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When I first encountered reusablepadsin a targeted Instagram adaesthetically millennial, eco-friendly, and available inprettypatternsthey immediately hooked me.
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The idea of washable cloth pads that I could use over and over again sweetened the deal.
I still had questions about reusable pads.
(How do I ensure theyre clean?
Am I, personally, a good fit for them?
How do they evenwork?)
In case youre similarly intrigued yet reluctant, heres everything you oughta know about reusable pads.
So there isnt much of a learning curve there.
Where they differ from the pads you might be used to, however, is in their construction.
One pad costs about $15, and many come in packs of two or three.
How do you clean a reusable pad?
Formenstrual cupsand underwear, people are just using soap and water, Dr. Shirazian says.
(Except when boiling menstrual cups between cycles to disinfect thembut were talking about regular cleaning here.)
I dont think washing a reusable pad would be any different from a medical standpoint or hygiene standpoint.
You just want to thoroughly wash it with soap and water or throw it in the wash. ## Do reusable pads actually make an environmental difference?
Simply put, yesbut the extent to which theyre greener than conventional pads and tampons is difficult to quantify.
Thats about 187 extra pounds of waste over the course of ones lifetimejust from period products.
While some brands do market disposable pads and tampons as biodegradable, this term can be a bit misleading.
But it isnt just everything we end up throwing away that makes single-use pads less than eco-friendly.
But Powers points out that you dont have to quit disposable pads cold-turkey to make a difference.
Better to get people to take even thesmall stepsto move away from our current approach.
That said, if youre ready to cross that barrier, we have some advice for you.
Heres what you should keep in mind before trying reusable pads.
For a long time, I had terribly heavy periods.
Plus, youll get to feel a little better about your personal environmental footprint along the way.
Nondisposable is always a better idea, Dr. Shirazian says.
Youre doing a service, not only to yourself but also to the environment.
