How to wash a reusable menstrual pad

Materials & tools needed

 * cold water
 * mild soap
 * bucket or sink
 * washing machine
 * clothes washing detergent
 * clothes line
 * clothes pegs

Quick steps

 * 1) Separate the pad case from the towel-insert.
 * 2) Rinse blood out of the pad case and towel-insert in a sink or bucket using cold water.
 * 3) Allow pad case and towel-insert to dry until next washing machine load.
 * 4) Wash pad case and towel-insert in washing machine with a load of towels (or clothes if you're not fussy).
 * 5) Hang pad case and towel-insert on clothes line to dry.

Full Steps

 * 1) Separate the pad case from the towel-insert.
 * 2) Rinse blood out of the pad case and towel-insert in a sink or bucket using cold water (and mild soap if needed, hand soap is fine).  It is best to use cold water because hot water makes blood "set" in the fabric and will cause staining.  Rinsing the pad immediately after use will make it easier to wash the blood out; if you can't rinse the pad immediately, you may need to soak it in a bucket/sink for a few hours to get the blood out.
 * 3) Allow pad case and towel-insert to dry until next washing machine load, this way you can collect all your reusable pads and put them through the washing machine all in one go at the end of your period.  Rinsing the pads and allowing the pads to dry prevents them from becoming smelly.  (If the pads do become smelly, soak them in a bucket of cold water with some tea tree oil or washing detergent).
 * 4) Wash pad case and towel-insert in washing machine with a load of towels (or clothes if you're not fussy), just as you would normally wash clothes or towels.
 * 5) Hang pad case and towel-insert on clothes line to dry.

Note: It is normal for pads to have a light blood stain. If it bothers you to see a light blood stain, you may choose to use pads made from a darker coloured fabric so that the stain is not noticeable.

= See also =
 * Howto make a reusable menstrual pad

= External links =

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