Washable Pads FAQ
Q. How long do Many Moons Alternatives menstrual pads last?A. Many Moons pads last 5 - 6 years or more. That makes them a fraction of the cost of disposables - or less than 70 cents/month! The record "life" for Many Moons pads so far is 8 years.
Q. Do they stain?
A. They rarely stain. The key is to soak used pads as soon as possible in cold water (warm and hot water encourage staining). If you are unable to do an immediate soak and some staining should occur, 'eco-friendly' stain removal products such as peroxide, Borax, Washing Soda or Shaklee's Basic Bright can be used.
Q. But - are they as absorbent as disposables?
A. Yes! Cotton is far more absorbent than the wood fiber that disposables are made from. More absorbent and definitely more comfortable!
Q. I work outside the home - how could I use Many Moons?
A. Easy! Put your used pads into a plastic bag and soak them as soon as you get home or when it is convenient (or you may wish to order our Many Moons Carrying Bag - enough room for a full days supply).
Q. How many menstrual pads would I need?
A. That depends on your flow, how often you want to wash and dry them, and whether you want to use them exclusively. Some women find one set (6 pads) to be a sufficient start. Other women, with heavy flow or if you plan to use them exclusively, choose to get another set of 3 or 6. Look for our specials-- when you buy 9 or 12 pads you receive free pads! Buying a 3 or 6 pack makes a good start to "get the feel" of them and to see whether you need more in the future.
Q. Do you have anything suitable for after childbirth?
A. The Goodnight pad is very absorbent while still being nice and flat i.e. not bulky, and ideal following birth. The flannel is very soft and gentle on tender perennial skin. The ends of the pad are flared, to give extra protection for heavy flow or night-time use.
Q. Do you have products suitable for younger or smaller women?
A. Yes - we make a slightly narrower and shorter (71/2") pad for younger women called the "Youth" pad. They are basically the same design as our normal pads but just a bit narrower and shorter given girls tend to be a bit smaller. If you want to order the "Youth" pads you can find them on our pads pages. Prices are the same as my other pads, and they come in a variety of pastel, organic and wild.
Q. Do you have any products suitable for thong undies?
A. Yes - the Youth pad is ideal for this, as it is both smaller in length and width, thus stays in place better, without outline showing through in clothes like leggings.
Unsure of how many to order?- if you are not sure how many pads to order...
If you have a light to medium flow, a good staring point is 9 pads.
If you have a heavier flow, 12 pads is a good starting point
The number of pads you will need also depends on whether or not you plan to do a wash during your cycle.
Unsure what to order?- if you are not sure what to order the following will provide you with some guidelines.
Each pad comes with two liners, so every pad can be any absorbency (with no liners, with one or with both). Choose your pad based on the length you want.
If you have a very heavy flow or intend to use the pads mainly at night try the Goodnight (13") set for ultimate absorbency.
If you have a medium to light flow you could try the Combination set or a Regular-Maxi or Mini set.
If you have a light flow or intend to use the pads mainly for liners try the Mini or Youth set.
Remember all our pads can be used by themselves or with 1 or 2 liners depending on your absorbency needs.
Organic pads with nylon lining - normally our organic pads do not have nylon - some women do prefer to have the nylon so we provide it at no extra charge. Just choose whether you want it or not when you place your order.
How to launder the washable pads- pads must be washed once before first use to ensure full absorbency. Remove the inner liner from the pocket. Rinse each piece in cold water. (Warm and hot water encourage staining). Soak in cold water for at least two hours. Hand or machine wash and dry (low heat). If you leave pads soaking for a few days, change the water daily. Pads should not stain if these measures are followed. If staining should occur, environmentally- friendly stain removal products such as oxygen based bleach, hydrogen peroxide bleach or washing soda can be used. (Please do not use chlorine bleaches). It is normal for the pads to shrink a little bit.
Some Many Moons users have come up with creative ways of drying the pads in an environmentally-friendly way. One such customer was gracious enough to send photos of her ideas:
| Here are two experiments for drying one Many Moon pad at a time. In both cases, pad has been washed, rinsed, then wrung damp-dry by rolling & squeezing in a towel. |
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Many Moons - method 3 
Many Moons pad stretched out on the car's dashboard. Dries quickly!
Thanks Gail!
If you would like to share other ways of laundering the pads, please email your ideas to me at: info@manymoonsalternatives.com