All about washable and reusable cloth menstrual pads

Find all the sewing patterns for Cucicucicoo products in the Cucicucicoo Patterns shop!

When I talk to people about my cloth pads, they’re generally shocked. Pads…that you wash?! Of course! Disposable pads are a pretty recent invention. In the past women have always used different types of cloths…and were so much better off! Maybe you’re wondering:

Why should I use cloth pads?

There are plenty of reasons. Let’s start with

The cost

Let’s say you use two packs of disposable pads a month and one pack costs €4,50. So €108 a year, even if this amount is pretty variable. Women with a heavy, long, and/or irregular period can use a ridiculous amount of menstrual products. And for the mammas there’s the post-partum period. All those weeks of “discharge” that never ends = endless packages of pads. Cloth pads, on the other hand, after the first investment, are used time and again for years and cost…NOTHING!

These days we’re constantly discussing the trash emergency and full landfills, which are stuffed to the brim with useless and non-biodegradable products. Menstrual products are no exception. Every year more than 14 BILLION disposable pads and tampons are tossed into our landfills (info from Associated Content and Reusable Menstrual Products). And it takes centuries for the plastic to decompose. In addition there’s also the plastic and paper packaging. In order to make pads and tampons tons of materials are manufactured, using energy and resources, to be used once and thrown out.
As with diapers, wipes, and whatever other disposable product, disposable pads are full of synthetic and toxic substances. The paper in these products is pure white thanks to lots of chemicals, including latex, dioxin and sodium polyacrylate, some of which are lethal and cancerogenous. All of these substances are absorbed by the soil and contaminate ground water and eventually come right back to us. And this brings us to….

Your health

Sure, we don’t want all this junk in our landfills, ground water, soil, and certainly not squished against our genitals. These chemicals can cause irritations and severe reactions. It’s no surprise, seeing as we’ve already said that we’re talking about toxic materials. Many women that feel external pain in their genital area find that the pain goes right away using cloth pads. Others find that their period changes, becoming shorter and lighter with fewer problems of cramps, clotting and other less-than-pleasant symptoms.

They’re fun!

For some women, “that time of the month” can be unbearable, so why not make it as pleasant as possible?! The fabrics in contact with the skin are soft and comfortable, letting the skin breathe. Instead of being there, trying to pick pieces of plastic and glue off of your undies, you can look at your pads’ lovely colors and patterns as just another article of clothing, and you’re sure to feel better!

*NOTE* There will certainly be women who are reading this page and thinking, “Yeah, but I only/also use tampons.” Luckily there is a wonderful ecological alternative to tampons: the menstrual cup.

The menstrual cup

Say what? A menstrual cup is a silicon cup which, instead of absorbing the blood, collects it. If you take care of it properly (sterilizing it in boiling water once a month), it’ll last you about 10 years, replacing thousands of disposable pads. It’s worth plenty more than it costs.

These days there are tons of different brands of menstrual cups*. I currently use the Meluna Cup*, but I’ve also used the Diva Cup* in the past.

I have always had a terribly heavy period (to the point of which it nearly killed me), but since I started using a menstrual cup with my Cucicucicoo pads, I no longer dread my period.

What are Cucicucicoo pads like?

All Cucicucicoo pads are All-In-One (AIO), meaning their absorbent layers are sewn inside, so there’s no need for any annoying inserts or straps to use them. The pads have a bottom layer of PUL, laminated cotton or polyester in uplifting colors and patterns. This makes the pad waterproof, though breathable. The laminated surface is on the inside of the pad, so it does not come in contact with the skin. The classic cucicucicoo regular, ultra and super duper pads have a top layer of either microfleece of suedecloth. These fabrics, besides being super soft and stain-resistant, are thin wicking fabrics which pull moisture down into the inner absorbent layers, leaving the layer against your skin nice and dry.

In addition, all Cucicucicoo pads have wide wings to protect the edges of your underwear and are closed underneath with a metal snap. You can tell the right way to wear the pad by keeping the colored part of the snap facing up.

I no longer produce Cucicucicoo pads for sale, however you can find the easy Cloth Menstrual Pads sewing pattern in my Cucicucicoo Patterns shop. The pattern includes all four sizes of pads, each of which has multiple variations, for a total of 16 variations so that you can create the perfect pads for your needs.

Don’t worry if you aren’t an expert at sewing! Many people have sewn these pads without having ever sewn anything else before. The instructions give lots of details and help every step of the way, so they’re perfect for beginner sewists!

Cucicucicoo Cloth Pads sizes and styles

Mini

This pantyliner is perfect for spotting or menstrual cup backup, it is thin enough to forget you’re wearing it. It is 20 cm long with a top layer of high quality cotton flannel (1) in fun designs, inside absorbent terry cloth core and underneath PUL (2).

The two ends can be folded in and the wings snapped over them for easy carrying.

Regular

A bit more absorbent than the pantyliner, but still thin, perfect for days of light flow or menstrual cup backup. The central sewn channels minimize the spreading of fluid to the wings. The two ends can be folded in and the wings snapped over them for easy carrying. The regular pad is 26 cm long with a top layer of microfleece or suedecloth (1), inside absorbent cotton terry cloth core and underneath PUL (2).

Ultra

The perfect pad for days of heavier flow, it’s slightly longer and more absorbent than the regular pad. The lateral sewn channels minimize the spreading of fluid to the wings. It is 28 cm long with a top layer of microfleece or suedecloth (1), inside absorbent cotton terry cloth core and underneath PUL (2).

This option is a life-saver for ladies with a very heavy flow, perfect for nighttime use or the post-partum period. Besides being the longest and most absorbent cucicucicoo pad, it has a special widened back to protect clothes and bed sheets. The lateral sewn channels minimize the spreading of fluid to the wings. It is 36 cm long with a top layer of microfleece or suedecloth (1), inside absorbent cotton terry cloth core and underneath PUL (2).

How do you take care of Cucicucicoo cloth pads?

Easy! Put used pads in cold water in a basin or other container. I suggest rinsing them first to get rid of most of the blood. Change the water (try using it to water your plants-it works like fertilizer) and add fresh water at least once a day until washing day. You can machine wash them alone, with diapers, or with dark clothes in cold water. If you want, you can also add Napisan or another disinfecting additive. Do not use fabric softener, which reduces the fabric’s absorbency. It’s best to air dry them in the sun, but you can also use a machine drier. When they’re completely dry, store them in a basket, drawstring bag or in your bathroom cupboard until the next time you’ll need them. As with all cucicucicoo products, it is suggested that you wash them prior to use.

When you go out, no problem! Just bring extra pads with you and put them into a cute size small wet bag when you’re done using them.

It won’t be long until you come to love your special pads and “that time of the month” will become so much more pleasant, just wait and see!

Check out the easy Cloth Menstrual Pads sewing pattern in the Cucicucicoo Patterns shop!