I own some glad rags that I like, but not as well as the ones I bought from a woman on Etsy who lived near me.

However, most of the time I use a silicone cup.  I've had mine for almost 3 years (I use a Diva Cup) and since then the market has exploded and there are many options.  One maker even sells cups in every color of the rainbow.  I assume that menstrual cups will be covered in the next installment.

I'm with Elisa.  I hope they talk about cups next time.  I started using a Keeper about a year ago, and I love it.  It's really convenient, easy to clean out and produces no waste.  I've never had a leakage problem with it, either.  I highly recommend them.

Thirded about menstrual cups.

I have used and loved the Keeper, but don't forget about using birth control pills or other hormone therapy to suppress your period entirely. I understand that some people don't like to use hormones, but if you're on the pill anyway you can just take it continuously and keep the period at bay.  

All the hormones that one ingests ends up flushing through and into the water cycle...
Puget Sound has tested positive for an amazing array of hormones, all from people!
I'd prefer NOT to add more toxins to the planet, thanks.

For me, the Diva cup works excellently, and with a bit of home industry, I've sewn up a few "spotter" pads from some soft flannel, with wings that work.

I've been using GladRags for eight years now and was astounded to hear they only last for five, because mine are going strong! Admittedly, that's also in combination with a Keeper.

Re:  the "ick" factor.  I'll admit, I found it pretty weird to start with.  But not for long.  A lot of the ick factor, I found, came from the societal associations I had with the plasticky pads.  The smell, for instance, I've noticed was far worse with plastic pads... and because you had to throw them out, the association that's made in the mind is dirty pads = gross waste.  The weird coagulating chemicals or whatever is in those pads didn't help.

Washing out GladRags is the same as washing a cut, or washing out sheets that you might have accidentally bled on.  Women for generations before us did much the same, using rags that they would wash... it's where "being on the rag" comes from as a saying.  It's my blood, and I found myself -literally- getting in touch with it.  I learned a lot about my own flow, and was fascinated by the pretty bright red color in the water that you never see in the pads.   The shower trick's a good one, as is a bucket under the sink (change the water daily though or it gets funky - hand washing them immediately really is better)

I'll admit I draw the line at washing out my housemates' GladRags though.  There is something to be said for keeping one's bodily fluids to oneself.

So what I'd say is, if you're going to try them, give them a chance.  Give them a few months, work through the ick factor, and you may find yourself not only significantly reducing your impact on the environment, but making peace with your period.

I can't even contemplate going back now - the disposable ones are so gross!

the gladrags look good.
i use torn up old bath towels from jumble sales, because i'm stingy, but they do move a bit when i'm doing heavy work.

ick warning!!!!

the soak water is a marvelous plant food, and i use it especially as an iron tonic for ericaceous (acid loving) plants like azaleas, blueberries and citrus that are looking a bit yellow.

One important factor they left out of this is Cost (yes, the all important Cost).  As with most things, I would like to be able to afford switching to a more eco friendly alternative, but these things cost too much.  Until eco-friendly products get rid of the premium they're going to stay the option of well off people, rather than the option of everyone.

When referring to cost, I am of course, referring to the disposable options here.  Gladrags, etc don't work for me.

Redambrosia - I hear you on the cost factor.  However Gladrags and other reuseables such as the cup options that we are holding our breaths to hear about in Part 2 will save you a TON of money in the long run, even if they are a more expensive investment up front.  I've been using a cup for 7 years now, and only replaced it once a few months ago because I accidentally dropped it into a porta-potty.  It cost me $30 - doing some quick math that comes to 35 cents/month!

Am I the only deformed body that can't use pads? I use the longest pads I can find, which, unfortunately, is the least environmentally friendly, yet still manage to stain outside the pad.
Nothing more annoying than a clean pad and stained panties.
And I've tried GladRags. This was a dismal failure.
As a result, I stick to tampons with the extra long pads as back up. Plus I keep an extra set of clothes in the trunk and an extra pair of panties in my office desk.
Oh, and I use an absorbent pad on the bed at night. Not very comfortable.

Another plug for the cup. This product does far more for the environment and personal freedom than the products featured in this post. Please include in a redux article!  

A few years ago my sister switched to gladrags and that was all she was really excited about it.  I decided that I was too cheap and made my own out of my son's old prefold diapers to see how I felt about it and they were huge but it got me hooked!  I never did spend the money I just perfected the art of making my own to fit my body with a needle and thread.  I also rinse mine in the shower and then I wash them with my daughters cloth diapers!

