How to Use the Dry Pail Method for Cloth Menstrual Pads

Many of us cloth pad users have heard over and over about soaking your pads. While it can help get rid of stains and prepare your pads for washing, it can actually damage your pads. Did you know that there are other ways to keep your used pads? Instead of soaking your pads in water, I'm going to tell you how to use a "dry pail" method.

First, let me explain just how soaking your pads can damage them. If you soak your pads for days before you wash them, you are weakening the fibers in the fabric. Then after they go through 1-2 wash cycles and sometimes the dryer, the life expectency of your pads is drastically reduced. While it may be fun to buy fun tea pots, containers or other objects to soak your pads, it's not so much fun to have your pads ruined.

For your next menstrual cycle, try using the dry pail method. When you change your pads, simply fold it inwards and fasten (if your pads have wings and snaps or velcro). Then place them in something to keep them in until it's time to wash. This is good news, you can still use your favorite soaking pots or old cookie jars! Wetbags or hanging wetbags are alternatives to containers. You can keep them under your sink like a container or hang them on the handle of your bathroom door.

There's no need to rinse out the pads after use and dry them before you place them in your bag or container. You can still do this is you're concerned about stains, otherwise just put them directly in. If you'd like to rinse them, put them under cold running water until the water runs clear and hang to dry, them place on your container or bag.

When you run out of pads or at the end of your cycle, it is time to wash! You will need to soak them in your washing machine before finishing the cycle, I find anywhere between 30 minutes to an hour to be sufficient. To do this, just start the cycle and fill with cold water. While the washer is filling up, take your pads and unsnap or unfold all of them. You can add detergent and color safe bleach to the wash if you prefer. Let the washer agitate for a few minutes then stop it to let them soak.

After they have soaked for awhile you can let the rest of the cycle finish. Once it's finished, you can take out your pads to apply stain remover on any remaining stains or let them in and start the next cycle. The first cycle you did needs to be cold water to prevent further setting in stains. The second and last cycle you will do should be hot water to properly clean your pads. This last cycle you can let finish all the way through with no soaking. When everything is washed, you can dry them in the dryer or hang to dry. Using the dryer will shorten the life of your pads, but will get them dry faster.

Some pads have specific washing/care directions, but they are usually the same and can be used with the dry pail method. You might notice some more stains, but that's to be expected with cloth menstrual pads. Try out the dry pail method and see if it's for you!