How to Clean and Care for Cloth Pads

Are you thinking about using cloth menstrual pads, but are curious/disgusted/unsure (fill in the blank with your emotion of choice) by the idea of cleaning them?

Or maybe you have found that some of the cleaning methods you thought would work don't or are giving you lackluster results? I know where you're coming from, really. After all, who wants to use pads with residue of last month's period still lingering? I sure don't! Even if you're the only one looking at them, stained pads definitely won't be the joy to use that they should be.

I have been using cloth pads for well over a year and learned by trial and error the best way to care for them and keep them stain free.

The first thing you want to do is make sure you have the right tools to do the job.

• Soaking container

• one or two stain treatment containers (recycled plastic bowl like sherbet, margarine, yogurt, etc.)

• Oxi Clean Free powder (free of perfumes, dye, and chlorine)

As for soaking, some use special “moon jars”. I personally use a toy bucket I “borrowed” from my kids. It's a perfect size to fit under my bathroom sink. If you have small children, you may want to make sure you use a covered bucket.

If you need to use pantyliners daily, cloth pads are a comfortable, convenient, and cost effective way to manage your needs for extra protection. Just like a disposable pad, one can be worn all day. Once it has been worn, all you need to do is place it in your soaking container. However, if you have heavy and/or darker daily discharge, you may need to rinse and rub under cold water before soaking. After placing the pad in your soaking container, fill it with water and then top it off with a little vinegar. I never measure. Just a “dollop” will do! The vinegar will usually prevent odors and other germs from growing inside your container. I say usually because if you leave the pads soaking too long, there will be a visible film like growth of some gunk as well as mildew stains on your pads. I would suggest to aim for a minimum of 7 days soaking time. If you don't (machine or hand) wash more frequently than this, you'll need to change the water. If you live in a warmer climate (or the place where you keep your pads is quite warm), more frequent water changes may be necessary.

When using your pads during menstruation as primary protection (as opposed to combining with anything internal like tampons or divacup), you'll want to change them as often as necessary just like a disposable pad. The heavier, darker flow is the most difficult type of staining to remove (this is part of the reason why I prefer a combo method with a divacup). If using your pads as a pantyliner backup during menstruation, it's possible to use one throughout the day, but if you experience heavier leakage, you'll want to change it for additional comfort and ease of stain removal.

After removing the soiled pad, immediately rinse under a medium stream of cold running water. Make sure you rub the stain gently as you rinse. Squeezing as you rinse and rub is helpful for releasing the blood staining. Keep doing this until the rinse water runs clear. If the water isn't running clear after a few minutes (or you tire of rinsing), it's best to move the pad to your “stain treatment container” for an additional soak with plain water. You will want to leave this to soak for several hours to about 24 hours.

Important Note: Do not place this pad in with your other soaking pads! Blood can and will “leach” from the pad still saturated with blood and “resettle” onto your other pads when putting them in the same container. This has happened to me plenty of times and this type of staining tends to be more challenging to remove.

After soaking, rinse and repeat the process if necessary. Once this is complete and the “true staining” is left, don some latex (or the like) gloves and sprinkle a small amount of Oxyclean on any residual staining. (Oxyclean doesn't irritate the skin, but it doesn't rinse well off hands.) Rub this into the fabric well and place it inside your treatment container. Don't put additional water in the container with the pad. Let this sit several hours or overnight. Any staining should be gone after this time elapses, but if not another treatment may be necessary. If some staining is still there after another treatment, just toss it in your soaking pot or wash as normal. The final wash should get it out.

Another reminder to share that I found out the hard way is to never use hydrogen peroxide to remove stains from your pads. When I first bought my pads, I searched for a surefire blood stain remover online. Peroxide was the overwhelming choice. I discovered over time that it will gradually start to remove the color from your pads making them look worn out well before their time (unless they're completely undyed).

Traveling can make cleaning cloth pads a bit more of a challenge, but it is doable. The main issue is to properly prepare for your length of stay. If you're just going out for a weekend, you can substitute your usual soaking pot and stain treatment containers for a few zippered plastic food storage bags or gallon size freezer bags. Bring a small travel size leak proof bottle for your vinegar. (If you're unsure if the bottle will leak, enclose it inside a zipper style food storage bag.) Use a small amount of water and vinegar and then place your pad(s) inside a bag. Be careful not to put too many inside each bag. I like to carry these bags in the front zipper portion of a suitcase or the zippered side of a duffel bag.

Now if you're traveling by air...good luck is all I have to say! I have no experience with going through checkpoints. I can't imagine explaining these contents to a security officer.

If you're traveling for a longer time period, you may want to bring your usual soaking pot from home or purchase something cheap from a dollar store or the like at your destination.

When it is time to wash your pads, you may simply toss your pads in with your other clothes. Of course you want to make sure to follow the fabric care directions usually provided by the seller of your pads. I have found from personal experience that washing my pads with my other clothes worked fine when I had a top load washing machine. However, when we bought a new front loader, my pads (as well as certain other types of clothing) didn't come out clean like they used to in the top loader. Due to this, I now wash my pads by themselves and dry them in the dryer with another full load.

If you still have a lingering stain by now, more than likely after a few more washes, the stain will eventually come out. If you have pads that are have no dyeing at all, there may be a tiny (almost non-visible) browning that lingers. However, it is usually a more general discoloration and doesn't appear to be a 'stain'.

Even though this article may seem like caring for cloth pads may be a chore you don't want to do. It is one that I have grown to take pride in as a labor of love...loving myself and my body. I know it sounds crazy to think like that, but when you've experienced the alternative, you'll be happier and so will your girly parts!