Reusable menstrual products (RUMPs) are sustainable, long-lasting alternatives to disposable menstrual products.
Instead of throwing a pad or tampon away after each use, you dump and/or wash it, then reuse it!
I started using RUMPs in 2014 and have not returned. As an autistic with period trauma and a struggle to make disposable menstrual products work for me, cloth pads and menstrual cups completely changed my experience.
General reusable menstrual product questions
Are reusable menstrual products safe?
Yes — when used properly.
Don’t use menstrual cups longer than 8-12 hours or if you have a cut on your fingers. Make sure to rinse them between uses or wipe with a cup wipe if you can’t reach a sink.
Wash cloth pads regularly instead of letting menstrual fluid build up, cake on and rot for a week. Change them regularly, too.
In other words, be sanitary and safe without expecting them to do that work you.
How do you store reusable menstrual products?
I store my cloth pads and menstrual cups in a wet/dry bag.
Menstrual cups often come with their own case or pouch.
Menstrual cloth pads
Are period undies better than reusable pads?
Depends on personal preferences.
Are reusable pads actually comfortable?
I find them comfortable. The right reusable pad feels like clothes…or a fluffy pillow.
If a cloth pad bunches up, you probably need to go smaller or find one that fits your specific form/underwear. Like, don’t wear a rectangular cloth pad with a thong — there are literal cloth pads for that!
Are reusable menstrual pads worth the cost?
Yes!
You will spend more when initially building your reusable menstrual cloth path stash, but can do a lot with a decent starting stash.
The recommended number of cloth pads is 10-15 per cycle. I built my cloth pads stash on a budget.
I think I’ve spent $200 total on the cloth pad stash I have today — inexpensive ’cause I know where to find cloth pads for cheap.
Do reusable menstrual pads work better than disposable pads?
I think they do! Disposable pads didn’t absorb menstrual fluid well for me, and I gush, so I would often feel like I sat uncomfortable for a bit.
Disposables also smelled worse, in my opinion, especially if I wore one all day. I’d have to change them more frequently because the sticky backing lost its stick or bunched up and wouldn’t go flat.
Do reusable pads smell?
Not in my experience. I launder my clothes with Ecos, which even gets cat urine smells out of towels when I need it to.
During a cycle, I’m not bothered by residual smells if they exist and keep washing them like regular; I don’t really check. Afterward, I get rid of any lingering smells using if I absolutely need to.
I could also rinse my cloth pads immediately after use or nightly, then air-dry or immediately launder them as well.
But cloth pads generally don’t smell, even when they have caked-on menstrual fluid for a few days because I couldn’t be bothered to wash them.
Like, this isn’t a concern for me.
How can I make my own reusable menstrual pads?
I buy mine, but here’s a quick tutorial:
How do I protect against gushing?
How do reusable pads stay in place?
The “default” cloth pad style is winged with plastic or metal snaps. If your cloth pads slide around a lot, go for the extra snap option so it fits more snug.
I’ve never tried the wingless cloth pads, so I don’t know how those work.
How do I stop my cloth pads from leaking?
How do you wash reusable period pads?
I toss mine in a mesh bag with my clothes and/or towels in the washer. Between laundry, I store them in a wet/dry bag.
Sometimes I rinse them first, but they’ve been fine for me not to rinse them. Sometimes, I add a splash of vinegar in with the load.
How hygienic are reusable pads?
How hygienic is your underwear?
Seriously, it’s basically clothes. Your underwear gets more of your bits than your pads will…the only difference is that pads are meant to be bled on.
How long do reusable menstrual pads last?
If you care for your cloth pads, they will last a long time.
The more you use a specific pad (wearing, washing, etc.), the more worn it will become — so it may not last as many years as others.
Crystal of Tree Hugger Cloth Pads cut into a 5yo pad and found the inside looked basically like new.
My standard is to stop using them when the seams begin coming apart or they have holes. I haven’t had this happen yet.
What are the best reusable period pads?
I mostly own Tree Hugger Cloth Pads. These are my personal favorites.
What are the disadvantages of reusable pads?
I’ve found a way around every disadvantage of reusable pads I ran into myself:
- cost = slowly built my stash on a budget
- discretion = made sure to keep in my wet/dry bag, washed in a mesh bag, didn’t leave used/new pads in bathroom
- washing = rinsed heavily soiled pads in shower; washed in washing machine
What are reusable interlabial pads?
