FAQ CLOTH PADS

Looking back at the previous information regarding how many pads and tampons we use in a life time, it is simple math to convert this into hard cash. During a lifetime we spend ridiculius amounts of money on something that we only use once and then throw away. Imagine  if we did the same with plates and cutlery and only used disposables instead and after every meal we simply threw the plates away in the trash. Sounds crazy right? Well that is exactly what we are doing by using disposable tampons and pads.
By swapping our sanititary protection to reusable ones you will quite quickly get your money’s worth. By the end of the day, using cloth pads will save you a lot of money that you can spend on more exciting things, like travels, chocolates or perhaps saving up for a new car.

Even though changing to cloth pads will save you money in the long run, it can be quite a pricey investment getting started with cloth pads. Fortunately though you don’t need to change all of your pads straight away. It can be wise to gradually stocking up on cloth pads, like buying one new pack of pads every month. In the beginning you simply alternate your new cloth pads with your disposable ones and after a while you have enough cloth pads to get you through the whole month. Another positive aspect of gradually stocking up on cloth pads is that you will get a better understanding of what sizes you need and how many pads that are ideal for you. Most of us have pads in many different sizes to fit the changing flow during your monthly cycle.

Regular disposable sanitary pads are made of different types of plastcs and other materials. There’s nothing in the law that says that the materials used in these kind of products need to be listed for the consumer, therefore you can never know for sure what your sanitary pads are really made of and what they might do for your body and health. Most disposable pads and tampons are made of plastics and different chemicals and while there are many different kind of plastics with many different names. Producing plastic is extremely bad for the environment and a lot of chemicals and toxins are released in the nature polluting our waters, harming both the wildlife, sealife and us humans. The finished product is then used only once before being thrown away and being made of plastic it takes around 240 years for a sanitary pad to decompose.
There is also the ‘cocktail effect’ that occur when different chemicals that might be safe to use for humans mix together with other types of chemicals and together they will make up a toxic mix that can be harmful for your health. Chemicals and plastics are often tested on their own, not taking the cocktail effect in consideration. And having this cocktail of plastics and chemicals so close to your body not knowing the full effect of the mixture might be a risk to your health. Question is? Are you willing to take that risk?
A lot of pads also contain perfumes which can cause allergies.

The health benefits are as many as the environmental ones. By switching from disposable sanitary pads and tampons to cloth pads, you no longer need to overuse all the plastics, chemicals and perfums that disposables are made of. Plastics contain many different chemicals that are no good for our health. Some might even be endoctrine distruptive chemicals, that means they might play a hazardous game with your health.  Even if one type of plastic or material is approved for humans to use, few tests are being executed to what happens when you will combine these materials and chemicals. On their own they might not be harmful to your health, but combined together they might make up a toxic cocktail of chemicals. This is called the cocktail effect.

A lot of women have gotten rid of itchiness and vaginal yeast infections simply by changing to cloth pads. Cloth pads are made of natural and breathable materials that are kind to your skin and your intimate parts.
Another aspect of health is your conscience. A better choice will make you feel better and feeling better will improve your health more than constantly feeling guilty knowing that you can do better. Sounds good right?

A menstruating person menstruates on average for 32 years and  uses aproximietely 12,000-16,000 disposable pads and tampons in a lifetime. Disposables are after only one single use thrown away and left to decompose. Many of these products unfortunate end up in nature as well. Also the process of making disposable products have a great impact on the environment which should also be taken into consideration when looking on the environmental impacts that disposable sanity products have on our planet. The disposable product is made of different types of plastics and like that wasn’t  enough, every single pad and tampon is wrapped up in a piece of plastic. That is a lot of plastics only being used once before thrown away. What a waste. To use something only once is simply not enough

It’s hard to say exactly how many cloth pads you’ll need, since it’s very individual how many pads one person might need. It all comes down to how heavy the flow, how long does the cycle last for and your personal preferences of how often you’d like to change your pad. It can also vary due to your washing routines. If you do a laundry mid-menstrual cycle you don’t need as many pads as you would if you’d only wash the pads once your cycle is over. Our average recommendation about how many cloth pads you need are 4 packs (12 pads) of our regular size pads, 2 packs (6 pads) of the night pads and 4 packs (12 pads) of our pantyliner pads. This is just a rough guideline since it by the end of the day comes down to you and your period.

The Pantyliner is perfect for those days when the flow is lighter, like towards the end of your cycle. This mini pad can also be used together with a menstrual cup for extra protection and for everyday use for daily discharge and for lighter urine leakage.
Lenght: 19 cm
Width: 16 cm

Regular / Day pad is perfect for those days with medium flow. If your flow is not too heavy it might also be enoigh during night. Also suitable for urinary leakage.
Lenght: 25 cm
Width: 20,5 cm

Night pad fits perfect during night when you need that extra support and protection. This pad is longer and supports you with a great cover. Can also be used at daytime during those heavier days. This pad can also be used post-partum.

