How To Wash a Reusable Menstrual Pad

Reusable cloth menstrual pads are a great way to go green and treat your body and your wallet better. Taking care of them is easy, but takes some getting used to at first. You can wash them one of two ways- by soaking them first or by rinsing them first- and then washing them with your other clothes. You can use whichever method you prefer.

Soaking Method

1. Select a tub. Have a tub of some kind on hand when you start your period. Any kind of vessel should do- a clean reused yogurt container or a ceramic pot- but you will want multiple tubs or one large enough to hold a full cycle's worth of pads.
2. Use cold water. When you remove your used pad, place it in the tub and fill with cold water
3. Change the cold water every time you add a new pad. Every time you add a new pad to the tub, pour out the water and add fresh cold water. Make sure you change the water every day.
4. Add the rinsed pads to the laundry on wash day. When you're ready to do laundry, take the pads out of the tub and put them in the washing machine and dryer with your other laundry.

Rinsing Method

1. Remove your used pad.
2. Put it in the sink and turn on the cold water.
3. Rinse it and wring it gently until the blood is removed or the water is running clear. You can put a little hand soap on the pad to help get the blood out.
4. Hang to dry.
5. Wipe sink area with a rag or paper towel to make sure it is clean.
6. Wash pads in the washing machine and dryer with your other laundry.

Tips

• Add a little hydrogen peroxide to your soaking tub to help get blood out
• Plants love soaking tub water! (without hydrogen peroxide)
• The sooner pads are rinsed after they are used, the less staining they will have
• The rinsing method results in fewer stains
• When you are using reusable cloth menstrual pads away from home, the best thing to do is to carry a resealable plastic bag with you. Do not rinse the pads after use- put them in the plastic bag and rinse or soak them when you get home.

Things You'll Need

• Reusable cloth menstrual pads
• Soaking tub(s) if using the soaking method.