Cloth Menstrual Pads

Cloth menstrual pads, also known as "mama cloth", are reusable, comfortable, and absorbant. They eliminate the need to ever purchase disposable pads, which in turn creates less waste and decreases your spending. They are also a very healthy option, as disposable pads contain various chemicals, fragrances, and plastics which can irritate the skin and prevents the skin from being able to breathe. There are many different styles, colors, absorbancies, and fibers to choose from (typically cotton or bamboo) and many templates and tutorials available online if you want to try your hand at making them yourself. Even if you are not a pad user, cloth menstrual pads are still a good option to use in conjunction with a menstrual cup or tampon.

If you opt to purchase cloth pads rather than make them, you will find that they are expensive. I'd say on average, they are $5 per pad (some are more, some are less) and it's recommended to have anywhere from a half dozen to two dozen depending on how often you are able to do laundry. Some of the big names in cloth pads include Lunapads and GladRags and (I think it's important to note) both these companies do their part by donating pads to impoverished girls in Africa (I'm sure you've seen the disposable pad commercials about sending pads to Africa. I never understood how sending packaging and garbage to areas of the world where clean drinking water is hard to come by makes any sense at all). Another place you can buy cloth pads include many of the cloth diaper venders along with the hundreds of independent sellers on Etsy.

Nearly all cloth pads secure with either a snap, button, or velcro closure. Some pads contain a waterproof backing such as PUL (polyurithane laminate) or a water-resistent backing (such as fleece). They range in absorbancy from light (pantiliner) to heavy (postpartum and overnight).

If you are currently cloth diapering a baby, it is recommended to wash your pads along with the diaper laundry. Otherwise, many cloth pad users either hand wash their pads or will wash them along with a load of towels.  

Bamboo pads by Bububibi

Homemade pantiliners