Cloth Menstrual Pads on a Budget

1 - I can do better 2 - Jury's out 3 - Pretty darn good 4 - Splendiferous 5 - Awesometastic by 3 people | Log in to rate

Ranked #321 in Green, #35,827 overall

Cloth Menstrual Pads on a Budget

Making the switch to cloth menstrual pads can save you a lot of money in the long run. However, it does require an initial spendout, making it difficult to get started if you're on a budget. So does this mean you're stuck with disposables? Not at all! This lens contains lots of hints and tips to help cloth newcomers start a stash for less.

Cloth on a budget is more do-able than you might think! 

So, you've decided to ditch the disposables and switch to cloth. You're ready to create your stash, and you're looking forward to the savings it will bring you. There's just one problem: cloth pads require an initial investment, and you're on a tight budget. How on earth are you going to afford it?

Don't be too disheartened. With a little initiative, it's possible to create a perfectly good stash with very little money. Here is how.

You don't have to buy your entire stash in one go 

It sounds obvious, but you'd be surprised at how many people feel as though they have to buy their entire stash in one go. In my opinion (even as a seller!), this is a mistake. Until you've tried a few cloth pads, you'll have no idea what style/size you like. If you buy your entire stash in one go, you may end up having spent a whole lot of money on a pad style that doesn't suit you. Why not make the transition gradually? You could buy a pad a month so that you have a new one to try for each cycle. By the end of the year you'll have 12 pads, which many women find to be enough to get through an entire cycle.

Search by Price 

Etsy and eBay are great sources for inexpensive cloth menstrual pads, and each has a handy feature that allows you to sort your search results by price. This means you can quickly and easily find items that are within your budget.

Here is a link to cloth menstrual pads in Etsy, sorted by price so that the cheapest are first. The list will change regularly, so make sure you check it often to be in with the best chance of grabbing a bargain.

Here is a link to cloth menstrual pads on eBay with the cheapest first.

Cloth Pad Wiki also has a list of inespensive sellers, which you can view here.

Look out for Seconds 

Sometimes, pad sewing just doesn't go right. It's a fact of life. One slip with the machine because you're singing along to Kate Bush instead of paying attention, and you have a wonky pad. Sellers often list these pads as "seconds", and sell them at reduced prices. There is nothing wrong with the pads - they just have some minor cosmetic flaws. Cloth Pad Shop has a category just for seconds, and some sellers post their seconds on the Cloth Pads or Cloth Pad Sales communities on Livejournal.

Upcycled Fabric 

Some sellers make pads from upcycled fabric, such as old clothing and bedding that would otherwise been thrown away. These often cost less than pads made with specialist core fabric or designer cottons. (They are also more environmentally friendly, since new fabric does not need to be produced to make them.) Bear in mind that while the materials are cheaper, you will still need to pay for the pad maker's labour.

Second Hand Pads 

In my opinion, this is the best way to get fantastic bargains on good quality pads. Don't be too grossed out by the idea - "second hand" doesn't necessarily mean "used". Besides, used pads will have been cleaned, and have usually only been used a handful of times. If you're worried, a hot wash with half a cup of vinegar will kill any nasties. Keep an eye on Cloth Pads and Cloth Pad Sales and snap up a bargain.

Multi Part Pads 

Multi part pads are extremely flexible, and just one or two pads can give you many options. Pocket pads feature an envelope style outer with an insert - most come with more than one. The pocket on its own makes a good pantiliner; one insert could make a good medium pad depending on your flow, and two inserts could make a heavy pad. If you wash your pads as you go along, a few multi part pads could form your entire stash.

If you don't have enough inserts, it's very easy to make more - just cut a piece of flannel or terry to size and fold into thirds.

A multi part pad could also consist of a booster and a topper to hold it in place. At Luna Wolf, I sell PUL boosters that can be placed underneath non-waterproofed pads to increase absorbency and add a waterproof barrier. These can be used to turn a pantiliner into a medium pad, and so on. Amy's Rag Bag makes ingenious multi part pads from reclaimed fabric, which can be combined in many different ways.

Trades 

Do you have fabric or other supplies that a pad maker could use? Do you have a skill such as web design that you could offer to a pad maker who wants to revamp her website? Perhaps you create handmade products of your own that a pad maker might like? It's worth posting a message on Cloth Pads, which is read by a lot of pad makers. I've done trades in the past with a lady from Pennsylvania who sends me fabric from her local store in exchange for pads, and a lady who makes gorgeous mineral make-up.

A Useful Link: 

Cloth Bank
Cloth Bank is a cloth menstrual pad co-op, where people can buy and sell pads, other period paraphernalia, and sewing supplies without having to use actual money (except when it comes to shipping). If you haven't yet started a pad stash, you can help out around the site and earn "shares", which are credits that you can use to buy pads from the bank without having to dig into your personal or your family's budget.

