Comments | cloth_pads: Just needing to vent...

rainbow_slinky in cloth_pads

Just needing to vent...

Sep 28, 2006 11:25

I thought I was ALL prepared for my period. Have a bunch of pads in all shapes and sizes, all had been washed and were ready to go. Hah. After bleeding out the front of 3 of them, I realized that they weren't absorbing and I need to wash them a bunch more times. So now I'm wearing an evil plastic pad while reading through back posts to figure out ( Read more... )

cloth pads - absorbency, cloth use - cleaning, beginner/new to cloth

Comments 26

quiltingdragon September 28 2006, 15:53:20 UTC

I'm wearing my new ones (haven't really started yet) without drying, the dryer had to pick today to malfunction.

rainbow_slinky September 28 2006, 16:00:02 UTC

Always something, isn't there? I've considered hanging mine outside to dry, but it's gotten just a wee bit cool for that here.

quiltingdragon September 28 2006, 16:03:53 UTC

Here too. And I really don't want to put them outside. I student taught last semester, and several of my students are neigbors. What's better than the teacher's underwear to swipe and put up the flagpole? Her new pads. If they even knew what they were, they are all boys. :)

rainbow_slinky September 28 2006, 16:06:48 UTC

LOL, oh dear. Yeah, definitely keep them inside where they're safe!

Thread 5

devilindisgize September 28 2006, 15:53:37 UTC

HOT water makes them absorb. Oh man, they arent my pads you bled out of are they??

rainbow_slinky September 28 2006, 15:55:49 UTC

LOL, no it wasn't yours!

devilindisgize September 28 2006, 16:02:22 UTC

PHEW! I was so worried!

rainbow_slinky September 28 2006, 16:06:13 UTC

Besides, it wasn't a leak through at all...I think the pads I was wearing were too short AND need to be washed a few times. So hot water eh?

Thread 12

sfaithj September 28 2006, 20:34:54 UTC

As for hot/cold water's affect on absorbancy, I just got a Spooky Kitty Collective (SKC) pad and Melissa from SKC included care instructions for her pad. Her pad has an inner layer of hemp (I'm not sure if your pads have that). But, she says this in her care instructions:

"Hemp fabrics contain natural oils that must be removed by washing to reach maximum absorbency. Before use, wash and dry cloth pads 2-4 times with *hot* water and your regular laundry detergent". For used pads she recommends rinsing in cold water and then to "wash cloth pads on hot-rinse cold along with cloth diapers or your regular laundry" whatever that last sentence means.

Hope that helps!

rainbow_slinky September 28 2006, 20:37:50 UTC

One or two of mine might have hemp, regardless they're all fairly new and I should have known better than to just wash once! ;)

That said, I think the first day was just ultra-heavy this time for some reason, which didn't help matters any!!!!

Thank you!!!!

sfaithj September 29 2006, 05:17:44 UTC

No worries. It's kinda a pain that you need to wash pads with hemp a few times but ultimately I think it's worth it cause hemp is so absorbant.

rainbow_slinky September 29 2006, 16:12:56 UTC

True but I'd much rather run the pads through the wash a few times than have to scrub blood out of clothing. ;)

Thread 5

(The comment has been removed)

rainbow_slinky September 29 2006, 16:13:47 UTC

I'll do that - thanks!!!

purple_obsidian September 29 2006, 09:58:45 UTC

yeah I bleed in all directions but down LOL (always have) Thats why I find it hard to be able to use most other people's pads (and if I do I have to use their night/post partum ones to get them long enough)

I've got pads that I've only washed once, and they absorbed fine. I don't wash pads (that I've got from other people) before wearing. The wash they do seem to work fine enough.

Is/was the problem that they aren't absorbing or is it the forward leaking thing? because it could be that, for whatever reason, you need longer pads.

I could have the most absorbent pad ever, and I still leak out the front and back. I don't know if its something to do with the shape of my vulva - that sort of channels it.....

A personal question - do you wax/shave/trim your pubic hair? I've seen some people comment that that effects how they bleed. Hair or smooth makes no difference to me, but obviously it does for some.

rainbow_slinky September 29 2006, 16:20:09 UTC

I think in this particular case it was slightly more foreward leaking than not absorbing. I think two of the pads were definitely just too short for the first 2 days of my period, but I also did a front (almost) leak from one of the gladrags overnights and those things are huge, so in that case, I'm just not sure!!! I'm definitely going to be investing in some of the longer pads, I'm actually checking yours out right now.

I shave, but I've been doing that for 12 years or so, the only thing new this month is that I'm using cloth, this is the first time I've had enough pads to go cloth only!

That said, today is day 3 and the bleeding has slowed down considerably and I don't think I'm going to have any leakage problems for the duration. But ugh - definitely need to be better prepared for next month!

purple_obsidian October 1 2006, 13:12:50 UTC

how far forward did you have the gladrag night one? I have to wear mine so I get at least an inch coverage on my pubic bone.

When I have what I call my "gushy" days (first few days), it doesn't matter how absorbent the pads are, it just leaks out the front mostly. But I've found pads topped in terry, velour or fleece work best on those days. The first two are absorbent and because they have the fibres sticking up, I find they absorb quicker and feel a bit more dry. Fleece is good for wicking the blood away quickly in those gushes and leaving you feeling a bit more dry than any other topping.