How Do Period Pants Work? Cheeky Wipes Australia

How reusable cloth sanitary pads and period pants work - Cheeky Wipes Australia

There's no rocket science, 'secret sauce' or magic involved in how period pants and cloth sanitary pads work.

You just bleed on them. Wash, and reuse. Just as you would wash your knickers if your period came on unexpectedly early.  The difference is that our reusable period products come with additional elements to keep you fresh and dry.    However unlike many High St / Supermarket brands, our menstrual pants come with absorbency not just in the gusset, but right to the front and rear waistband which is super important for preventing leaks when active or sleeping.

Inner layer  

• This goes against your skin and is generally cotton or bamboo which wick away dampness, keeping you feeling dry

Absorbent layer

• In our pants, this is cotton / elastane which gives absorbency without bulk.  In our cloth sanitary pads, it's either cotton in our pads, or microfibre in our bamboo / plush pads.  These are our most absorbent option, so if you've got very heavy periods, these are best for you.

Waterproof layer

• Both our cloth sanitary pads and period pants use TPU (lamination) of the outer layer for their waterproof layer. This prevents leaks, keeping you safe and secure all day.

Breathable outer layer

• Our outer layers are breathable meaning that you feel comfortable wearing them

Can I use period pants without additional protection?

Yes, in line with your flow, on our lighter days we quite happily wear the period pants without additional protection - you know your body and will quickly learn when to change.  On our heavier days, we would normally change our period protection at lunchtime - it's nice to feel fresh.  And it can be a bit of a faff to change your period pants at lunchtime in a cubicle at work. For that reason, on our heavy days we tend to wear a cloth sanitary pad in addition, as it's much easier to whip out a pad and take it home to wash than it is to change your knickers.  That's why our reusable period protection kits come with pants, plus day pads so you can see which option works best for you. If you flood or have clots, the pants are still a great option, opt for one of our more absorbent styles but our moderate flow pants work well and just need changing more regularly!
 

What about cloth sanitary pads, how do I know which absorbency I need?

Our general rule of thumb is that if your periods are 'normal' or light, then go for the reusable cloth sanitary pads. These are slimmer than the bamboo plush pads and almost as absorbent and they get more absorbent each time they are washed/used. We use these on lighter/in between days and they're so comfy it's easy to forget you're wearing them.

If your periods are on the heavy side, or you're going to use reusable pads for maternity, the bamboo plush cloth sanitary pads are made of lovely soft plush and the top is either bamboo terry or a bamboo/fleece/charcoal mix. Both are very absorbent and the charcoal one is darker and less likely to show stains. The bamboo/terry top is a more natural fibre but those that use the charcoal topped pads swear by them! On heavier days they feel snug and secure and are really absorbent, and don't need to be changed as often as disposables.