Testers 

Most pad makers like to "test drive" a new product before putting it in their stores. Many will self test and/or enlist the help of female friends/relatives, but some need specific types of testers that they may have difficulty finding (for example, women with very heavy flow). In these instances, pad makers will send out tester pads for a low cost or even for free, in exchange for feedback. Let pad makers know that you're willing to test drive pads for them, so that you're on their list if they need testers.

Competitions 

Lotteries/drawings for free pads are becoming increasingly popular with cloth pad makers. Once in a while, I run one in my Cloth Pad Shop store. Usually the drawings are for liners and light duty pads, since that's what WAHW (work at home women) pad makers can spare. Many pad makers announce their competitions and winners in the Cloth Pads community, so it's worth checking regularly.

Samples 

Some of the larger pad companies such as Luna Pads, Gladrags and Party in my Pants offer free samples. Again, these are likely to be liners or light duty pads, but all three have very different styles, so it can help you to figure out what works best for you. WAHW pad makers usually do not have the means to give out free samples, much as they would like to.

Make Your Own 

If you're nifty with a needle and thread, cloth pads are a fun and satisfying project. There are lots of free patterns available online, the most popular being Adahy's. Check out the Cloth Pads Wiki for a larger selection of pattrens. I carry small-lot quantities of fabrics that are especially awkward to find, such as bamboo fleece and PUL. You don't necessarily have to spend a lot of money on fabric, though. Old fleece blankets make great backings for pads, and can be bought very cheaply at charity/thrift shops. Flannel pyjamas make great pad tops, and old towels are very effective for cores. The DIY Pads community is a great resource for people who want to make their own pads.

If sewing isn't your strong point, or you're strapped for time, don't despair. Cloth pads don't need to be complicated. A simple facecloth folded into thirds makes a perfectly adequate cloth pad, as does a square of hemp or bamboo fleece. Two squares of flannel sewn back-to-back can work well too.

New from Luna Wolf - Patterns and Tutorial! 

Cloth menstrual pad patterns and tutorial
Want to make your own cloth menstrual pads but don't know where to start? This printable template set with in-depth tutorial will provide you with all the information you need to get going.

Menstrual Cup 

If none of the above suggestions appeal to you, consider getting a menstrual cup. I stock the Femmecup at £14.99 - about the price of 3 cloth pads.

Links 

Luna Wolf's main store
The main site for Luna Wolf - your source of stylish handmade cloth menstrual pads, menstrual cups, and specialist fabric. UK based but will ship anywhere in the world!
Luna Wolf on Cloth Pad Shop
Luna Wolf's store on Cloth Pad Shop Europe
Cloth Pads community on Livejournal
This community is for discussion of cloth menstrual products. Including and not limited to, cloth pads, (also known as mama pads), moon pots, cloth wipes, family wipes, cloth breast pads...etc.
Cloth Pad Sales community on Livejournal
A community for the sale and trade of cloth pads
DIY Pads community on Livejournal
A community with lots of helpful information for people who want to make their own cloth menstrual products
Eco Menses
A very informative website about alternative menstrual products including cloth pads, menstrual cups and natural sea sponges.
Cloth Pads Wiki
This site is dedicated to disseminating information about cloth menstrual pads and other alternative menstrual products. It's a useful resource for finding pads of a particular size, style or fabric.
MonthlyInfo
A simple (and free!) tool to help you keep track of your menstrual cycles.

Cloth Pads on eBay 

Loading Fetching new data from eBay now... please stand by
eBay

Luna Wolf's blog 

Loading Fetching RSS feed... please stand by

Reader Comments 

Here's what people are saying about this lens:

submit
Show All

by lunawolf

Hello! My name's Vicky, and I'm the owner of Luna Wolf - your source of stylish handmade cloth pads and accessories, reusable menstrual cups, and spec... (more)

Explore related pages

Green Guide to Back-to-School
The beginning of school is drawing near and for most families that means shoppin...
Low Budget Travel Tips
Low budget travels could be enjoyable provided you make a little bit compromise...
Creating a Family Budget
We've all been there, it is a week before payday and the checking account is...
Is "Building on a Budget" Worth Buying? - Review - Techniques for Free MLM & Network Marketing Lead Generation
Whether you are just starting out in network marketing or have been in for a whi...
Obtaining Financial Freedom
We all want to be debt-free and financially free. Being tied down with the const...
Luna Wolf - Reusable Cloth Menstrual Products
Created in 2007 by Victoria Smith, Luna Wolf is a UK based business specialising...

Related Topics

Create a Lens!