#Ad – Gifted for purposes of review
There’s no doubt about it that reusable sanitary pads are far better than disposable ones. Now, Trade To Aid have launched their Trade To Aid Reusable Sanitary Pads that help us do even more good with our periods. Read on to find out all about them and the good they do, there’s even a chance for you to win a set of Trade To Aid Reusable Sanitary Pads:
Better for the Environment
Disposable sanitary products contribute millions of tons of plastic to landfill every year. Each woman (or menstruator) can use between 5 and 15 thousand pads or tampons during their lifetime, the vast majority of which end up in landfill or polluting the oceans.
Most disposable pad brands are over 90% plastic and contain synthetic additives, many of which are damaging to both women’s health and the environment.
Instead of throwing away your pads and committing them to landfill, you can wash and reuse Trade to Aid pads for many years. The waterproof membrane on Trade To Aid reusable pads are made from 100% recycled plastic. Reusable pads reduce your plastic footprint.
Reusable pads provide a simple and pragmatic solution to the environmental damage caused by disposable period products.
Help Others Have a Better Period
Period poverty affects over 500 million women worldwide. This means that they do not have access to enough feminine hygiene products, or menstrual education.
Meanwhile, periods are a multi-billion dollar industry for large global corporations.
Period poverty keeps girls out of school, women out of the workplace, and leads many to use unsanitary items during their period which can endanger their health. Through providing Trade To Aid pads, we strive to provide a better period.
As many as 3 in 10 girls in the UK struggle to access sanitary products. In Sub-Saharan Africa, UNESCO have reported that as many as 1 in 10 girls miss school during their periods. Many leave school completely after they have started to menstruate. Should such a normal and natural thing as a period, prevent a woman from gaining an education?
Trade To Aid pads help to fight period poverty by providing women and girls with a safe, sustainable option, which stops them from feeling shame or stigma during their period.
Rebecca and I have always planned to sew up lots of reusable pads to donate, but like many of our big ideas, it’s something we’ve never got round to. By investing in a pack of Trade To Aid’s reuseable pads, we can add to our own reusable pad collection and donate to others at the same time.
Trade To Aid donates one pack of reusable pads for every single pack sold – each pack can have a massive impact on someone’s life.
More Comfortable
I’ve used all sorts of different pads in the past. Over the years, disposable pads have improved in some ways- they’ve got thinner, longer, added wings, and so on. The good news is reusable sanitary pads have all of these benefits (in addition to the environmental and social pros too).
The soft bamboo charcoal layer is so much more softer and comfortable than plastic. The wings with poppers keep them very secure. They are also very absorbent thanks to a highly absorbent microfibre core and recycled waterproof membrane. They look great too!
How to Use Reusable Sanitary Pads
Each box of Trade to Aid Sanitary Pads comes with 2 Light Flow, 2 Medium Flow, and 2 Heavy Flow pads. It would be great in the future if there was an option to buy a box of say all heavy flow pads, rather than a mixed set.
Wash your reusable pads when they arrive before use. To wear, simply place a reusable pad into your underwear just like you would a disposable pad. Instead of the kind of adhesive you find on disposable pads, Trade to Aid reusable pads are fastened around your underwear with poppers.
Reusable pads can be used for roughly the same amount of time as disposable pads, so you’ll probably need 1 pad for every 4 hours or so depending on flow.
You’ll usually find that you need to change reusable pads less frequently, as they’re more absorbent than standard disposable pads. If you’re using reusable sanitary pads for the first time, I recommend you try them first on a “home day”, then wear them at school or work when you’re used to changing, storing, and washing them.
How to Wash Reusable Sanitary Pads
Once you’ve finished with a reusable pad, you can either “fold and pop” then place it in a sealed bag, if you’re out and about (Trade to Aid Sanitary Pad Packs come with a matching zipped waterproof bag for this purpose), or if you’re at home immediately place it in cold water to soak.
Soaking pads in cold water helps lift out bloodstains- I always add some salt too. It’s handy to have a bucket or washbowl in the bathroom where you can chuck them in straightaway. You could also use a lidded container if you prefer, such as an old ice cream container, or a lidded plastic bucket. If you need to buy one, it might sound strange but search for a “lidded nappy bucket” as they do the same job!
Adding some tea tree oil or white vinegar to the water will act as a disinfectant and soft cleanser – but don’t worry too much as you’ll be washing the pads too!
