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Washing & Fabric Guide

Washing & Care:

  • Always wash pads before first use
  • DO NOT use fabric softener or dryer sheets (decreases absorbency)
  • Wash in cold (or warm) water and tumble-dry on medium
  • For best results, soak ahead (or at least rinse) in cold water to help prevent stains
  • STAIN HACK: spray with hydrogen peroxide before washing and lay pads in sunshine while still damp (can be indirect sunlight near a window)
  • Pads can also be washed by hand which is gentler, helping them last longer
  • Drying straps are great for hanging multiple pads to dry in a chain-link (see my shop for examples)

Fabrics Explained:

Cotton:
Both woven cotton and cotton flannel make excellent pad toppers. They're soft against the skin and wick moisture into the absorbent core. Woven cotton feels cool against the skin and flannel is simply a brushed woven cotton that has extra fuzzy coziness added to it. It's also great at gripping to panties. When used in the core, cotton flannel is moderately absorbent and requires multiple layers to act on its own for menstrual fluid. Cotton fleece is a thicker and more absorbent type of cotton, equivalent to bamboo and hemp fleece.
Linen:
Linen fabric is made from the fibers that grow inside the stalks of the flax plant. It wicks moisture quickly and is often used in tea towels because it dries quickly. Traditionally, linen was used in cloth medical bandages and is said to have healing properties. This material is superior in quality, function, and is also exceptionally expensive to purchase.
Bamboo/Hemp Fleece:
Both bamboo and hemp are derived directly from nature and have antibacterial properties. They have an excellent capacity for absorption and dry quickly making them ideal for use in cloth menstrual pads.
Zorb:
Zorb is a super-absorbent hypoallergenic fabric made from an optimum blend of cotton and bamboo fibers interspersed with polyester nylon. It Absorbs 10 times its weight in under 2 seconds and soaks up 20 times faster than other materials. Zorb makes pads perform better which reduces how many pads are needed per cycle.
PUL (polyurethane laminate):
PUL is a soft, stretchy knit material that locks in moisture while retaining its ability to breathe. PUL was originally designed for medical use and is now commonly used in cloth diapers, pads, wet bags, etc. Eco-PUL is made using a heat-bonding process instead of chemicals.