DIY Menstrual Pads - cut down on waste and save money (slrpnk.net)

submitted 3 days ago by [email protected] to c/[email protected]

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Not my website! Just a cool thing I encountered. I no longer have periods, but when I did, my flow was incredibly heavy and I spent a lot of money on pads (and of course threw away hundreds of them). I know reusable pads aren't an option for everybody, but they're definitely a great way to reduce waste! Of course, another good option would be buying menstrual underwear etc, but as someone who sews I thought I'd share this for other people who sew <3

(Also you can do cute patterns!)

A few fun facts:

Cotton cloth pads smell better because they allow moisture to evaporate (rather than it being trapped in by plastic)
You can wash them by hand or just rinse them to throw in with the rest of your clothes
Research estimates that people who menstruate use about 11,400 pads in their lifetime

Hope this is helpful for someone!

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[-] [email protected] 13 points 3 days ago* (last edited 3 days ago)

On a related topic,

Days for Girls International https://share.google/9Shnc8BV7c8Owc5Q4

Is working to end menstruation stigma with education (for men and boys as well as girls and women), end period poverty by distributing pads and liners and underwear and also teaching how to make replacements, and give girls/women back the days they lose from school/work due to their periods.

Edit: they have now also started to distribute menstrual cups, which can be used with a pad as backup, for heavier days.

[-] [email protected] 3 points 2 days ago

that's wonderful!! I know in a lot of cultures women and trans men face a lot of shame for menstruating. I mean, even in the US people are still mocked with stuff like "oh you must be on your period," boyfriends refuse to be seen buying pads, etc...

[-] [email protected] 10 points 3 days ago

They are meant for light flow, and washing + drying in the sun is what keeps them safe and sterile for repeated use.

Not a complete replacement, it's meant to reduce waste.

[-] [email protected] 1 points 2 days ago

I don't have parts that make pads or cups necessary, but is this something that would pair well with a menstrual cup? Or is any kind of pad generally not needed with a cup?

[-] [email protected] 1 points 2 days ago

Yes!! It is recommended that you wash them in hot water to sanitize them. And of course we love line-drying to save on energy costs. You can adjust the absorbency for heavier flows as well, though the guide I link doesn't explain how to do that.

[-] [email protected] 9 points 3 days ago

My flow was always too heavy to use these no matter how much my mother wanted me to because it's expensive when you're using like 3 overnight pads a day.

I went with the miracle of science lately. I love you, depo shot.

[-] [email protected] 4 points 3 days ago

Any side effects from this depo shot?

[-] [email protected] 3 points 3 days ago

Unsure! I have a lot health problems right now, but it's likely not from the shot.

[-] [email protected] 8 points 3 days ago

LPT: get a diva cup

[-] [email protected] 7 points 3 days ago

They don't work for everyone. I wish I could use them

[-] [email protected] 3 points 2 days ago

Yeah, sadly I have a tilted uterus so menstrual cups are... shall we say, ineffective. Some folks also don't like to have anything inserted there which is valid.

[-] [email protected] 7 points 3 days ago

Sorry for my ignorance (gay cis dude, I don’t do a lot of interacting with menstruation), but would you expect these to stain? Like is this the type of thing you’d buy/make once and then use forever, or is it more reusable in the short term then replace? My understanding was that blood is a pain to get out of clothes, but I assume the people making these are a lot more educated than I am on the topic lol.

These seem really exciting if people who can use them are happy with them and they’re reusable tbh, cuz I’ve personally always thought tax dollars should pay for or at least subsidize the cost of pads/tampons/etc for those who need them but am uncomfortable with the idea of the state sponsoring wasteful (like literally in that they create a lot of waste) industries in general. Again this is very much not a subject I have stakes in and my uneducated opinion is of the absolute least concern here lmao, but I’d really appreciate if anyone wants to tell me if this is as great as it sounds

[-] [email protected] 9 points 3 days ago

My understanding is they'd likely stain, but they're also likely properly sterilized and cleaned between uses. In the end it's dyed with blood the same way it was died with whatever compound made it the color it was before. The important thing is cleanliness which is preserved despite the color.

[-] [email protected] 3 points 2 days ago

that's what I was thinking! I wouldn't really care what color my pads are as long as I'm sure that they're clean.

Plus you could make some in black!

[-] [email protected] 3 points 3 days ago

An antimicrobial material like.hemp might be a good choice

[-] [email protected] 7 points 3 days ago

Peroxide followed by washing in cold water with soap is the most effective way to remove blood stains but it can weaken the fabric if you use it every time. Washing as soon as possible, always in cold, even if you're just using whatever hand soap is available, will get it safely clean. The dryer or hot water would not only stress the fabric it would make bloodstains permanent.

[-] [email protected] 3 points 3 days ago

is that doable for pads tho? trying to empathize with the situation of feeling some leakage and having to rush to the bathroom to handwash and then put the probably still cold and not fully dry back down my pants, and really not loving how that would feel for vagina-havers in general lol. even aside from the sensory nightmare that sounds like, it just seems really disruptive to anybody trying to study/work/whatever in a way that i at least have the impression pads were meant to avoid, no? really appreciate the answer to my question tho, even if it raised a bunch more 😂

[-] [email protected] 5 points 3 days ago* (last edited 3 days ago)

Yeah no not like that!

As with any pads you'd carry a spare or two, in case the first one gets soaked through, and that's also why a waterproof outer liner is important. Depending where you are, you could probably wash/rinse it and then roll it up in the carry pouch until you go home. Or even without washing it although that's not ideal.

[-] [email protected] 5 points 3 days ago

When a reusable pad is full you just put a fresh one on, wash the dirty one, and let it dry on its own. If you’re out you just put it in a plastic baggie for washing when you get back home. Putting a wet one down your pants would be horrible, haha

[-] [email protected] 4 points 3 days ago

In my country we have something called period panties. They has a kind of pad built in to the pantie. I bought some for my girlfriend and she tells me they work well. Just get a pair that are not too loose.

this post was submitted on 05 Jul 2025

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