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Cloth Pad Care and Information

New to cloth? New to Body Honour? We're honoured that you've chosen us to help you learn more. Here are our most frequently asked questions, and answers to empower you with information and choice.

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Who Uses Body Honour Cloth Pads?

People who have vaginas. People who have periods. People who pee a little bit when they sneeze, cough or laugh (or jump on a trampoline with your kids, don't ask about that fun surprise.) Think of all of the reasons why one might use a panty liner or pad - that!

People who are sick of having to repeatedly purchase stinky, sweaty, chemical-filled plastic garbage pads that stick to their butts, only to be thrown out to sit in a landfill until the end of time. Barf.

Yeah, those people. Us.

What Are the Benefits of Switching to Cloth?

Benefit Your Body
You probably don't need us to tell you how sensitive your vagina is. Plastic garbage pads are filled with chemicals, fragrances, and many other things that cause irritation (and potentially  much worse health issues.) Using Body Honour Cloth instead of garbage pads for both bladder leaks as well as periods will eliminate exposure of synthetic and possibly quite harmful materials created with the manufactures bottom line (not your bottom) in mind. 

Benefit Your Budget
For menstruation: a full set of Body Honour Cloth (which is enough to get you through a period without having to wash, so washing once per month) will cost between $150 - $220 will last for years, many years. We have some that we've been using for more than 10 years now and they are still in great shape!

Depending on where you're located, the cost of garbage period products will run you $6 - $10 a month. I asked Google to tell me how many periods a person #afab might have in their lifetime... Google told me 350! Whoa. So, $2,100 to $3,500 spent on garbage pads in a lifetime... for periods alone. 

350 periods on average means that we will require period products for an average of 29 years of our life. So, even if you choose to get new Body Honour Pads every 5 years you're still spending less than half of the money you would be spending on yucky garbage pads. (I did the math, but I don't want to spoil it for those of you who like running the numbers yourself.)

That all being said, we suspect that a full set of Body Honour cloth pads will last much much longer than 5 years. And, to those who attempt to factor in water and detergent costs, cloth pads can be thrown in with a load of towels, with cold water and your regular detergent. A full set though, washed alone, means one small load a month - and you can hang them to try if you'd prefer.

For bladder leaks: If you're considering using Body Honour pads every day to help with those sneeze-pees, consider that you would have to spend even less on a full set. Perhaps $100 - and they'd all simply washed with your undies on laundry day.

Benefit Your Earth
Garbage pads are such a waste, no?!
For many, a liner is part of getting dressed in the morning. At least one every single day (often more.) 365 pads or liners a year thanks to LBL. 3,650 a decade at one a day.

The average menstruating person will use 12,000 to 16,000 garbage pads, liners or tampons in a lifetime. All straight to the dump, a place you may never visit, sure... but it's there and will be forever. Your great great great great great great grandchild may be pushing them around with their hover-bulldozer in 200 years, or programming a robot to do that, I guess. Also, just because garbage goes to the dump, doesn't mean it stays there - thousands of pieces of plastic end up in the ocean every day, many making an escape from the dump.

Also, think of what must go into the manufacturing, packaging, shipping activities.

While it's true that Body Honour uses plastic snaps and some synthetic fibers (fleece backing) we're talking using about 21 of them every 5 years or more... so 15,878 less to toss over 29 years. And if you're really keen, these pieces can be reused and recycled when you're done with them. True story.

Benefit Your Brain
We had to add a spot to mention how good it feels to make the switch to Body Honour Cloth Pads, not just physically, but mentally too.

How nice would it be to have a daily reminder of the effort you're making to better your planet and your body? All positive vibes!

"Every month, my period comes, and I've actually started to look forward to it, if you can believe that. My period is lighter and lasts fewer days than it did before switching to cloth. My cramps are almost non-existent, certainly not like they were when I was constantly exposing myself to so many toxins. It's almost like I have gotten to know my body as it is supposed to be, and that is truly empowering. I don't actually consider my period my "monthly curse" anymore. I spend way less time complaining about pain, worrying about leaks and being uncomfortable in general. My headspace is much better, and pretty fabric makes me happy... it's not something that can be explained in its entirety, you have to try it to see for yourself."  - Shannon

How do They Work?