Wash Pads in the Washing Machine or by Hand
Soaked pads can be washed in a standard dark 20/30/40-degree wash or by hand (don’t wash them too hot as this could damage the pads).
You can use light detergent but don’t use fabric softener as it will leave a residue on the pads.
Some people are put off using reusable pads because of the need to wash them but bar the soaking, washing reusable pads is the same as washing any other clothes!
Dry the pads on the line or in front of the radiator. You may find one of those oval “hanging smalls” peg dryers useful. Once their dry, pop them in a drawer ready for use. Pop one in your bag too for emergencies.
The Cost of Reusable Pads
The only downside to reusable pads is the initial outlay. Don’t feel bad if you need to build up your collection of reusable pads slowly. If you only have one set of reusable pads, you’ve already started to cut down on your plastic use.
How many reusable pads will you need? It’s best to grab as many pads as you normally need for each day of your period, then add a couple of extras for emergencies, and then double it to account for washing time. So, if you normally use 3 pads a day, then you’ll need a bare minimum of 6 pads in total – but 10 to 15 pads are recommended for most women. This could mean buying 2, 3 or 4 packs of reusable pads – it depends on how often you’ll be washing them.
The good news is, once you’ve built up your supply, you’ll quickly recover the cost of buying a few packs of reusable pads. They can last many years if you look after them properly, resulting in massive savings (possibly even in the thousands of pounds!) especially in homes like ours with multiple menstruators.
Our Thoughts
What’s not to love? Trade To Aid Reusable Pads are good for the environment, good for aiding period poverty, good for our health, and comfortable for our bodies. They look great and eventually help us to save money. We will definitely be buying more!
The only improvement I’d like to see in the future if possible is to see a choice of flow and size packs for sale and also a choice of different patterns that can make them easier to identify in a household of multiple menstruators.
Win a Pack of Trade To Aid Sanitary Pads
For your chance to win a pack of Trade to Aid Sanitary Pads (worth £29.97) please enter the Rafflecopter below (remember to read the terms and conditions)- good luck!
a Rafflecopter giveaway
Many thanks to the following Competition Promoters:
Loquax
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Diary of the Evans-Crittens: Feeling Lucky? Blog Giveaway Linky
Being better for the environment!
I am very sqeamish don’t think I could handle period pants let alone resuabe pads. 70 now so no need to worry persoanly though
The advantages are reduced plastic use/landfill, reduced plastic in the sea (and waste on the beaches) as people sometimes flush disposable pads, comfort, saving a lot of money and comfort!
Will save you money and not go into landfill.
Using less plastic helps saving the planet
Better for the environment xx
They are better for the environment
Better for the Environment
The environmental benefits are the most important. Add to that, saving money, comfort and convenience. Perfect!
These look so great, they’re better for the environment and they also work out cheaper.
Better for the environment and more natural materials used so better for you as well.
It cuts right down on my plastic use and is much greener then the throw away option.
Massive savings over the years, good for the environment, good for aiding period poverty, good for our health, and comfortable for our bodies.
More environmentally friendly and after used a few times, I imagine more comfortable, too xx
Certainly better for the environment
Better for the environment as means less plastic and landfill
saves you money in the long term
The advantage of using reusable pads is that they are better for the environment as it means less waste.
Using these would be so much better for the enviroment
Less waste going to landfill
Ever since I heard that plastic filled sanitary products can take over 500 YEARS to decompose, I knew I had to make some changes – so I’ve been using period pants and just bought my first reusable pad. These ones look great and love that they support another great cause too.
well you would save money and it would be great for the enviroment fab giveaway thankyou these look great
Better for the environment 😊
Much less single use waste. I think they are also more comfortable
I have started using reusable pads in the last year. I can say there are a few advantages to using them. They are more comfortable and less irritable than disposables, more cost effective, and better for the environment.
It’s a great idea it saves waste and money
It will reduce waste going to landfill
less plastic waste
More comfortable, more eco friendly and much cheaper!
Less plastic waste & money-saving.
reusing things is best – no extra rubbish and unnecessary new things! I love the give back angle too
Saving money, more environmentally friendly and better for you.
Better for the planet, better for your purse!
Less waste and saves money
good for the environment
Far more environmentally friendly and cheaper in the long term
Never having to buy more disposible pads, avoiding the dreadful chemicals in them
It cuts down on plastic waste
I like to try and reduce waste, so this product is ideal.