by Jackie Bolen<\/p>\r\n
Menstrual cups like the Diva Cup, Mooncup, Lena Cup or Ruby Cup are all the rage these days. Period Panties, due to their huge advertising budgets are similar (have you heard of Thinx?). However, reusable cloth pads are another eco-friendly period product that aren\u2019t getting a lot of attention.<\/p>\r\n
I\u2019ll compare these reusable menstrual pads to disposables in a few different categories: Cost, the Environment, Health Factors, Effectiveness, and Ease of Use to help you decide which option is right for you.
<\/p>\r[\/et_pb_text][\/et_pb_column_inner][\/et_pb_row_inner][et_pb_row_inner column_structure=”1_2,1_2″ use_custom_gutter=”on” gutter_width=”2″ _builder_version=”4.0.11″ custom_padding=”0px||||false|false”][et_pb_column_inner type=”1_2″ saved_specialty_column_type=”2_3″ _builder_version=”4.0.11″][et_pb_image src=”https:\/\/www.bepreparedperiod.com\/blog\/wp-content\/uploads\/2020\/03\/Should-I-usse-cloth-pads-or-disposable.jpg” alt=”Should I usse cloth pads or disposable” _builder_version=”4.0.11″][\/et_pb_image][\/et_pb_column_inner][et_pb_column_inner type=”1_2″ saved_specialty_column_type=”2_3″ _builder_version=”4.0.11″][et_pb_text module_class=”blog-heading-style1″ _builder_version=”4.0.11″]Cloth Pads vs Disposables: Cost[\/et_pb_text][et_pb_text _builder_version=”4.0.11″]
A box of disposable pads costs around $5. Most people, if they use pads as their sole source of period protection will use an entire box each month. If you use them as a backup to tampons or a menstrual cup, you\u2019ll need fewer of them.<\/p>\r\n
If you have a heavy period<\/a>, or an irregular one, then you\u2019ll need more pads than the average person.<\/p>\r\n Let\u2019s assume that most people spend $5 per month on these products, which adds up to $60 per year.<\/p>\r\n Compare this to cloth pads. There are some premium pads that cost $15-20 per pad. These are usually handmade and organic. However, there are cheaper options that sell for $5 per pad or even less. They generally last for five years or so, and most people need about six pads to make it through their period.<\/p>\r\n Let\u2019s assume 6 cloth pads, at $5 per pad, for a total of $30. If they last for 5 years, that\u2019s only $6 per year!<\/p>\r\n $6 per year for cloth pads vs $60 per year for disposables. That\u2019s a lot of money saved.<\/p>\r\n Reusable cloth pads for the win!<\/p>\r[\/et_pb_text][\/et_pb_column_inner][\/et_pb_row_inner][et_pb_row_inner _builder_version=”4.0.11″ custom_padding=”0px||||false|false”][et_pb_column_inner saved_specialty_column_type=”2_3″ _builder_version=”4.0.11″][et_pb_text module_class=”blog-heading-style1″ _builder_version=”4.0.11″]Cloth Pads vs Disposables: The Environment[\/et_pb_text][et_pb_text _builder_version=”4.0.11″]Of all the period products, disposable pads are probably the worst. This is because they\u2019re made in large part from plastic which isn\u2019t biodegradable. These products will still be hanging around the landfill in hundreds of years from now.\r\n\r\nCompare this to reusable cloth pads which last for years. One cloth pad might potentially replace hundreds of disposable ones.\r\n\r\nThere\u2019s more good news! Reusable pads are made from mostly natural materials (bamboo, cotton, charcoal, etc.) that biodegrade easily once thrown away.\r\n\r\nOnce again, it\u2019s reusable pads for the win in this category.\r\n\r\nA quick note: organic disposable pads are much better than non-organic ones. They are plastic-free and will biodegrade more easily. However, they still create waste that goes to the landfill.[\/et_pb_text][et_pb_text module_class=”blog-heading-style1″ _builder_version=”4.0.11″]Cloth Pads vs Disposables: Health Factors[\/et_pb_text][et_pb_text _builder_version=”4.0.11″] Some brands of disposable pads contain trace amounts of toxic chemicals<\/a> in them. They mostly come from the bleaching process, as well as the pesticides used to grow the cotton. Organic disposables pads are a nice option because they\u2019re better for our bodies, but they are also more expensive.<\/p>\r\n Cloth pads can help reduce your exposure to toxins. Be sure to wash them first before use, but then you\u2019re in the clear and well on your way to a healthier period experience.<\/p>\r\n It\u2019s a clear win for reusable menstrual pads in this category!<\/p>\r[\/et_pb_text][et_pb_text module_class=”blog-heading-style1″ _builder_version=”4.0.11″]Cloth Pads vs Disposables: Effectiveness[\/et_pb_text][et_pb_text _builder_version=”4.0.11″]Like disposables, cloth pads come in a wide range of absorbency levels and sizes and you should be able to find some that work for you, even if you have a very heavy period.\r\n\r\nIn terms of effectiveness, most people find that cloth pads work just as well as disposables at preventing leaks because they have wings and a leak-proof layer in them.\r\n\r\nThe only time you might consider going with disposables is during exercise. Cloth pads can sometimes slide around a little bit because they don\u2019t have a sticky backing on them. Instead, they stay in place with snaps on the wings. Something to look for are the pads that have the waterproof layer inside the pad, instead of on the back because these ones are not so slippery.\r\n\r\nEffectiveness? It\u2019s a tie, except if you\u2019re exercising and then it\u2019s disposables for the win.[\/et_pb_text][et_pb_text module_class=”blog-heading-style1″ _builder_version=”4.0.11″]Cloth Pads vs Disposables: Ease of Use[\/et_pb_text][et_pb_text _builder_version=”4.0.11″] The final category to consider is ease of use. Disposable pads are certainly easy to use, and once you\u2019re done with them, you just throw them into the trash.<\/p>\r\n Cloth pads are not so simple. The first thing to consider is what to do with them when you\u2019re not at home. Where do you put the soiled pads? Some people use a Ziplock bag, but I prefer a wet bag<\/a> because they\u2019re more discreet.<\/p>\r\n You also have to wash them. If you don\u2019t care about staining, just throw them in with your regular laundry. To extend the life of them, hang dry instead of using the dryer.<\/p>\r\n If you do care about staining, then get dark coloured pads. Or, you can soak the lighter coloured ones in cold water after using them. Commercial stain removers also work well for this.<\/p>\r\n For ease of use, it\u2019s disposable pads for the win.<\/p>\r[\/et_pb_text][et_pb_text module_class=”blog-heading-style1″ _builder_version=”4.0.11″]Let\u2019s Sum This Up![\/et_pb_text][et_pb_text module_class=”italic-text-hover” _builder_version=”4.0.11″] Cloth pads come out ahead in a few different categories: cost, the environment, and health factors.<\/p>\r\n It\u2019s a toss-up for effectiveness, unless you exercise a lot during your period and then you\u2019ll want to stick with disposables.<\/p>\r\n Finally, disposables are very easy to use, while cloth pads do take a bit of work.<\/p>\r\n