Cloth Pad Troubleshooting

Making the switch to reusable pads can be scary and intimidating and then what if it doesn't go smoothly?  What if I hate them?  What if  they don't work?  What if...?  If you are a disposable pad user then I am confident that cloth pads can work for you.  The majority of people who switch to cloth pads have no problems at all and it is love at first try BUT if you come across any issues in your switch over then I hope these troubleshooting tips can help you out so you can find the love like thousands of others.

Trouble:  My pads slide front to back when wearing them.

Solution:  Just like disposable pads no pads are one size fits all.  Since cloth pads also do not have a sticky glue strip on the back to help hold them in place there are other things you need to watch for.  The easiest thing is to try snugger underwear.  The fabric/style of your underwear can greatly influence your success using cloth pads.  If snugger underwear doesn't solve the issue then you likely need a longer pad.  Longer pads stay in place much better than shorter pads but what length is needed varies from person to person.  Tree Hugger Cloth Pads pantyliners come in 7" long and 9" long, our day pads are 9" long and our night pads are 12" (and come in light flow and heavy/regular flow).  Tree Hugger Cloth Pads are also backed with fleece that can help grip pads in place.

Read: Liners, Light, Heavy, Night!  What's the difference?

Trouble:  My pads shift side to side when wearing them.

Solution: Request the extra snap for a more narrow fit.  We offer the extra snap option FREE on all of our pads.  If you would like the extra snap added to pads you have already received please contact us for the address to send them to and we will add them and ship them on back to you.

Trouble:  My pads are staining!

Solution:  Depending on the top fabric of your pads they may or may not be prone to staining.  If stains bother you there are a few ways you can deal with them or prevent them.  

1) Peroxide.  This is the best way to get rid of blood stains.  Squirt some peroxide (found very inexpensively at any drug store) on the stain then watch it bubble and fizz.  Once the fizzing stops rinse with cold water and wash like normal.

2) Stain Remover Bars.  We sell some great made in Canada natural stain remover bars.  Wet the bar and the fabric and rub directly on the stain and then wash like normal.

3) Sun!  Yes, the sun is very good at bleaching (safely) fabrics.  Wet your pads and lay them in direct sunlight for a few hours to watch the stains fade away.

Trouble:  The top fabric of my pads is getting stiff and less soft.

Solution:  While it may not look like a stain you can sometimes get a spot on the fabric that is stiff/less soft than it used to be.  For this we recommend squirting on peroxide, see if it fizzes and then rinse with cold water.  After the peroxide, wash in a load with added vinegar to the rinse cycle.  Vinegar is a natural fabric softener and does not affect the absorbency of your pads, unlike traditional fabric softeners.

Trouble:  My pads aren't absorbing!

Solution:  Repelling can be caused by either fabric softener (in the dryer or the washer and often hidden in detergents) or from detergent build-up.  Please wash your pads a few times with NO detergent and add vinegar to the rinse cycle.  You can also try rubbing a little blue Dawn dish soap onto your pads and then rinse really well before washing.  It may take a few washes but they should become absorbent again.

Trouble:  I am bleeding right through the back of the pads.

Solution:  There are three possible reasons for this:  

1) Your pads are starting to wear out and the fleece backing is not as dense as it once was.  Tree Hugger Cloth Pads typically last 5-10 years depending on the size of the rotation they are in.  It may be time to replace your pads.  

Read: 4 Tips to Extend the Life of Your Cloth Pads

2) You may need a pad with higher absorbency.  Tree Hugger Cloth Pads come in pantyliners, light flow and heavy flow.  What one person considers light flow varies greatly from person to person.  You can also try adding absorbency with our Pad Boosters.

3) Your pads need to be changed more frequently.  We have polled hundreds of our customers and while many say they need to change cloth pads LESS frequently than they did disposable pads, there are just as many that say they need to change them MORE often.  On average they need to be changed equally as often but it can vary.  

Trouble:  I am leaking off the side/front/back of the pads.

Solution:  Not every person is a straight in the middle bleeder.  If you are bleeding off the side of the pad you can try using our Pad Boosters to help direct your flow more evenly and to the center of the pad.  If you are bleeding off the front or back you can also try the Pad Boosters or try a longer pad.

~The biggest takeaway I want you to have from this blog post is that one size/style of pad is not the perfect pad for everyone.  Don't think cloth pads aren't for you based on one pad/experience.  Try a different size/fabric or even brand!  Every person that switches to cloth pads can save thousands of pads from the landfills and make a big difference in our world.  Don't forget cloth pads also work well in conjunction with menstrual cups!

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