Feminine Products

OK...this one is for you, ladies! Let's talk feminine pads. Yep. No shame here. I use reusable feminine pads...and I love talking about it! I am honestly shocked when I discuss this with people and their initial reaction is, "GROSS! How can you do that?" I just ask, "How is it different than using cloth diapers on children?" Think about it...is it different at all? My stance is: no. Again, as I was setting New Year's Resolutions in 2019 I was thinking about where most of my trash comes from. One day on the toilet it dawned on me: once a month I fill up my entire bathroom trash can with feminine products. That is twelve small bags of trash a year. Just for me - one person! I immediately started looking into how I can reduce this. The cups that catch blood seemed too messy as a starting point (but I hear people love them!) but I stumbled upon Charlie Banana, which got its start in, drumroll please....CLOTH DIAPERS! They now make reusable feminine pads from the same material! Simply brilliant. No more stash of feminine products in the cabinet. I can keep a year's worth of feminine products in a small basket. If you really think about it, for something you only use once a month, you should not let it win on real estate in your cabinets or closet! Also, a huge plus of doing this before the COVID-19 pandemic made me realize that I am not reliant on anyone when the time of month comes. Supply chain issues did not affect me! Let alone inflation! Sure, it is a bit of an investment (as are cloth diapers) but I built up my supply over time and you really do not need as many as you think!

How should you get started? I recommend starting with swapping your overnight pads?

Now, do I ever use disposable pads? I won't lie, I totally do. Really, I am still working through the stash I had piled up before I made the switch. (Thanks, Costco!) Now I only use disposables when I am traveling on multi-night trips or camping. I have actually traveled with the reusables and it is no big deal! But more on that later. If you are wanting to make the plunge in its entirety, I recommend donating your excess supplies to a local women's shelter or organization to make sure they go to those in need.

How can you travel with reusable feminine pads? A wet bag is the answer! Plus, another plastic or watertight bag that zips....just to be safe.

What do you love about it? Honestly, the feel. They are SO SOFT and absorbent. Now when I put on a disposable pad it is the most disappointing experience...and even the ones I used to wear all the time feel like sandpaper! Nothing beats a reusable pad. Nothing!

Are all reusable pads made the same? NOPE. I actually didn't start with Charlie Banana. I purchased another brand off Amazon that was cheaper. Big mistake. I think they were fleece. Sure, they were way cute (flamingo print!) but they do not compare at all to Charlie Banana. No matter how many times I washed them, they still did not seem to absorb. Also, if you are going to try a brand other than Charlie Banana, pay attention to the number of snaps. One snap just did not work for me. I love having two snaps - the pad does not seem to slide around at all.

Can I only use these when I'm on my period? Nope! They are great if you have spotting (especially the pantiliner size) and for use postpartum.

Are they easy to clean? Yes!! Just throw them in the washer and then hang to dry. NO fabric softeners....but if you have been here long enough we know you ditched the fabric softener a long time ago. ;-)

OK, I'm sold on the idea, but what size do I start with?! Just like disposable feminine pads, reusable pads come in different sizes, too! I recommend the long ones for night time. It is nice to not only have the extra absorption but also the length for protection, especially if you roll around at night. So, two ideas: 1) start only with overnight size or 2) try a multipack! This will help you see which ones fit and work for you. The combo pack is the perfect place.
Some other things to consider: the disposable pads marketing has trained us that different colors mean different things...but these reusable pads (at least that I have tried, including Charlie Banana) are not marked with the size. Over time you will start to learn to feel the difference when you pick them up, but you could also consider doing different colors for different sizes. I personally did not because I like the black, but I do get bright/fun prints for the nighttime pads. Your choice!

Disclosure: I only recommend products I would use myself and all opinions expressed here are our own. This post may contain affiliate links that at no additional cost to you, I may earn a small commission.