Admittedly I was already a
convert, having made the switch to cloth a few years ago- no more irritation,
waste and monthly expense for me. Hooray! For more thoughts on using cloth for
your “Ladies Holiday” read this great article by Christine. However, once I was aware of the
reusable pad movement I became overwhelmed - in a good way. There were so many
choices, fabrics, densities and the patterns- don’t even get me started. There
is an entire world of fashion that most women aren't aware of, granted it is
usually just the woman wearing the pad that sees the bright and bold, the soft
and the sweet, the adorable owls and floral motifs, but let’s be honest, how
many people see our other under-things anyway? However, many of us still make an effort to buy
and wear cute undergarments, the occasional granny panty at the bottom of the drawer
when the laundry hasn't been done notwithstanding. So with that line of reason cloth pads should by all means be
just as aesthetically appealing as the rest we rarely bare. But I digress, back
to Eco-Alternatives…
Traci’s in the business of offering
women a choice, a sustainable, green, earth friendly option during their period
that moves the consumer away from the toxins, the trash and the disposable
mentality that has become rampant over the last few generations. As an
extension of the idea that we have a choice in how we manage our periods we discover
there is value in connecting to ourselves during “that time of the month.”
Tuning into our cycles by making conscious choices about the products we use to
support our comfort during our periods brings us closer to our inner awareness
and femininity.
Eco Alternatives offers a line of
women’s menstrual pads made with a variety of textiles including Organic Bamboo
Velour, flannel and the rest of Traci’s current fabric stash can be viewed here- Impressive!
Not only is Eco
Alternatives an option for women seeking freedom from the discomfort caused by synthetic
materials found in commercial disposable feminine hygiene products, the high
cost of purchasing every month and concern about the planet, Traci offers many
options for how to get started on your way to period freedom at her Etsy store.
You can buy a sampler pack of three pads in each of the common sizes used by
customers or you can buy in pairs or singles. There are pads that
serve for light flow, medium and heavy. There are even overnight pads and pads
for postpartum. A great gift for a new mom. There is a lot to chose from!
The inner lining
of each pad is comprised of organic bamboo and the pads I received were
flannel, which without offering up too much information was seriously one of
the most comfortable things that I’ve ever had the pleasure of wearing down
there. Traci, please make underwear!
The snap closure is just that, a snap, no more messing with sticky adhesive sticking to tender skin.
The questions
that I’m often asked when I’ve revealed my use of cloth during my “holiday”
are:
How do you wash reusable cloth pads?
When I’m ready to
change my pad I rinse it in cold water. No need to wrinkle your nose. It’s your
own stuff, you’re clean, it’s clean. If I’m out in public this can pose a
problem. If there is no option to rinse, I fold it in on itself, place in a wet bag- also available
from Eco Alts and go. Once home I rinse then wash it with my regular laundry along with towels and under things.
How do you transport reusable cloth pads?
In a wet bag or get
creative and come up with a small container, baggie or swath of non-absorbent
fabric.
How many do you need?
Depends on the
person and the time in the cycle. I have several pads for heavier days, medium
days and light days. I do a lot of laundry anyway so it isn’t hard to keep up.
If in a pinch they can be hand washed and dried with a hair dryer. Originally I
transitioned to cloth over time and learned through trial how many pads I
needed to get through my week. The great thing is Eco Alternatives are well made
and will last a long time so although they are affordable the initial investment will serve for years.
Here is what
Traci has to say - from the EcoAlts Etsy site:
Caring for your
fluff:* Keep Hydrogen Peroxide in a little spray bottle. A spritz of this is like a magic eraser!
* Wear zig-zag side down towards panties
* Soak in cold water and then wash with your regular laundry
* Dryer safe
* If you line dry your clothing like me, you know that the sun works wonders on stains too!
In addition to an assortment of colors, fabrics and density for cloth Eco Alternatives also offers the wet bags for the cloth pads, reusable cloth paper towels and wet bags for them that conveniently hang in the kitchen for an Eco Home, plus adorable baby bibs and more for your Green Baby.
When I am able to
make consumer purchases from small and independent sellers whose business
practices reflect my own values, using sustainable, earth friendly materials
and giving back to the community whether local or global, I feel an immense
satisfaction and that I’m making a difference with my dollar. Traci
makes a difference by participating in Operation Write Home providing soldiers abroad
with greetings and support.
Interested in
trying cloth? Want to add some super soft and absorbent pads to your cloth
collection? Eco Alternatives are offering a special 15% discount for Ladies
Holiday readers: LADIESHOLIDAY
Comfortably yours,
Deirdre
*I was not compensated monetarily for this review.
No comments:
Post a Comment
We love to hear what you have to say- thank you!