Interlabial pads are leaf- or teardrop-shaped cloth pads placed between the labia minora and vaginal opening to direct menstrual fluid into the center of your pad.
Lil Helper sells interlabial pads. I’ve made imperfect ones by cutting an old shirt into small rectangles.
They can also be used to help with bladder leaks.
Only caveat is making sure you don’t forget about them when using the toilet!
What do you do with used menstrual cloth pads?
I put them into something called a wet/dry bag.
Wet/dry bags often have a handle to hang them from the toilet paper roll, so you can put used pads in the waterproof Polyurethane Laminate (PUL) compartment and pull out a new pad from the regular fabric/dry compartment.
What size cloth pads do I need?
- Take the underwear you usually wear on your cycles, and some paper.
- Cut a rectangle out the width of the gusset.
- Put the underwear on and hold the paper against the outside.
- Trim the paper to the length you need.
This is about the size of a cloth pad you will need. Do this for each type of pad you want (e.g. liner, day, night, etc.).
Which cloth pads are best for heavy periods?
Cloth pads for heavy menstrual flow are typically called
- Heavy
- Overnight
- Postpartum
Tree Hugger Cloth Pads’ overnight pads have been best for me. They’re extremely thick. I wouldn’t wear them out in public, though, because they do stick out against pants a little bit.
And then…sleep under a Lil Helper Lifesaver Mat, ’cause your pretty sheets and mattress need more protection than towels can provide (just in case).
Menstrual cups and discs
Are menstrual cups meant to be uncomfortable at first?
If you’re extra sensitive to things on/inside your body, you may need time to adjust to the sensory input of menstrual cups.
I started using menstrual discs, then switched to a menstrual cup after I bought a Lunette cup because it was so comfortable.
Menstrual cups come in various shapes and sizes; one that is too big for your body will cause pain/discomfort.
Some brands use thicker rims, which sit inside your vaginal canal. Or the stem is too thick/weird in feeling, and it hangs out. I trimmed my stem.
Can I use menstrual cups with long nails?
I keep fingernails short, but here are some tips:
Can a virgin insert a menstrual cup?
Yes! The general recommendation is to use the smallest size, but this is not a universal rule.
Do gynecologists recommend menstrual cups?
Some do!
Gynecologists who do not often use the reason that menstrual cups are the perfect breeding ground for bacteria and infection (like sepsis), because they stay in your body for up to 12 hours.
Some menstrual cup users forget them for longer, especially towards the end of their cycles!
Do you have to boil your menstrual cup or disc every time you use it?
No. You can rinse and/or sanitize with a cup wipe between uses, or just dump and reinsert.
I prefer to rinse my menstrual cups and discs between use, and then wash with soap in the shower before reinserting.
Has anyone gotten TSS from a menstrual cup?
Yes — although it’s extremely rare.
How do I stop my menstrual cup from leaking?
How do I store menstrual cups?
Menstrual cups usually arrive with a pouch. Some brands include matching silicone cases to store their menstrual cups in.
The INTIMINA Lily Cup Compact collapses and sits in a circle case.
INTIMINA has a special case for the Ziggy cup, though I can’t find my Ziggy cup right now.
Is my menstrual cup safe if I drop it in the toilet?
Yes! Sanitize it by boiling it.
I tossed my old Lunette when this happened to me because I didn’t know about this and was scared of E. coli. 😅 (Also, I’d cut the stem too short, so I needed a new one anyways.)
Is it gross to empty your period cup in the shower?
No. Only “gross” aspect I can imagine is if someone is in the shower with you.
What is the difference between a menstrual cup and a menstrual disc?
A menstrual cup needs folding to be inserted. Menstrual discs slide inside and rest against your pelvic bone.
I use both, depending on current sensory needs. Menstrual discs hurt on my more sensitive days — and if you’re pending a bowel movement, it will cause the disc to press against your pelvic bone.
What size menstrual cup will I need?
Why does my period cup still smell terrible even after boiling it?
Blood or bacteria are trapped in the cup’s suction holes, or the cup is not cleaned enough. You could also have a vaginal imbalance or infection causing the cup to still bad.
Some ways to fix a smelly menstrual cup:
- Air it out for a couple/several days
- Clean the air holes near the rim with a toothpick/tiny straw brush
- Rinse in cold water first, then use a mild, fragrance-free soap
- Soak in hydrogen peroxide
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