Reusable Feminine Products
After that title, I'm assuming you are reading because you are interested in reusable feminine products and not embarrassed by discussing them, or you think I'm a loon and want to see how far I will go to be frugal. Either way, if you somehow missed the title and are still reading and don't want to read about feminine products, please stop now!
For those of you who are still with me, I've been thinking about reusable feminine products for about two years now. The first place I ever even heard of such a thing was Hillbilly Housewife. I was repulsed at first, but after reading what she has to say in Ok, but EWWWwww (scroll down for this section) it started to make sense. After all, how much different was it really than washing the cloth diapers I'd already been using for years? Poop? Blood? Which is really more disgusting if you think about it?
Around the same time I saw several blog posts about cloth pads and also about The Keeper. The Keeper is a small rubber (available in silicone also) cup that is inserted to catch the flow. I prefer tampons to pads, and thought this might be a winner. I was pregnant at the time so I didn't really need to worry about it though.
The baby came, the baby nursed, and eventually my cycles started again. Now, after several months of being back in the market for feminine products, I have had it with shelling out the bucks for disposable supplies. Then someone I know posted about making her own pads. I also saw several other posts, which I forgot to bookmark, about the topic of reusable feminine products.
So why reusable? Frugality of course is a big motivator. The Keeper is $37 with shipping. It can last up to 10 years. It is a green alternative, and many of the reports I've read claim the cloth pads and Keeper are actually more comfortable and work better.
So I did it! I ordered the Keeper over the weekend. Obviously I can't report how it works yet, but I thought I'd open up the discussion now. Have you thought about using these type products? Do you use any of these products? What do you think? Of course if you are shy, you can leave an anonymous comment. If you have already talked about this at your blog, or would like to, please leave a link for us all!
17 comments:
I use the Diva Cup- have been for, gosh, a year or two now? It took some getting used to- I nearly gave up after the first few months of leaks. Turns out, I wasn't pushing it far back enough. Now, it's great! I haven't bought tampons in I-don't-know-how-long. The miser in me cheers!
I've thought about the Diva Cup as well. I would seriously like to have a hysterectomy and get it all over with, but those are no longer elective. Darn!
I may have to try it since I'll be working at the school more and I won't be able to trot off to the little girls room at any moment like I do at home.
I hear they sell them (new of course) on Ebay for around $25-$30.
I use cloth(hemp) made by an ebayer. I like them and it has saved money. If you use cloth, peroxide works better than anything to get the stains out before washing. Even older stains.
I had the diva cup explained to me, but don't think it's the product for me! I made my own cloth pads but they're not perfected yet.
Okay, I'm going to be brave and leave my name...
I am going to be looking into these diva cups and keepers. I had heard of the pads and thought that would be too be of a switch (from tampons to reusable pads). Now I'm getting interested again!
I've switched to cloth nearly a year ago now, I personally think they are more comfortable then disposable pads and you can use them as liners as well. Plus there's no rushing to the store when you realize there's none at home. I got mine from http://www.theweewuns.com.au $29 for 4 of them.
I've been using the Diva Cup for about two years now, as well. Once you get used to it, it's not too bad; I have found that actually working out MORE aggressively during my period causes me to bleed less, so then I don't need backup pads.
Otherwise, you can find some great cloth ones on Etsy or at any coop.
Love all the feedback. I did see lots of cloth products on ebay, but no Keepers, I didn't search for the Diva though. I just bought the cup for now because I was out of tampons, but I will probably buy the cloth pads when my supply of disposable is used up.
I have researched this topic off and on for years and still use the disposable products. Mostly it's fear I think - fear of grossing my husband out and fear of the inconvenience of washing them out, sanitizing them and carrying soiled ones in my purse all day long (that can't smell good). I tired the Instead product several years ago and it really caused bad cramps, so I'm reluctant to shell out the money to try the keeper. I'd love to try the cloth ones, and a lady in our coop makes them, but my husband is so easily grossed out that I haven't taken the plunge yet.
Interesting topic - I'm enjoying the comments.
Does the Diva Cup or the keeper feel and work anything like a diaphram?
I just started using the Diva Cup last month and I will admit it has a learning curve! It took me 30 minutes the first time I used it. I have been a tampon girl and after my 4th baby, my body just won't allow me to use them anymore. I really like the Diva cup once I got used to it. It looks kind of big, but it does not hurt and you can not feel it. It is not inserted as high as a tampon and the way you position it uses your body's own muscles to hold it in place. I thought it would be really gross to dump it out, but it wasn't so bad and I was amazed how little blood there actually was. On my heaviest days I changed and washed it in the morning, once in the afternoon, and before bed. I really enjoyed that kind of freedom. On my lighter days I changed twice... you can wear it 10-12 hours at a time. I was home most of the time so cleaning it wasn't a big deal, but if I was going out and had to use a public bathroom I would pack some personal wet wipes or some baby wipes and that would work fine. If you try the Diva cup be sure not to give up too soon. I found it a little difficult at first, but I just kept trying, RELAXING is key and I was really happy with it. I am going to love not buying feminine products anymore. Also, I bought mine for about $30 (including shipping) from Amazon.com. It comes with a money back guarantee, so you aren't losing anything if it doesn't work for you.
My 21-year-old daughter uses the Diva Cup and absolutely loves it. She talks about how great it is every month. She says that since she started using it, she never even remembers it is "that time" of the month. She also took it to Europe with her and she said it was tons easier and more convenient that tampons would have been. You can leave the cup in all day and you don't have to worry about leakage or toxic shock.
I haven't tried it yet. I'm not brave enough.
I use cloth as well, and have found that those with a microfleece lining stain very little. As for care, they're very simple...I don't soak, just put them in a bucket with our dirty cloth diapers. At washing time, I soak for 30 minutes in cold water, then wash on hot with the Fuzzi-bunz.
They are Definitely more comfortable! Even the overnight ones, which look huge, feel very comfy on.
Cathy
I use the Keeper and I really like it. It's cheaper as well as better for the environment. It took some getting to putting it in and taking it out, but I don't feel it once it's in.
I'm a cloth pad user, in fact, I make and sell them! So naturally, I think they rock, lol. I used to be a tampon user and hated pads, but after trying cloth, I found them to be comfortable and convenient. The best part is no smell. I just wash mine with our family cloth and diapers. Yes, we even use cloth wipes for us, not as gross as you might think and much nicer on the bottom:-)
Good luck!
I use a Diva Cup and love it. It is much easier for me to use, I was one of "those" girls who would leave the house without supplies only to have to buy an entire box of tampons because I couldn't find just one. I only have to check it twice a day, and since I am re-using the product, there is no worry of not having what I need with me. Leakage has also become a non-issue.
I've been using the Diva Cup for four months or so and I love it! I almost like getting my period now!
It does take a while to get the feel of putting it in and taking it out, so don't get too frustrated with it (and don't forget to break the seal before trying to pull it out!). I found it easier, at first, to empty it in the shower while squatting. One of the cool things about the cups is that you can put it in before the flow starts. So, if you know that you are going to be busy and you're going to start, you just insert it in the morning.
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