I <3 the Diva Cup. It's kind of fun once you get used to it, and instead of carrying around tampons all through your period you've already got your menstruation equipment stored up in your cooch.

ok we all love cups, I get it! But they don't suit all of us women and yet we still don't want to contribute to the non-biodegradable waste mountain of feminine products thats out there. I thought this was the main gist of the article, so why Seventh Generation were even included (let alone awarded the Gist Pick) is a mystery to me! Their pads are mostly made of plastic so they are not biodegradable. To me they're no better than conventional brands. Ok they're chlorine free, and thats great, but whats the point if the pads are still going to be lurking in the ground in 100 years?!
and then I noticed the copious 7th Gen advertsing all over the website and my questions were answered. Independent eco journalism you say....? not sure about that!  

As the editor of this column, I just wanted to assure HelloKitty (and anyone else who's curious) that Grist's editorial and advertising are separate departments that operate independently of each other. Furthermore, we do not accept product samples for this column. (Which is kind of a bummer, cuz it's kept us from getting our hands on some sweet swag.)

I totally agree with HelloKitty. Chlorine-free pads that are still made from and encased in two layers of plastic (wrappers and product package) have NOTHING on organic, 90% biodegradable pads wrapped in paper and delivered in a recycled paper box. I agree that Natracare pads aren't perfect - leakage is not none-to-moderate, no matter what they say here - but there was no comment on the fact that they are organic. This is a product that is next to your skin for hours at a time, 3-6 days a month, for about 40 years! Organic cotton vs. plastic...? No contest. They are also much more sustainable in terms of packaging, which the reviewer seemed to ignore.
I personally use a combination of Natracare pads/tampons/panty liners, with Glad Rags at the end of my period. You don't even have to do the pre-rinse at that point, since the volume is really low.

I purchased cloth pads from a number of different producers over the last 6 months, including the ones noted in your article.  I liked New Moon pads best because unlike the Glad Rags or the Luna Pads, New Moon pads were not nearly as bulky, and they were just as absorbent.  

My periods are very heavy, and I was really concerned about leakage.  I've never had a problem with one of my New Moon pads leaking through.  They're even great at night.  New Moon comes in more sizes than the others, too.  They even make pantiliners.

I like knowing that I'm wearing a product that is not filled with chemicals, plastics and adhesives which irritate my sensitive areas.  The cleaning issue isn't nearly as difficult as people make it out to be.  It's your own blood, and it's not toxic.  It won't hurt you, and it's not nearly as bad as cleaning out cloth baby diapers!  If you use OxiClean detergent, you can really get your pads looking brand new every time.  

I'd recommend anyone interested in really reducing what they're sending to landfills to give cloth pads from New Moon a try.  It's been a great experience for me, and one of my daughters is now getting started on them too.  

If you are using the gladrags or Luna pads during the day and you have to change mid-day -- what do you do w/ the soiled pad?  I don't think washing it in the sink at work would go over well, or do I keep it in a baggie in my purse?  I am usually ok with ICK factor, but ICK!!!

Also, I know we haven't gotten to tampons yet, but i have always flushed mine -- for the same reason.  If you aren't going to flush them, what do you do with them?  They would bleed through any toilet paper that you wrap around it.

How do you go about cleaning a cup when using a bathroom with multiple sinkless stalls and an open sink area?  I can see using one at home or at work if you have a "one holer" bathroom there, but that's not the case in most office buildings, public buildings, at airports, etc.  The shared public bathroom also makes reusable pad management problematic.  Please advise!

P.S. the mirror adjustment comment in the Lunapad review had me laughing hysterically . . .

Re: Cleaning a cup in a shared bathroom? (rivergirl)

Required:
1 x small bottle of antibacterial hand gel
1 x paper towel

Rip paper towel in half.
Damp one half and keep the other dry.
Enter stall.
Open bottle of hand gel, sit it on the floor.
Remove cup, empty in toilet, do your business, flush.
Wipe cup with damp half of paper towel.
Reinsert.
Dry hands with dry half, wrap around damp (bloody) half and dispose in sanitary waste bin.
Use hand gel to clean hands to get out of stall.
Exit. (Washing hands recommended).

The best thing about the Diva Cup is that you get to know your cycle really well. For example, I know if it is day 2 of my period, I may need to empty the cup twice on an ordinary day of work but on day 3 it is only once. On day 1, 4 & 5 it can wait until I get home and I don't have to use hand gel or the paper towel.

I also sleep much, much better with a cup than ever have with any other form of sanitary solution because I don't have to worry about spillage when turning.

