other clothes. It’s just blood, and it’s mine! Rinsing and treatment with a natural stainlifter or H2O2 helps the pads come pretty clean!

I’m actually wearing a cup as I write this! I’ve emptied the cup in public restrooms without any problems. If the restroom is quiet I’ve taken the cup out to the sink to wash it before reinserting (I carried gentle soap with me in my bag to use), or if it’s busy I’ll just wipe out the cup with clean tissue and reinsert. Water-based lubricant can ease insertion. It does take more time to take out, clean, and reinsert the cup, than to unsnap a pad and snap a new one on, but both can certainly be done in a public restroom.

There’s lots of information about reusables online. My favorite tip: turn your menstrual cup inside out before inserting if the stem bothers you – this has made all the difference for me!