Cloth Tampons and Interlabial Pads: Alternative Reusable Menstrual Products

Reusable menstrual products are gaining popularity in America. Most people know about cloth pads (aka mama cloth) or menstrual cups like the DivaCup, but did you know there are alternatives to those alternatives? Cloth tampons and interlabial pads are two alternatives to consider when shopping around for sustainable and environmentally friendly ways to deal with your period.

Cloth tampons are an economical substitute for disposable tampons, menstrual cups and sea sponge tampons. However, these tampons aren't easy to buy. The only one I've found at the time this article was published is called the SofteeMommaPads Cloth Tampon, sold by work-at-home mom on eBay (see link below). Cloth tampons are easy to make yourself if you're crafty though. Even if you're not an expert craftswoman, you can still make these yourself. The simplest cloth tampon consists of a square of cotton, fleece or flannel rolled up like a sleeping bag and inserted into the vagina. Actually, there is a simpler way to make your own cloth tampons: buy baby socks, roll them up and insert them, or so I've read, but I wouldn't do it. The next step up in cloth tampon options is to sew a string to one side of your cloth square so the end result looks like a flag (I guess you could sew a string to baby socks too). Once you roll it up it'll look just like a regular tampon and it will be as easy to remove. If you know your way around a crochet hook or a pair of knitting needles, you can make cloth tampons from cotton yarn and stuff them with cotton, like cotton balls, or another absorbent material like microfiber. To be really fancy, you can make a drawstring out of the open end. There are some patterns online.

Let's say you don't want to wear anything internally but want a little more security than a cloth pad snapped to your panties. You do have an option! It's called an interlabial pad (sometimes called an intralabial pad). Like the cloth tampons, these are largely a DIY product, though I know of at least one company selling them. Obsidian Star currently sells a product called the Labinni (see link below). Interlabial pads are similar in shape to a traditional tampon and are held in place by the labia near the vaginal opening. They can be as simple as a rolled up square or rectangle of cotton, fleece or flannel much like the cloth tampon. You can sew a tube of cotton, flannel or fleece and stuff it like the cotton tampon. A third shape I've seen is a leaf shape that you simply fold in half or roll up and place between your labia. The main downside to interlabial pads is that they have to be removed before you pee. However, for the same reason you need to remove them before peeing, you can also use them for light incontinence.

Caring for your cloth tampons and interlabial pads is as simple as washing clothes. If you cloth diaper a baby, throw your cloth tampons or interlabial pads in with the diapers. Cold rinse, hot wash with a small amount of detergent and an extra rinse or two is all you need. You can soak either product in a small pail next to your toilet until wash day if you'd like. If you're not using cloth diapers you can toss your tampons or pads in with the regular wash. One way to kill bacteria in your tampons or pads is to soak them in a 1:1 vinegar solution or water with a few drops of tea tree oil for 15 minutes before washing them.

If you are looking for an alternative to the more popular alternative reusable menstrual products and traditional products available on the market, cloth tampons and interlabial pads are excellent options. And once you get good at making your own, start selling them online because there is a market for them!