Well, they work very well, thanks for asking... Oh, you mean, HOW do they work?

Ok, here at Body Honour, we've tested out a number of fabric combinations, from minky to diaper fabric, and for us, cotton is the clear winner. (Not that we don't occasionally try other fabrics... you may see some minky, or organic bamboo velour!)

The cotton, or cotton flannel, top is the piece that goes to your body. It is soft and comfortable, breathable and absorbent. But while cotton is absorbent,  is not a "wick moisture away" type of fabric. Which we love because, well, being too dry is uncomfortable too!

At the core of each Body Honour cloth pad is a layer (or two, depending on pad size/purpose) of Zorb, which is a highly absorbent fiber blend (bamboo/cotton/viscose and poly micro fiber) "These fibers are non-allergenic, durable and easy to sanitize. We manufacture Zorb in the USA and Canada in modern facilities that are safe & friendly for workers and the environment." - Mike, Wazoodle* (Wazoodle, that's where we get it.)

After the layer of Zorb comes one more layer of flannel, and finally, there's the fleece backing. Unfortunately, this fleece backing is not an organic fiber - it's 100% Polyester, which is what makes it water resistant - it doesn't absorb - but it does breathe, which we have deemed to be a pretty important factor.

How Many do I Need? 

This is totally a personal preference, and unique flow or daily requirement thing.

If you're planning to use your Body Honour cloth pads for every day/incontinence purposes, you'll need 1-2 a day, for however many days you plan to go without doing a load of laundry. So if laundry day in your house is every Sunday, and (like us) you can barely keep up that schedule, get at least 14.
If you do laundry more frequently, you may need less, but if you find that you need more than 2 in the run of a day, of course, you'll need more. Keep track of your disposable use for a few days for your magic number.

If your cloth pad stash is for period purposes, the number you need depends on your flow and laundry habits. We prefer to have enough pads for one full week of our period, and then wash them in their own small laundry cycle at the end of the week - so we need about 8-12 Panty Liners, 8-10 Regular Pads, and 2 Overnight Pads. They're kept in a waterproof bag and just tossed into the wash at the end of the week.
If you don't mind doing laundry more often, you can get away with fewer pads. Track what you're using in disposables and go from there.

If you're just looking for some Menstrual Cup Back-up, get 5-7 panty liners and call it a day.

How do I Care For My Body Honour Cloth Pads?

You guys. This. Is. So. Easy.

All you need to do to care for your cloth pads is toss them into a cold wash. That's it. All of our pads are washer and dryer safe!

If your pads are for incontinence, warm water is ok, too (hot water sets blood stains in fabrics.) They can be washed as you would your underwear.

Keep your used pads in a wet bag, or another safe place, until wash day. No need to soak in a pail of water, actually, that's a bit of a hassle to us lazy folks considering that you must change the water daily. Rinsing them as soon as you switch them isn't necessary either, however, it will reduce staining if rinsed with cold before tossing into the wet bag.

You can use your regular detergent, although we prefer a cloth diaper specific or natural soap and you can include them with your other laundry if you don't have enough to do a small load of just pads. We often wash with other dark laundry, towels or socks and undies.

Please note: It is important to use cold water to avoid staining.

Pro tip: Every 6 months or so, I (Shannon) like to run a hot, detergent free, wash after the cold wash, just to freshen them up a bit.

Never use bleach or fabric softener. A natural stain remover,  like Buncha Farmers is ok, but laying your pads in the sun will also do the trick. 

How long will they last?

We have some that are going on 10 years now!

Depending on how often they are washed, we expect that you will get 8-12 years (if not more) out of your cloth pad stash!

What's the Return Policy?

Due to the personal nature of this product, returns for exchange or refund will not be accepted.  Please contact us right away if there is a manufacturer defect so we can make it right!

Can you be found in any Retailers, or at any Events?

YES! Please see our Retailers Section above.

Do you take Wholesale customers?

We do, please email Shannon at hello@bodyhonour.ca

Will you be my friend?

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