If you’re a menstruating woman, you’ve probably purchased more boxes of tampons and maxi pads than you can even count. Think for one moment about how much you spend on all these countless products over so many years, not to mention how much space they take up in landfills once they’re discarded. Is there an easier, more economically and environmentally friendly alternative? Yes! And more and more women are choosing to use these products to help save money and the environment. Sure, they take some getting used to, and the initial investment may seem like a lot, but in the long run, they will save you a lot of money, save a lot of space in landfills, and even protect your health.

Reusable Maxi Pads

Many women are now choosing to use maxi pads that can simply be washed and reused. The advantages to using these pads, aside from the reduction of trash, is that they are usually more comfortable than disposable pads and you can use the water for soaking them to water your plants (the blood provides great nourishment). Also, reusable pads are non-toxic. Commercial pads and tampons can be bleached with chemicals that are harmful to your body, possibly causing such problems as cancer, Toxic Shock Syndrome, and headaches. The risk of getting these things from feminine hygiene products may be small, but reusable pads eliminate this risk altogether.

Because most reusable pads are made from unbleached cotton, they are also breathable, helping to prevent excess moisture, which can cause infections, irritation, and odors. Commercial products, on the other hand, can trap moisture and cause or exacerbate these types of problems. And if these products are also scented, that can encourage irritation and infection even more.

The disadvantage to reusable pads is that they can be somewhat messy. Some women keep a bucket of water handy for soaking the pads before they go into the wash (and, as I mentioned above, then use this to water their plants after the pads go into the wash). Some women just rinse their pads in the sink as they are done with them. They are compatible with washing machines and dryers, although using bleach and scented laundry products are not recommended.

Another disadvantage to using these pads is that they are not always convenient. When you are at work or traveling, for example, and need to use a public restroom, it’s not exactly a great place to soak or rinse out a pad. One idea is to bring a plastic bag for the used pad and have a clean one available. Some brands of reusable pads offer carry cases that keep clean and used pads separated.