Maybe this wouldn't work for everyone, but I just empty out the cup once per day, while I'm in the shower.  I clean it and reinsert, and I'm done.  I never have to try to clean it out at work or on the toilet.  This works great for me.

Wow, this enthusiasm about eco-products for the period nearly has me regretting I am reaching menopause.  I wish I could do it over in a "green" way so that I had not insulted my body or my planet over my entire fertile life span.

I'm "deformed" too - thanks to scoliosis.  Pads inevitably twist themselves into some strange, uncomfortable, and not-exactly-useful shapes for me so I switched to tampons a long time ago.  I guess you and I will just have to wait and see what the second half of the article has to say - and wonder if anyone who is on Grist's staff is crooked like us?

When my youngest son was an infant, 19 years ago, I was introduced to Many Moons washable pads.  At the time I was using cloth diapers and thought if I can wash shitty diapers, then surely I can wash my own blood from the pads.  That began my journey of discovering my body and learning how we live in a world that makes it a challenge for us to rejoice in this life giving power we own and care for.  There are times that I do use throw-away pads and tampons, however, this is minimal and applies mostly when I'm travelling.  I was introduced to the Diva cup 2 years ago and use it in combination with the washable pads at night.  Using cloth has totally made the difference for me whether I leak or not at night.  

Yes, the 7th Generation pads are non-biodegradable.  However, the issue of toxins like chlorine is a more pressing one, as far as the survival of ecosystems, than the filling of landfills.  The reason plastic stays around so long is that it's pretty inert.  So looking at the toxins created, or not created, during manufacture is arguably more important.

Also, Natracare pads suck.  They're horrible.  They never, ever stay put or keep me from getting bloodstains on my underwear.  More often than not, when using them, I've had bloodstains all the way through to my outer clothes.  So the water, energy, and cleaning products I waste mopping up after inadequate pads goes towards making them not such a green option, really.  

And at that, I bet the Natracare pads contain more material than the ultra-thin 7th Gen ones (and definitely need to be changed more often), so even if it's organic material, it was still produced using fossil fuels and other chemicals, and it's still going in the garbage.  It's still taking petroleum products and producing waste and greenhouse gases.  If it produces less toxic stuff per unit of mass, but there are more units of mass...?

The reusable flannel pads can be great, they can be awful and anywhere in between.  It all depends on fit.  One company, i don't remember which, makes a pair of panties designed with an integrated pad with the little insert things for absorbence.  That might work for those of us who have a hard time keeping things properly positioned.

OK, now I started this organic and natural feminine hygiene gig over 20 years ago, angry enough to go out and kick butt to stimulate change. Natracare was created and developed by myself as a swipe across the grinning faces of corporate feminine hygiene manufacturers who were obsessed with maintaining the status quo and cared little for their impact on the environment.

I care even less for companies that swing on the LOHAs consciousness and deliberately fool consumers into believing that they are making a real difference when in fact it is GREENWASH. I have kept quiet long enough and I am angry about this manipulation of information and how it fools women. Natracare does not use crude oil or chlorine or smokescreens, infact we hold an EPD lifecycle analysis that is scientifically validated, demonstrating that Natracare has the lowest carbon footprint of any brand - that's another conversation, lets get to the point here.

In the first instance, it is worth saying that the only structural difference between Always pads and packaging and 7th Gen pads (with wings) and packaging is that Always pads use polyacrylate super absorbent in it's pulp core and 7G uses polysaccharides- Lysorb to be exact.
The basic components of crude oil plastic and pulp airlaids is used in both Always and 7G pad construction.
The Crude oil plastic materials used in the 7G pads are ( and do correct me if I am wrong 7G blogger):
Polypropylene nonwoven cover (PP) - next to the skin
Polyethylene barrier film backing (PE) - back of pad next to underwear
Polyethylene individual pad wrapper (PE) - folded around each pad
Polyethylene packaging (PE) - on shelf consumer packaging

1 pack of 18 pads 7G Ultra Regular contains 19.3 sq feet of plastic (18 pads per bag plus the bag)1 pack of 14 pads Always Ultra Regular contain 17.1 sq feet of plastic (14 pads per bag plus the bag)
Using the term Chlorine free is a way of detracting from the major issue of the use of crude oil plastic in 7G products. One pack of 7th Generation Ultra regular pads uses crude oil plastic materials that stretches out to measure 27 feet long by8 ⅞ " wide!   if you are lucky to use just one pack a month for your period, then for just one year's supply of pads, for one women then the crude oil plastics used and disposed of would be 8 ⅞ wide by 324 feet long - the Statue of Liberty is only 300 feet from ground to torch. One woman, one year that is a massive amount of crude oil.  

