Whether you are brand new to the whole idea of cloth menstrual pads or a seasoned pro, it's always nice to get more info.  Posting our most commonly asked questions here will help you out as well as provide you somewhere to share with interested friends.  If you have a question you think should be added please comment below so I can add it to the info.

Q- Times have changed and we aren't living in the pioneer days anymore,  Why do people use cloth pads?  

A- The reason why people choose cloth pads (or other reusable alternatives) truly depends on the person.  For some who suffer from skin sensitivities and allergies, cloth can give them the much needed comfort and relief that disposable pads just can't provide.  For others, the money savings or reduced trash heading to the landfills means not only are you not throwing away money but less garbage as well!  A win for you and the environment!  Check out our Savings Calculator to see what a difference it could make.

Q- How many cloth pads do I need?

A- How many pads you need comes down to a couple of factors. 1) How often can you do laundry?  The fewer pads you have the more often you need to wash and re-use. 2) How heavy is your flow?  You will likely find that you change cloth pads just as often as you do disposables so if you know how many disposable pads you use in a day then it will give you an idea of how many cloth pads you will use in a  day.  Then it comes down to math: How many pads per day x How many days between washing = your "needed" number.

Q- How do I wash and care for Tree Hugger Cloth Pads?

A- Washing them can be as simple as tossing them in the washing machine!   Cloth pads do not need to be washed in a strictly cloth pad or cloth diaper load.  If washing with other clothes/towels you may want to pre-rinse depending on your flow.  We choose the fabrics that we have so they can last you many years with minimal fuss.  Washer safe, dryer safe, no special care needed.  Worried about stains?  Natural fabrics such as cotton and bamboo stain easier than minky which rarely stains.  If stains set in then just place clean wet pads in the sun or you may use a stain remover product on them such as our stain remover bars or peroxide before washing.  The biggest wash rule with cloth pads is NO fabric softener!  Fabric softener (in the washer OR dryer) will cause your pads to repel instead of absorb.  If you are looking for an eco-friendly/cloth pad friendly/fabric softener free laundry detergent check out Tru Earth Laundry Strips and throw some Wool Dryer Balls in the dryer to cut your drying time and to keep your pads soft.  Here are 3 tips for washing cloth pads.

*Bamboo topped pads need to be washed on their own the first couple of times to be sure the dye is set.

Q- Minky, Bamboo or Cotton?  How do I decide?  What's the difference?

A- Let's start by saying that all 3 are great options!  We choose only the best fabrics that can hold up over time, are easy to wash and are comfortable.  Minky is a stain-resistant polyester fabric that is commonly used to make baby blankets.  It is so soft you will want to pet them.  No joke!  Bamboo is a natural fiber that is *almost* as soft as minky but less fluffy.  Bamboo absorbs faster than minky but is not stain resistant.  Cotton is the coolest (temperature-wise) fabric, it has zero "fluff" to it and may stain but it absorbs quickly.  Cotton is a great choice for hot humid climates.  

Q- What is in Tree Hugger Cloth Pads that makes them so absorbent?

A- Our pads have a hidden inner middle core made of a highly absorbent fabric called Zorb.  Zorb is manufactured in the USA to be used in cloth diapers but we love how well it works in pads too!  Zorb is non-allergenic and it's one job is to absorb and it does it well!  The reason we choose to use Zorb is because of how quickly it absorbs, the large quantity of fluid it can hold and the fact that it is dry in about half a dryer cycle compared to other fabrics that can make pads take two dryer cycles to dry all the way through.  Zorb also stays squishy soft after years of use and doesn't get bunchy and stiff like bamboo and cotton cores can.

Q- Can Tree Hugger Cloth Pads be used for incontinence?

A- Yes!  Since the fabric we use inside our pads actually made for cloth diapers it has super absorption powers!  Due to the size of our pads they cannot replace adult diapers but for minor and stress incontinence we have many customers using our pads daily 24/7.  Some only need pantyliner absorbency while others have greater needs and prefer our day or night pads.  For incontinence use we recommend our bamboo topped pads as they absorb the fastest.

Q- Do pads need to be "prepped" before first use?

A- Yes, please wash and dry your Tree Hugger Cloth Pads 1-2 times before wearing them and then they are ready to go!

Q- How long will my pads last?

A- 5-10 years!  The more pads you have in rotation the longer they will last you but each pad replaces 100-200 disposable pads.

Q- Is Tree Hugger Cloth Pads registered with the FDA?

A- Yes!  We are FDA compliant so you can buy with confidence.

Q- What's up with Buy one get one tree?

A- In late 2012 we finally figured out what we wanted to do to make an even bigger positive impact with Tree Hugger Cloth Pads.  Not only does each cloth pad keep 100-200 disposable pads out of the landfills but we now also plant 1 tree for each and every cloth pad we sell.  We have partnered with WeForest and am so happy to say that our customers now make an even bigger impact on the environment.  Changing the world, one pad at a time.

https://www.weforest.org/partner/tree-hugger-cloth-pads

Q- Where is Tree Hugger Cloth Pads located and who are you???

A- Tree Hugger Cloth Pads is a family owned online store based out of Winnipeg Canada.  I (Crystal) started Tree Hugger Cloth Pads in 2008 and to keep up with growth my husband Scott quit his job to join my business full-time in 2013.  I (Crystal) handle all customer service, answering emails/questions, inventory as well as all of the shipping of orders while Scott handles the shipping/receiving of fabric and supplies, applying all of the snaps to pads, back-end website work and the accounting.  We also have a team of work-at-home individuals who do all of the sewing for us locally and love giving them the opportunity to work around their family schedules.  Read more about us HERE.