Washable sanitary towels for women? Do ladies really do this?

Question

I'm sorry, but this sounds a bit gross... How does it work then? Please educate me.

I saw it on the Mooncup website. Don't go there either!
*shudders*

Actually, I remember there being ST incinerators in the girls toilets at school.
I can't imagine women putting bloodied rags in with the normal wash though...

PS. I'm over 40! School was ages ago!

Answer 1

God, people are so squeamish about periods. If I had to use washable ones, I would. But instead, I pay a nice amount of VAT to use crappy bleached paper and cotton. Cheers!

Answer 2

Gee, you all seem to get pretty grossed out by something that's not all that icky. You make pads, often with flannel. Many of the people at Craftster.org make them of plaids, quilting prints, or anything without a white background. They're actually cute, and much softer than the disposable paper products. If a woman or girl happens to shave, these don't irritate, unlike paper goods.

You put them in your panties, changing as needed. Remember, your whole period you're losing 50 - 100 cubic centimeters of blood and uterine lining. That's a couple of ounces over a course of several days.

You toss them in the washer and dryer. They come back visually clean and smelling fine. And you've added nothing to a landfill and killed an easily-grown cotton plant instead of a tree.

Answer 3

it sounds gross , but you know what? Imagine all those sanitary towels rotting on a landfill site. Thats gross too isnt it.

I still use disposable towels, but i recognise the need to find an alternative. We cant just keep on filling landfill sites with used sanitary towels...

Edited to add: ok i didnt know sanitary towels were incinerated - in my school we just had sanitary bins that were emptied regularly. I was never aware of where those used towels went, but I pitied whoever had to accomodate them!!

if we have incinerators for the towels, lets continue with that.

Answer 4

don't know about washable sanitary towels but I did see something called a menstrual cup that you insert than dump it out and wash it and insert again it sounds gross to its suppose to be a green thing I can only go so far with the being green thing I did switch my light bulbs

Answer 5

I don't know about nowadays, I would imagine its too unhygienic.

However many years ago, sanitary towels were not invented so women had no choice but to was their towels. They were called rags then and something they just had to do.

Answer 6

apparently it is true women used to do it many moons ago also my mum told me that before they were made properley rags were actually used thats where the term rag week came from a very old term like the decorators are in or grannies come to stay

Answer 7

This sounds horrible. Its bad enough washing the sh1t out of washable nappies but this sounds gross. Don't think that there would be much of a market for these!!!

Answer 8

I've not heard bout it but I reckon it would be like the old Dr Whites with a hook and loop, I never personally used these myself as I am not old enough, but that is the only way I could think it would work. Would they be towelling like the old terry's nappies. Oh my god we will be going back 40 years

Answer 9

Toilet paper, but it does make a mess. I fyou wrap it round the gussett of your knickers it might stay in place during the night. But really you need to be braver and ask the nearest woman, they will understand and help you out. I've even walked into a shop and asked the counter lady for a tampon and she smiled and gave me a box!

Answer 10

I am 51 and my mum used to tell me about these, not in my lifetime but she said they were made of toweling and folded. They were boiled when soiled.
What a lovely subject ..lol