If you have trouble visualising just how much plastic is in those 7Generation pads GRIST chose as their best pick:- lets compare it to some visual stuff:

One woman, a lifetime use or pads (11,000 pieces) using 7 Generation Ultra regular pads with wings, you will be stretching a line load of crude oil plastic out 16,500 feet - that is over a mile long! By the way, it was the same amount of crude oil plastic used, give or take a tiny snip, as that used in ALWAYS pads. How many barrels of oil is that 7G?

I apologise to anyone for having to read so much,if you cared to hear my point of view, but never apologise for spending the last 20 years looking out for women and our environment with a passion. truth and honesty and love

Look, you're not wrong about the plastic issue--and thank you for working to develop a better alternative--but I promise you I tried every variety of your pads, and they just don't keep my blood off my clothes!  I wish they did, but they don't.

I've always wondered about the shared bathroom problem too! I get really heavy periods in the beginning and I know I'd have to empty several times in a day. I really appreciate the suggestion from witmol above on how to do it but my down below is pretty sensitive and I try to keep any and all anti-bac products away from it so I don't kill any happy microorganisms that should be living there. Does anyone have any other ways of doing it?

Also, has anyone used gladrags (or similar product) and only washed with no-scent enviro soap? My skin can't handle anything like bleach or oxiclean but I'd be really hesitant to use pads that just used dirty all the time.

Thanks!

It is a pity that you have not been able to find one of our 7 styles of pads to suit your needs, that is unfortunate but is not an indication that our pads are somehow of inferior quality, as you sort of implied in your blog earlier. Natracare products conform to absorbency standards used by all manufacturers. Take your point that you are unhappy with Natracare, but do not use your disappointment to diss my products. Thank you for the support, and appreciate you taking the time to read the issues. Plastic is for life...peace, happiness and love

A big time difference for me when I switched to the Keeper almost eight years ago was the almost complete cessation of cramps.  I suspect it was due to the lower levels of yucky bleaching chemicals in tampons.  My body appreciates the difference greatly.

So i too have really heavy periods...some days I have to empty my diva cup every hour (and yes, i've been to the doctor on this one).  so anyway, the point is my office has shared sinks and very nosey women.  
so what i do is just empty it out and put it back without washing it.  (maybe that's gross?) and then get a couple of squares of TP, wipe off my finger tips, wipe the nether regions...then go wash the hands.
works fine for me....i just try to get out while no one else is at the sink.

Step 1:

Wash your hands with regular old soap and water (no antibacterial anything necessary), as you will be putting them in sensitive places.

Step 2:

Use a paper towel to dry your hands, and take that wet paper towel into the bathroom stall with you.

Step 3:

Remove cup, and carefully dump contents into the toilet.

Step 4:

Use damp paper towel from drying hands to wipe the cup.

Step 5:

Re-inset cup and put paper towel into the the little garbage receptacle put there especially for feminine "hygiene" (what's that supposed to mean, anyway?) waste.

Viola!

I read with interest the comments posted but the one that irked me the most was the comment posted by willa.  "Natracare pads suck. They're horrible". umm very eloquent but even more interesting is the reference to "toxins like chlorine is a more pressing one".  Chlorine bleaching is extremely toxic and this was the initial reasoning behind the manufacturers of Natracare for bringing this wonderful product to our shelves - 20 years ago! (so why do they "suck"?  But Natracare products are just about being chlorine free.  This is just one benefit.  Plastic laden products like 7G and other conventional pads can take up to 500 years to degrade.  They never go away. And the magnitude of our global plastic pollution is enormous.  An interesting statistic; the American people weigh approximately 50 billion pounds, but every year in the U.S alone, twice that amount (100 billion pounds) of plastic resin pellets (thats the stuff that is used for consumer plastic) are produced! This does not just affect landfill but our oceans.  80% of marine pollution from plastic comes from land! Plastic debris releases chemical additives and plasticizers into the ocean absorbing   hydrophobic pollutants, like PCBs and pesticides and DDT.  These pollutants accumulate in the tissues of marine organisims which follow the food chain back to us in the foods we eat(some of us). Most of the plastic debris either becomes entangled in animals or is ingested. This gives them a feeling of being full but with no nutritional value, so they are in fact starving to death!
So while we are all glowing at 7G for being chlorine free, how about applauding Natracare for being plastic free and Totally Chlorine Free for being biodegradable AND compostable and only using sustainable plant based materials!  Stop whining about having blood on your undies - be more in tune with your flow and PLEASE for the sake of the planet STOP using plastic laden  products!

