Disclosure - we were given a pack of these reusable sanitary pads for the purpose of this review. All opinions are honest and my own.
I have been trying to reduce the amount of single use plastic we use in our house and we've been doing really well. One big plastic waste source each month however was sanitary products. With three girls in the house this waste soon adds up and I wanted to teach the girls that reusable products are just as good and much better for the environment. We were sent a pack of 6 reusable sanitary pads from Trade to Aid to try out and we were really impressed with them so I thought I would share a review with you. Also, Trade To Aid have kindly offered 3 packs of reusable sanitary pads to my readers so make sure that you read to the end and enter the giveaway.
The environmental impact of disposable sanitary products
Did you know that 200,000 tonnes of sanitary products are binned and end up in landfill sites each year in the UK? Also, 1 million sanitary products are flushed down UK toilets EVERY DAY. I was astounded when I read these figures. Worldwide the statistics are even worse as you can imagine.
We all know by now that plastic items such as these take hundreds or even thousands of years to biodegrade. These discarded sanitary items also find their way into our rivers and oceans - in fact they were the 5th most commonly found discarded item on UK beaches. That makes me so sad, what an awful thing to see when you are walking along the beach, and the poor wildlife having to live in that environment.
Why you should use reusable sanitary pads
Using reusable sanitary pads is a no brainer really. Not only is it better for the environment but it is also better on your bank balance too. Once you have spent the initial outlay on the sanitary pads you won't need to buy any for a good while making them very cost effective. Women spend an average of £13 per month on disposable sanitary products so reusable ones would pay for themselves in only a couple of months.
Trade to Aid reusable sanitary pads
Trade to Aid sanitary pads are made from perfume free fabric - a soft bamboo charcoal layer, a highly absorbent microfibre core and a recycled waterproof membrane. They come in three thicknesses- heavy, medium and light flow. They fasten with poppers around your underwear and you can fold them up and store them in the wet bag provided and take them home to wash. They are very comfy to wear and very absorbent. I love that between these and other reusable sanitary products I use, I no longer buy any disposable sanitary items.
Trade To Aid isn't your regular company however. They are a social enterprise and they use 100% of their profits to help reduce period poverty around the world. They also provide women in refugee camps with sanitary products and fund menstrual education programmes for young people in West Africa. I can't think of anywhere I would rather spend my money than to a company like this, for a product that will help me make better environmental choices and save me money in the long run.
How to use reusable sanitary pads
Reusable sanitary pads are so easy to use - they are just like regular sanitary pads, just comfier and with no plastic or harsh chemicals! Simply attach them around the crotch of your knickers using the popper fastening. When it is time to change them, fold up the old one and pop it in the wet bag until you are home to wash it.
How to wash reusable sanitary pads
When you are done with your sanitary pad add it to a bucket of water to soak. You can put some tea tree oil or 3% hydrogen peroxide to water the mix to disinfect and deodorise the pads. Other natural cleansers and soaps are fine too, including baking soda and white vinegar. Leave them to soak until you are ready to wash them, then wash them at 40 degrees, with other darks using your usual detergent but make sure that you don't use softener as it decreases their absorbency. I usually throw mine in with my dark towels.
If there are any stains left over on your pads it is just due to the iron content of your blood and it is nothing to worry about. You should line dry your pads if you are able to as the sunlight is a natural disinfectant. However you can also dry them on a radiator or heated airer. Just make sure that they are thoroughly dry all the way through before storing them.
I was really impressed with Trade To Aid's reusable sanitary pads. Their pack of 6 comes in 3 difference absorbencies and includes a wet bag too. It is great value at £29.97. For every pack bought Trade To Aid will donate another to someone in need in a refugee camp so each purchase has a real benefit to someone else too.
Giveaway
Trade to Aid have very kindly offered three of their packs of reusable sanitary pads readers of this blog. All you will need to do is enter via the Gleam widget below. The giveaway will be live for 2 weeks and will end on the 5th December 2021. Trade To Aid are responsible for delivery of the prizes and standard competition terms and conditions apply.
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