Stop! I see you trying to run away from my post! But you will be oddly compelled to read it. So before you go running away in terror...at least hear me out! You are permitted to laugh till you cry and share with all your friends like I did about reusable pads, especially if this is your first time hearing about this concept. ;-)

My 3 starters I made using 100% cotton print tops, terry interior, and fleece backing. Then added snaps to the wings. I spent a total of $4.00 on prints which yielded 20 pads in addition to other prints to start my 'stash'.

Reusable Sanitary Pads

You might be wondering, why in the world would I use such a thing!?! That was my first reaction, followed by uncontrollable laughter. But to tell you the truth, this is what really opened my eyes over a year ago to commercialism, and opened my eyes to how I've spent years being a sucker for name brands. I've always had an issue with being a fact and figures kinda girl. After laughing and joking with my besties about reusable pads, the thought kept rolling in my head of how much money could I save if I took the little bit of time time to do this. As much as I laughed like a hyena, when talking to my European friend, again - she laughed at my amusement for being a close minded American. Her mother taught her to use and make reusable since she started as a young girl. To her I'm the weird one. I actually sat down with the calculator and worked it out like this. I unfortunately got my first visit from Aunty Flow the Sunday before my 12th birthday. Currently, I'm 35. I worked it out like this:
35 yrs.
-12 yrs.
23 yrs. x 12 bleeding months = 276 month - 27 months (3 9 month pregnancies that I didn't get my period) = 249 months
I usually spend about $5.00 on Kotex/month, usually more, but I wanted to go with under budgeting base figures.
249 x $5.00 = $1,245 (at minimum what I've paid out this far!) So, visits from Aunt Flow really add up.

What else could I buy or invest with an extra grand? You can imagine how happy I am to have given birth to 3 boys rite now, ha-ha! Not to mention the piles of pads and pons that I've contributed to filling a landfill. So sad. Then I spent months researching how much chemicals are in pads/tampons and all I could do was shake my head. I took the leap and I've stopped throwing money away on disposables. Now, I've invested into heaven for my precious lady parts! The first reusable pad I tried is called a Minky. Less bulky for a pad, SUPER SILKY SOFT, and it did the job very well. It was like losing your virginity, (except this time it was a good experience). I was so excited calling all my besties to tell them, "Guess what, my period finally came this morning and this pad feels so good!!!" I wish I could have given myself this spa like experience from the beginning...but, my 'Susie' is going to be lavished in the life of cloth pads from here out.

Advantages of Cloth menstrual Pads

Cloth mentrual pads are less likely to cause rashes, contact dermatitis, as well as helping women afflicted with certain types of vaginitis. Women with sensitive skin and allergies may prefer cloth pads more of undyed organic cotton.
Cloth menstrual pads, like all menstrual pads, remove the risk of TSS associated with tampons.

Easy To Clean:
When you're out and about - fold up and place in a 'wet bag' just as if you were cloth diapering. Then treat when you get home.

When home - keep a small bucket of cold water {add your favorite cleaning agent if you would like to} and let soak overnight, or for a couple days depending on when you feel like doing the wash. Drain the bucket water in toilet, then wash. They can be machine, or hand wash. I prefer to hand wash, just for fun. If you get a stain, {which rarely happens, unless you let them sit for days without cold water treatment} you can use baking soda and an old tooth brush to scrub the spot.

I find it odd when asked by ladies that worry about staining, but seriously...you're using them to bleed on, rite?

Yes, this is my Manly Welding Husband, still wearing his weld cap. Like all projects...he enjoyed jumping in and making some fem pads too.
{Not only did he make one, he engineered my template using AutoCad Program!}. So, he gained himself some serious extra credit on his man card! =)

My starter set. See the bottom left how they fold up into a nice neat square and snap shut when not in use? :)
Pictured above is 2 overnights, 5 regulars and 1 liner.

Other Cloth FAQ's
Why use? They are better for the environment, easy on the pocket book, and so much more comfortable than paper and plastic pads. No more sweaty, itchy, rashes, chafing pads. Instead you can use comfortable, soft cotton, fleece, velour, or other soft cloth pads. No more adhesive sticking to your skin or hair. No more running out of pads at the worst possible time. You'll have a fresh set of comfortable, clean and ready to use cloth menstrual pads at hand with just a simple load of laundry.
Q. How long do the cloth pads last? With proper care, as long as your favorite pair of soft jammies!
Q. What do I do with them when I'm out and about? Discreetly put them in a 'wet bag' or Ziploc bag. 'Wet bags' can be rinsed out and reused. Clean pads can be carried with you in your purse, or whatever you would normally carry pads in.
Q. How often do I change a cloth pad? As often as you would change a disposable pad. Every 2-6 hours as needed depending on your flow day.
Q. How comfortable are they? I would compare cloth pads to soft flannel jammies vs. those awful scratchy paper gowns at the doctor's office that don't fit rite and make you feel uncomfortable the entire time.
Q. Will cloth pads really save me money? Using cloth pads will save money and time. If you have an average flow, the average woman spends about $10-15 a month on disposable products. You will need from 6-24 reusable menstrual pads in your stash, depending on your flow and how often you do your laundry. After taking a poll, most women use 8-12 cloth pads during their cycle. You can make them yourself, or pay out about $120 for a stash. Average cost of 7 years worth of disposable pads $10-15/month. Cost of 30 years of cloth pads is your initial $120 (plus more if you want new prints over time)...Cost of 30 years of disposables: $3,600-$5,400

Treats by Tanya has teamed up with Willow Tree Cloth to give you the opportunity to snag

2 FREE Pads to add to your collection, or get it started! The Winner will be mailed a 8" and 10" Pad! I already placed my first order with Willow Tree Cloth too ~ and can't wait for my order!