Well, this is a topic not many are keen with, as a writer of experience or as a reader reading the experience. I am putting this discomfort to the fact that it is not always comfortable talking about blood - much so from a woman, and also as a woman to even consider removing that convenience of disposable and having to wash a soaked clothpad. Yup. I know..
BUT, as much as it may sound disgusting, it is not THAT bad, you know. Ask me. I started introducing myself to Clothpad sometime around last year, or a little way back. I started with cloth pantyliner. I wasn't sure of myself at that time. I just made a few for myself tracing existing disposable on paper, and tracing the outlines on fabric, cut and sew. It wasn't that hard to make, and it takes very little amount of fabric, making cost pretty low. I'm happy with it. Washing it was not difficult either. Afterall, it is just a pantyliner - I can even just toss it in the washer along with my other clothes.
I think did one for the actual thing but wore it on light days only since I didn't have much absorbent fabric or waterproof fabric to play with. And I only wear them when I am home all day because I wasn't sure how to handle it when I am out and about.
I bought one for a good cause the month after, leading me to own 3 clothpads to go on rotation on weekends when I was home back then.
I still go on disposables when I am out and when I go to work. The one cycle I had which I started with clothpads the first 3 days (since it was a weekend), my cramps was not as bad as when I am on disposable. I knew then clothpad is the way to go for me.
My cramps are usually very horrible, I could hardly step out of the house on the 1st day. On that cycle, I had clothpad on the first two days was okay, it was still painful, but it is somewhat bearable enough for me to get up and do things for a bit.
Through the one year, I was still contemplating of the full switch, I keep giving excuses like how my office toilet has no sink so I cant wash it off, i dont have a wet bag to dunk it in, I don't know if I will leak, what if i leak, how many should I bring, what will it be like, etc etc etc.
Somewhere in March or April, a good friend said she wanted to make clothpads but wasnt sure what how and all that, so I hook her up to the people i know, and gave her my windpro and zorb remnants for her to try an ordered 6 clothpads for myself, making me her tester after her own good self. It was an interesting process. I even asked if she could make me one wet bag so I can wear them out, which she gladly did. I customized mine to have longer wings, so I can fold them in and snap them shut after use to bring home and wash if I am out and need to change. The best thing I could ask for.
It was June when I received my orders and a couple extras (as the first batch she did for me, didnt have their wings long enough for me), but my cycle was over, so I got another 3 weeks to prep myself for whole switch to happen. Nervous, of course. The collection she did for me was very pretty though, so it make me look forward to my cycle to try them. I had them washed and dried, to encourage the absorbency.
The minky topper she used was so soft and almost very cuddly. I love to touch them (when they are clean - of course!)
So July came and my cycle got through. I documented the number of hours I wore them, the flow I had, and if there are any seepage or leakage and reported to her. It was amazing that I lasted 4 hrs before I spot a seepage on my first clothpad made by her. It was only seepage though, so no red flags. We got down to it with probably the way it was stitched. 4hrs before a change on heavy days is good stuff, to me. I was in the office, so I rolled them soiled one close and snap it shut, and put it in the wet bag for me to bring home to wash. It was okay really, no smell, no leakage, no accidents. I got home with 2 soiled pads got home, and rinse, and wash them all clean, no permanent stains, it almost very easily came all off after a few wash and squeezes. On heavy days it takes about 5-6 squeezes before a real clean water squeeze out of them indicating it is clean. I threw them in the washed for a final rinse and spin so it will dry a little faster for rotation.
I must say it is good. that 10 pads lasted my whole cycle in July. This will be my second full switch. The cramps was and is significantly much lesser than before. I could go to work, stand walk and do what I do normally with bearable pain and discomfort. I wont say it is all gone, because discomfort during menses is inevitable. I mean who would be comfortable with something between their leg gushing out blood. Pfft. Get real!
These pads I got is from IdaMan, I am not sure if she had them posted on her social medias, but you can drop her a pm or dm and ask her if she takes in orders. I love love love these clothpads. Since the one I did lasted over a year, I will probably only need to order again in a few years. Now, calculate... how much money you would save.. The amount of disposables vs the same ol' 10 clothpads over a year (maybe two, maybe three). And the amount of years you saved the Earth from trying to bio-degrade those disposable..
So ya, here's part of my collection:
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| I usually roll and snap them shut like these. Aren't they so colourful, lively and pretty to wear? |
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| This is the mini wet bag when shut closed |
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| It fits two comfortably. Just nice! |
And here's how you can get in touch with IdaMan:
FB: https://www.facebook.com/Idamann16/?fref=ts
IG: https://www.instagram.com/ida_man16/
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