How many use and appreciate.......

ShannonS

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A couple of my pads are backed with felted wool. The others have either nothing, or a light weight windpro (type of specialty fleece I use to make diapers with) I'm torn between my pads topped with Bamboo Velour v.s. the ones topped with microfleece.

For those of you using coin washers, I can totally understand not wanting to wash poo wipes! I usually do a soak, then a wash and that could get spendy, plus people might freak out if they knew what you were washing. lol. Baby poo is one thing, but older kid and adult poo is another story.
 

urban dreamer

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Ok, I give in. Im gonna try them! Im expecting my "three weeks of he!!" soon and the thought of those sweaty, bunched-up plastic pads makes me itch.
 

BirdBrain

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Yeah, I am slowly becoming convinced to try this. My daughter and I went to the fabric store and got some flannel and snaps. I hope to get to it before I need them again. Paula, this is all your fault! ;)
 

dragonlaurel

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This is my first month using the cloth pads, and I really like them. I HATED the normal pads, but don't mind using these. They haven't leaked at all either. (knock on wood)
 

LaSombra

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I really never thought about doing this. Does anyone have a link to a pattern or something for how to make the menstrual pads? I would, of course, change them to fit me best, but just want to see the basic pattern first. What do you use to make them thick and absorbant?

As for the TP, I was just thinking of a good idea... If you made the squares like mentioned somewhere above and instead of putting them in a basket on the toilet, you could put a button hole in the corner and just hang them on a hook above or next-to the TP roll? I'd still use TP for poo. I wouldn't want to wash that... but the pee is nothing.

I just registered here like 1/2 hour ago, saw the ad on backyardchickens.com and thought I'd check out this site. I'm really interested in learning about new ideas like this! Thanks :D
 

dragonlaurel

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Here's a bunch of them, so you can get lots of ideas:
http://sites.google.com/site/shewhorunsintheforest/
http://www.downsizer.net/index.php?option=com_content&task=view&id=128
http://manymoonsalternatives.com/make_your_own_pads.php
http://www.hillbillyhousewife.com/sanitarypads.htm


I made a few styles to see which I liked better. Kept it super simple and cheap (free actually) till there was a chance to test them and see what worked for me. I didn't use any PUL and they work well for me. For heaviest days, I used a winged one and a liner.

My simplest version, was to fold a washcloth in thirds lengthwise and sew both ends. I left it unsewn down the side to help it dry fast. These work well and stay put when I'm having a busy day- even without wings. You could use some thin washcloths for light days and thick ones for heavy days.

For my shaped ones, we had a really thick towel that had a rip, so that got cut up for the absorbent layers. Since it's very thick and thirsty, I just use 2 layers of towel inside for regular flow. Made a few with 3 towel layers for heavy days.

I cut up a thick 100% cotton shirt for the top and bottom. It's really soft and washes easily.
Sew in snaps work fine for closing the wings. Wings are valuable if you have to use public bathrooms! They keep the pad from falling.
 

Mackay

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I bought a couple of stacks of cheapo wash cloths, color coded for different family members, in case the SHTF
economically. Beats trying to stash 1000 rolls of toilet paper!

I am not inclined to use them at this time though.

but with my kids I used flannel wash rags when they were babies. I made them myself and just washed them with their cotton diapers. One teaspoon (or was it tablespoon?) of bleach per load sanitizes everything.
 

TanksHill

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FarmerDenise said:
Today I cut up another unwanted T-shirt into nice little squares for my personal wipes. FIL brings us "souvenier" T-shirts from his frequent trips to the casinos, usually XL, which neither one of us is :rolleyes:
Recently when I ran out of tp, I started using them to blow my nose as well. Anyone remember handkerchiefs?
I have allergies, so I always have a slightly runny nose. Those little 6" squares are just perfect.
I have also come up with a system for hanging them up on the line. I just stack them nicely as I am getting all the other wet laundry out of the basket and then at the end I take three squares at a time and hang them by one pin. It goes pretty quick that way. When they are dry I take them down and stack them and put them in the basket together. Then it is a quick job of putting them back in the bathroom.
I add the little basket of used wipes to my laundry. They really don't take up much room.
FD this is off topic but I read an article in Countryside a while back about the proper way to hang laundry on the line. I thought heck what are they thinking. But they really made some great points and little things I had not thought of. Like laying every thing out flat...like you do with your hankies. And yes we use hankies and linen napkins as well. I love drying them on the line. They smell so fresh.

g
 

LauraJean

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I never understand why one person cares what another person does as long as it doesn't hurt anyone.:idunno

Okay, I have a couple of question about the cloths, not the monthly ones but your regular bathroom use ones. You said you put the #1 cloths in a bucket. Does that bucket have soapy water or do you only do that for the #2 bucket?

Regarding #1, do you reuse a cloth, or use a separate cloth for each use? I ask because I'm thinking about how many times I pee in a day! I would fill the bucket every day. Since I have to hand wash all my clothes, that would add up quickly and I'd need a ton of cloth.

Also, did you say flannel? Isn't that kind of fuzzy? I would think a smooth linen or smooth cotton might be better, no?

I live alone and get little company, so I could easily adapt this to my daily life, at least for #1 use. I just need to figure out the logistics of it when it comes to washing them, since I am disabled and hand washing is a pain.

Thanks!
 

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