Through a work assignment today, I came across the most disgusting thing. Washable pads! The company I had to write a blurb about is in Australia and is called...get this...PleasurePuss.

Here is an excerpt from an American web page about these nasty things:

These are essentially a washable fabric version of a disposable menstrual pad. Mostly made by small businesses, these come in a huge variety of types. Using fabrics such as bamboo or cotton, they can be very absorbent and some even include a waterproof layer to give the same security as a disposable pad. Colourful fabrics can add to the positive aspect of using these, as can soft fabrics such as velour. Cloth Pads can be reused for many years. After they have been worn, they can be rinsed clean or left to soak and washed in a washing machine with the rest of the laundry. Some women like to use the water on their gardens to make use of the nutrients the blood gives.

Shale wrote:

Well, I am not the right gender for this 'problem' but my mind just went to 'what did they do before Kotex?'

They used cloths for the purpose. My grandmother would have a cow if any one called her Granny, because the cloths used were called granny rags.

Shale wrote:

Well, I am not the right gender for this 'problem' but my mind just went to 'what did they do before Kotex?'

Lots of historical info on this site:
http://labyrinth.net.au/~obsidian/clothpads/padhistory.html

So, this new product is in fact an old product and likely will find a market in those serious earth mothers and recyclers.

I remember as a kid those big bulky Kotex pads (one fell out of a garbage can and we boys had fun kicking it around the street at each other - yeah, boys are nasty). I think they had an elastic strap to hold them in place.

Oh, do I get a medal for buying my teenaged daughters panty pads when she was too embarrased to buy them herself? Or do I just collect on that favor when time comes for someone to buy my Depends?

Gosh, Mom had those with the straps. Glad the industry remained innovative. Yes, you do get a medal for buying such necessities for your girl!

I have to second what everybody else is saying, this is why pads were invented in the first place so we didn't have to keep using rags. Washable pads defeats the purpose of pads.

Hell to the nah.

I always heard of one that collects the flow INSIDE of your body in a cup.....then you rinse it out at the end of they day and insert it again.

Nystyle709 wrote:

I always heard of one that collects the flow INSIDE of your body in a cup.....then you rinse it out at the end of they day and insert it again.

I actually only learned of that one today too. See, that one I can sort of wrap my mind around. Still don't think I could pull it off. Still, it seems more feasible than the ones I posted.

CeCe wrote:

ICK

Suzi wrote:

They used cloths for the purpose. My grandmother would have a cow if any one called her Granny, because the cloths used were called granny rags.

Oh yes, the 'good old days.' It's been so long I forgot the term 'on the rag' that we guys used for that period.

(except for my dad from the generation when men were not expected to be sensitive. He referred to it as 'bitch problem.')

BTW, imagine having a guy go down on you, just as you start your period.


(Actually, it wasn't that gross)

I am soooo glad that chemo fried my ovaries and sent me into menopause; I haven't had a period in almost 3 years and I don't friggin' miss it at all! There's just needs to be an "off switch" invented for that whole process--you don't really need it unless you're planning on popping out a few kids.

In concept I see little to no difference between this and washing cloth diapers and even bloody clothes from an injury.

But as personal choice I'd rather just throw 'em away.

Shale wrote:

Oh yes, the 'good old days.' It's been so long I forgot the term 'on the rag' that we guys used for that period.

(except for my dad from the generation when men were not expected to be sensitive. He referred to it as 'bitch problem.')

BTW, imagine having a guy go down on you, just as you start your period.


(Actually, it wasn't that gross)

Mind........just.........blown

As a teen I got my period while staying at my gmoms, and i asked if she had any pads... i really thought she would just for the urine leakage thing... and she handed me a rolled up rag and said "here, this is what we used to use... good enough for me.. good enough for you"... and the straps were call a "sanitary belt"

EW EW EW EW EW

btw... the cups that insert and collect were related to toxic shock because it keeps the bacteria in the vagina until u release it. so beware

wants2laugh wrote:

btw... the cups that insert and collect were related to toxic shock because it keeps the bacteria in the vagina until u release it. so beware

That makes sense as tampons can do the same thing.

http://www.divacup.com/

I'm still afraid to try it myself.