Bests & Worsts Reviews from Amazon

I wanted to wait to write a review until I’d used these pads through a whole menstrual cycle and washed them. A little background first, to set the mood – I have cloth diapered two children, so I’m over the ew factor already (poop is way worse). I’m a full time working mommy, I don’t use the cup or tampons, and honestly, the thought of a cloth menstrual pad kinda grossed me out….until my good friend brought up the question, what would you do if you couldn’t get pads or tampons at the store? You know, like during the zombie apocalypse. Enter a lot of Google research, and Amazon to the rescue with some instant gratification shopping! I got two different sets of pads – “LBB(TM) Rusable Micro-fiber Mama Cloth Menstrual Pads,6pcs pack” for light days and “Heart Felt Bamboo-Charcoal Reusable XL Sanitary Pads X 5” for heavy days. This is a review comparing them, but honestly, I’m glad I got both, and would recommend buying at least two sizes if you plan to use these as your sole method of period containment. The XL bamboo ones are GREAT. No leaking, no weirdness, the PUL back layer is very pretty, and they are very easy to wash. I was surprised how much the pad had absorbed during a heavy flow day, you can’t really tell when you’re wearing it. I usually wear an overnight type pad on my heavy days, and this was far more comfortable than that. It didn’t get squishy or soggy feeling at all. It didn’t wiggle or shift around, it’s easy to adjust. The top fleece layer always felt dry, fluids just wicked straight through to the inner layers, whatever they may be. (I was worried that if there was actually charcoal in it, like it says, the charcoal dust would filter out in the wash and turn other light clothes dingy, but I did not experience that. I’m not sure how there is charcoal in there, but that’s neither here nor there.) Also, not smelly at all! Well, no worse than a regular pad. This pad held a lot of fluid, I was really surprised! The smaller LBB micro-fiber pads are good for light days, spotting, or if your bladder control is less than ideal after having a kid or two and you find yourself on a trampoline or sneezing a lot. I love the variety of patterns. The “minky” (fleecy looking ones) stay in place much better than the PUL ones, which tended to shift a bit. I found it a little harder to rinse these clean than the charcoal bamboo ones, the white terry might tend to hold stains. Both styles of reusable pads were very easy to wash. I learned (the hard way) from cloth diapering how to approach cleaning the pads – I would recommend rinsing them in the sink when you take them off (or when you get home, but definitely the same day!) in cold water until it runs clear, and then wash with your clothes in your regular laundry. No need to soak or get all crazy. I have a front loading washer, and I had zero problems getting these clean and fresh. I line dried one time I washed them, and put them in the dryer the second time, they were soft and comfortable either way. I had 11 pads total, and I wore 2 of the XL charcoal bamboo ones during the day on my heaviest day, and wore one overnight with no problems at all. The smaller ones were great for light flow days. I did a load of laundry to wash the pads midway through my period. You wouldn’t necessarily need any more than this, I wouldn’t think, unless you don’t want to do laundry in the middle of the week. :) I think I prefer the fleece top layer to the terry cloth layer, it stays dryer and cleaner feeling, and was easier to rinse out. I had no leaking or staining problems at all, with either brand. They both folded up and snapped closed into a neat and inconspicuous bundle. I had zero irritation, unlike with commercial pads that would leave something akin to a diaper rash by the end of my period, something my friend complained about as well. I can honestly say I couldn’t be happier with my purchases and will be using my cloth pads all the time, and telling everyone about it! This is a GREAT purchase, even if you plan to use them only as a backup to the cup or for bladder control problems – easy to wash and no waste. AND BEST OF ALL – your toddler can’t stick these all over the walls while you’re in the shower!