After a few weeks of not forgetting about the Give-Away, it's time to reveal the winner of my very first contest. However, before I tell you who the winner is, I just have to answer some questions regarding cloth menstural pads.Q. How can using cloth pads change your periods?
A. Honestly, there have been no studies (that I've found) that prove they do. However, I and many other long time cloth pad users, have personally seen and felt the changes within our own bodies. Some say, it could be a placebo effect and others just make the claim based on personal experience and/or chemical knowledge. Although I couldn't find the link, I did read once that the chemicals used in making paper pads/tampons come from petroleum. Putting those chemicals against tissue that is absorbant is probably the reason. I wish someone would do an actual study. For more information about the benefits of using cloth, I would just Google it.
Q. How many cloth pads do you have?
A. In the beginning I only had one, then I felt I could get by with six. Pretty soon, I just started stocking up on Essence of Eve pads, just so I could have my choice. These cloth pads are so absorbant, breatheable and comfy that you really don't feel like you need to change them very often. I change my pads 2-3 times on my heavy days. Other days, I just find the thickness I know I'll need and I change them 2 times each day. Once in the morning and once before bed.
I will give you one suggestion though. I tend to like materials like velour & cotton sherpa next to my skin. Stephanie dyed a bunch of white velour and sherpa and I fell in love with it. I had her make me six for heavy days and six for light days. Each level of absorbancy was backed with different color micro fleece so I could instantly tell which was which. I do not use PUL on my pads since I am comfy enough with my periods and know the pads will not leak.
Q. How do you wash your pads?
A. I would love to find a pretty pot w/ a lid to keep them in until I am ready to wash, but I haven't found one I like yet. I'm constantly looking though. I do fill up a sink until the pads are covered in cold water to let them soak. After a few minutes, I will go back in and start ringing them out using fresh water. If you don't like touching blood you can wear disposable gloves, but seriously...it's no where NEAR as bad as changing a poopy diaper or cleaning up your kids puke. Seriously. Once they are ringed out well enough, I throw them into the wash with a load of towels. Even though I have a Kenmore HE front loader, I refuse to just wash a few tiny pads. Since you aren't supposed to use fabric softener with towels and we have a family of seven, that's the most effecient way to wash them. Then I just dry them with the towels. If you prefer to hang dry, I would throw them in the dryer for a few minutes to soften them up. You don't want stiff/scratchy menstrual pads. The kids will even snap them closed and stack them neatly as they are folding the towels.
Q. What does your husband think of you using cloth pads?
A. He always wanted me to be comfortable. Sometimes I don't get to the sink quick enough and he'll go in the bathroom and remind me there's a sink full of hamster sleeping bags that need to be rinsed out. Ahh....he's so funny. He even snaps them closed and puts them away in my pad drawer. I think he should get some sort of award for just doing that, don't you?
If there are any more questions, please do not hesistate to email me or ask in the comments.
Without further delay, I am proud to present The Essence of Eve $15 gift certificate to.....
Congrats Sarah!! Get in touch with me by email. Deanfamily7@gmail.com
And for those of you who didn't win this one....I plan on doing more cloth pads in the future and maybe even some cloth diapers. Who knows, maybe I'll even have some fun organizing stuff to give away!! You'll just have to wait and see.
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