I have to say i'm really impressed by everyone's opinions and level of knowledge on this very important topic.

TruthBeKnown, I appreciate that as a women in your position you take the time to respond with such passion and genuinity.

Not2L8, you make some great points.

Willa, opinion appreciated, but easy on the dissing...

The bottom line is whether you're using Natracare, 7G, GladRags, a sponge, the DivaCup, or whatever other alternative feminine hygiene products out there, you're helping the planet and women in one way or another much more so than the conventional products out there like Always and Tampax.

One other new brand worth mentioning is Maxim. They seem to be unique in that they don't use wood pulp in their pads. Who knew there is wood in our pads??...seems kind of odd. I love trees so the idea of cutting down trees to make pads doesn't make me feel like the treehugger that i am, but that's just me.

The beauty of our free market is that everyone has the choice to choose what brand or product best suits their needs and values and express it so freely as everyone has done in this blog. If your sole concern is chlorine free then 7G is for you. If you're anti-plastic and concerned about chlorine then Natracare may be your pick. If you love trees, want chlorine and synthetic free products then Maxim may be for you. If you have the courage to insert a cup in you than hooray for the Diva Cup.

The point is all these brands are taking care of the environment and women in one form or another so I take my hat off to all these creators and in lieu of the times, am thankful for this country for allowing us the freedom to make a choice and change.

Much Love,
Isabel

Where does one buy reusable pads?

Honestly, have any of the writers tried the Lunapad? I'm not sure whom you reviewed for these statements, but perhaps you should have at least had 5 reviewers who had cons and 5 reviewers who had pros about it. I have never felt I am wearing a 'diaper' when using Lunapads, or that I appear to have a 'toe/foot' of any sort while wearing tight pants/leggings/tights. The ricshaw is in-fact very durable and strong, it has always kept a liner in place during my cycle when I use the pads. I prefer cotton fabrics aganst my neather regions rather then some nice stiff chemcial plastic (that says comfort - plastic). And they are easy to care for - if you hand wash for example your bras and panties these are just as easily cared for. And I'd like to say I prefer Lunapads because the way their liners are removable, and they have more wideth and length to them. I wear size 6 panties and these give great coverage. But it's really up to a person to decide for themselves. Did I mention you can pick your fabric prints :)

As mentioned on the other column, I have endometriosis, so it's a bad idea for me to use tampons/cups. As such, I need to use pads and I try to make a good eco-choice. I alternate use between Glad Rags and Naturacare pads and I like it a lot. For Glad Rags, I usually pre-wash them by hand w/Dr. Bronner hemp soap first and then I either soak them in a mixture of hydrogen peroxide/water or white vinegar/water, or just pre-treat them with peroxide and/or Ecover stain stick for a couple of days. Then I put them all in the wash when my period's done (I have a very small portable washer and live alone so this works well for me). If you live in a group house or with a roommate you're not close to, you might not feel comfortable putting these in the wash (or in a public laundromat for that matter). I actually held off on using GladRags until I had my own apt. for this reason. I telecommute a lot and so stay home for work, so the Rags work well, but not as convenient if I was working eight hours outside the house or when I am on the road. When I am traveling or have a long day outside the house, I use the natural disposable pads and keep a couple of extra in a biodegradable bag. I think both GladRags and Naturacare are much more comfortable than regular disposable pads. I will say that I do get some stains on the sides of the crotch of my underwear with Naturacare. I usually wear black underwear during my period, so it's not that big of a deal--nonetheless, I still would appreciate it if they came with wings, any plans for that? Another thing that would be great is an individual wrapper. Not a plastic wrapper, of course, but maybe tissue paper?    

Just in reply to shastaBlue's comment:

"I really appreciate the suggestion from witmol above on how to do it but my down below is pretty sensitive and I try to keep any and all anti-bac products away from it so I don't kill any happy microorganisms that should be living there. Does anyone have any other ways of doing it?"

The gel never touches your 'down there', it is for hygiene purposes to clean your hands before you exit the stall so the lock and handle don't carry any secretions of yours for the next person who uses it.

I appreciate the information.

Hi Blackcat, I use the Natracare Ultra pads which all have wings and come in long, regular and super absorbencies.  They also come in individual wrappers which are compact and fit easily in my purse and are made from recycled paper.
Has anyone tried their organic Intimate Wipes?  I find them very refreshing and use them whether I have my period or not and are one of my essentials when travelling.  Great to use as just regular hands and face wipes too!