Lenght: 33 cm
Width: 20,5 cm

CHOOSE PANTYLINER…
… when you need some extra protection with your menstrual cup or tampon
… when you’re flow is lighter, like towards the end of the cycle.
… for a daily protection for discharge.
… if sometimes you leak a little bit of urine while laughing, sneezing or during physical activities.

CHOOSE REGULAR PAD…
… if you normally use regular size in your disposable pads..
…if your flow is regular.
… if sometimes you leak a little bit of urine while laughing, sneezing or during physical activities.

CHOOSE NIGHT PAD…
… when your flow is heavy.
… during night as a night pad for safe protection and great cover.
… during the heaviest days of your cycle.
… post partum.
… if you tend to leak sideways or in the back or front with a smaller pad.

Put the cloth pad in your panties and fasten around the crotch, adjusting the size with the snap buttons. Just like a disposable sanitary pad.

A used cloth pad can be handled in different ways before being washed. Here are a few examples of how to take care of your cloth pads. Find a routine that works for you and your lifestyle.
Some people prefer to rinse their pads in cold water straight after use before putting in a wet bag or a bucket in the bathroom until it’s time to do laundry.
Another way is to put them to soak in bucket of cold water with a little bit of salt in it 24 hours before laundry. Make sure to rinse with cold water prior to this, otherwise the excess blood in the pads may stain the entire bunch of pads mixed with the water in the bucket. Stains can be worked on with a stain removal soap of choice. Put the pads in the washing machine and wash in 60 degrees. Some people prefer to use a washing bag for their pads. It is ok to wash pads along with the rest of your laundry. Avoid washing them with whites only though. You don’t necessarily need to rinse or soak the pads before washing them, it also works fine to simply store the used pads in a wet bag until laundry and then throw them into the washing machine. Find a routine that works for you.

Rinse or soak the pads in cold water after use or just let them dry as they are before washing. The pads are washed in 60° celcius and you can use your regular detergent. Do not use fabric softener since that will ruin the absorption of the pad. Try adding some vinegar in the rinse water. Let the pads dry hang. If you hang them in the sun for a day it will effectively help fade stains.

One often thinks that the pads will be completely blood stained, but normally there are surprisingly few stains. Some people are not very bothered about the occasional stain and if you’re using black pads you won’t see the stains at all. But if you’d prefer cloth pads stain free there are a few things you can do rid your pads of the staining.
Rinse your pads thoroughly directly after use in cold water to get rid of the excess blood. 24 hours before laundry put the pads to soak in a bucket of cold water and a little bit of salt. Persistent stains can also be worked on with a stain removal soap of choice. Wash the pads in 60° C and let them hang dry. If you leave them in the sun for a day it will help fade stains.

It might seem like a bit of a hassle to use cloth pads while using public restrooms, like at school, work etc. But there’s no need to worry about that! With a mini wet bag you’ll have a discreet cloth pad routine that will work for you wherever you are.
Keep your new pad in the bag, bring it to to toilet with you. Change your used cloth pad to the new one. Fold your used pad into a little square and snap it together, then simply put in in your mini wet bag. No mess, leakeage and very discrete. It doesn’t have to be harder than that! Also the bags are cute and discreet.

Cloth pads are just as safe as dispoable ones thinking about the coverage and being leak free. Cloth pads are even safer than disposables talking about the health and environmental benefits and impacts.
The cotton layers are absorbing the blood and the extra protective layer of PUL will keep the pad from leaking. Our different sizes has different levels of absorbency.

ImseVimse’s cloth pads are made of 100% organic cotton layers for a good absorption with an extra lining of PUL to prevent them from leaking. Our different sizes have different amounts of layers.

How often you’ll need to change your cloth pad is different for each person just like with disposable pads. Many people find that they need to change their pad less frequent when using cloth pads. One reason for this might be that the cloth pads is made of natural material, organic cotton, which feels much softer towards your skin and opposed to disposable pads made of plastics, they will let your skin breath which means it won’t feel as moist or clamped in your undies. Sometimes it’s even easy to forget that you’re wearing a cloth pad while it’s so soft and airy. But all in all, how often you’ll need to change is individual.

For how long can I use my cloth pads before they are worn out? This depends on how frequently you use them, how your’re taking care of them and on your washing routines. Our pads have been tested for up to 200 wash cycles so if you take good care of  your pads, they will last you a very long time!

PUL is short for polyurethane laminated polyester and is a polyester fabric with a very thin layer of plastic. PUL is used as a leak proof layer in diaper covers, wet bags and cloth pads.
The PUL in ImseVimse’s products are OEKO-tex certified and safe to use for humans. PUL is in other words a type of plastic but a plasrtic of ”the better” kind and free from toxics. Also taking in consideration that you will reuse your cloth pads over and over again for many years before being recycled, while disposable pads are thrown away after only one single use. The environmental impact are so much bigger right from the production process to the end station for disposables. Instead of buying hundreds of plastic pads you only have to buy a few cloth pads.