Should You Switch to Reusable Menstrual Pads?
Photo by Vanessa Ramirez from Pexels
Whenever their red days are near, women of all ages stock up on things like pain killers, tampons, menstrual pads, tissue, etc. It’s not easy having to pull through a week of pain and torture!
Unfortunately, it is not only a woman’s body that suffers whenever periods happen. There is also that the unsavoury truth that nature herself gets quite a beating.
The average female would change these implements at least twice a day to keep herself sanitary and prevent unwanted leakages. It may not seem like a huge number, but it adds up to tons of garbage per month when also considering the other women facing the same dilemma.
It also goes without saying that sometimes, spending too much money on pads or tampons can be quite a waste. Imagine spending your hard-earned SGD 10 just to throw it away in less than 3 days!
And so, in the spirit of sustainability and affordability, reusable sanitary pads are making a comeback! (And yes, it’s a comeback because people used them back in the day.)
What are the pros of using reusable menstrual pads?
Not only are reusable napkins affordable, but they are also washable and, well, reusable. They also safeguard you from the horror that is accidental blood leakage!
Your average reusable pads will also last a long way. Heck, some people use theirs for more than a year with no problem!
There is also the health advantage of using these products. Some women are allergic to disposable pads and tampons because of the cotton bits that may cause them to itch.
The risk of urinary tract infection is also high during a woman’s red days. When the “down there” gets irritated because of the stray cotton bits from the disposable pads, this may spell a nastier disaster than just uncontrollable blood flow!
How do I wash my reusable menstrual pad?
So now, the million-dollar question: if I switch to a reusable pad, how can I make sure that it’s clean and sanitary?
The short answer: clean it as soon as possible! Long answer: you have to follow a particular (but easy) methodology to properly remove all the bodily fluids stuck in the fibres of the reusable pad.
Again, you should wash your pad as soon as possible. But if you changed pads while you’re outside your home (say at work or on a shopping trip), you can roll up the pad then place it inside a zip lock bag.
This will help the blood from oxidizing and hardening quickly on the fabric. It will also make washing easier since the blood will be relatively fresh and thus, easier to remove.
Once you are ready to wash your pad, soak them first in hot water mixed with detergent. The temperature and chemical makeup of the resulting fluid will help loosen the blood and remove the majority of the stain.
It is best to leave it overnight for maximum effectivity, although soaking them for an hour or two will do just fine. After this, throw out the soaking water and do a new mixture, this time with warm water and detergent.
Handwashing is more recommendable, especially considering that it’s basically underwear we’re talking about. But if you don’t have much time, you can also opt to wash it along with your underwear in a washing machine- just don’t forget the laundry bag!
As for laundry services…
Considering it involves bodily fluids and all, it is best to wash reusable menstrual pads by yourself. The same goes for your underwear.
But if you do not have the time, you can always contact your friendly local laundry and dry cleaning service so they can advise you. If you’re in Singapore, you can always contact us here.
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