Benefits of cloth pads

Cloth menstrual pads that is. Now before you say EERRRR YUCK!!! GROSS!! Read the following, it may change your whole view on disposables.



Health:

Manufacture of disposable pads and tampons involves use of chemicals such as additives, bactericides, fungicides, absorbency gels, glues, fibres, and cancer causing dioxins the residue of which remains in the pads and tampons.

Use of cloth pads eliminates the concerns associated with the potential risk of Toxic Shock Syndrome resulting from use of tampons.

Many cloth pads have an inner core of bamboo. Bamboo has antibacterial qualities. This helps reduce bacteria that cause unpleasant odours.

Environment:

Disposable pads are made from chemically treated wood pulp – YUCK!

Disposable pads and tampons add to landfill. Not only are the pads themselves made from non-biodegradableable products, the packaging themselves (outer wrapper, individual wrapper, plastic strip!) also add to landfill. Even when cloth pads wear out because they are made from natural products, they can be composted!

There are approximately 5.5 million females in Australia between the ages of 12 and 51* (the average ages of starting and finishing menstration). If all of these used disposable pads and tampons, averaging 10 per month, that would add up to 660 MILLION pads and tampons added to landfill EVERY year. That's a big pile!!!

Manufacture of disposable pads involves bleaching resulting in pollution to waterways from effluent, not to mention the chemicals and gels that provide the ‘superabsorbancy’ claimed by disposable pad and tampon manufacturers. A lot of cloth pads have an inner core of bamboo. Bamboo grows quickly and requires no pesticides. With sufficient rainfall, no additional irrigation is required.

Economics:
Women spend on average $10 a month on disposable pads and tampons. This adds up to about $120 a year. For the cost of a few months disposable pads, you will have enough to last years with the potential saving of thousands over a lifetime.

Just for fun:

Instead of boring white, cloth pads are available in fun colours and designs.

Disadvantages?

You have to wash them!This is really not a problem. Simply rinse them in cold water and soak in a basin of cold water until you are ready to put them in the washing machine with any other load of washing! The soaking water can be added to your compost heap or used on your garden – it is a natural product after all! *statistics from 2006 Australian census of population