Your Guide to Reusable Cloth Menstrual Pads
Reusable Cloth Pads: A Complete Guide to Choosing, Using & Caring for Them
Curious about reusable cloth pads? This guide covers how they work, how to choose a size and material, how to wash them, and how the different brands we carry compare.
Reusable cloth pads are washable fabric pads worn in your underwear much like disposable pads. Instead of throwing them away after use, you wash and reuse them. They are available for light spotting, everyday menstrual flow, heavy flow, overnight use, postpartum needs, and light bladder leaks.
What Are Cloth Menstrual Pads?
Most reusable pads have three functional parts:
- A top layer that sits against your skin. Depending on the brand, this may be cotton, bamboo, minky, or a moisture-wicking fabric.
- An absorbent core that holds menstrual fluid or light bladder leaks.
- A leak-resistant barrier that helps protect your underwear.
Most styles have wings that wrap around the gusset of your underwear and fasten with snaps. Pads come in different lengths, widths, absorbencies, shapes, and fabrics, so sizing can vary considerably from one brand to another.
Why Choose Reusable Cloth Pads?
People choose cloth pads for different reasons. Some prefer the feel of fabric against their skin. Others want to reduce their use of disposable menstrual products or prefer buying products that can be used for years.
- Reusable: One pad can be washed and worn many times.
- Less disposable waste: Reusing the same products reduces the number of pads you throw away.
- More material choices: You can choose cotton, bamboo, minky, moisture-wicking fabrics, and other options depending on the brand.
- Many sizes and absorbencies: Options range from small pantyliners to long overnight and postpartum pads.
- Potential long-term savings: The upfront cost is higher than disposables, but long-lasting pads can reduce repeat purchases over time.
The environmental impact of any reusable product depends partly on how long you use it and how you wash and dry it. The clearest benefit is simple: every time you reuse a cloth pad, you avoid using another disposable pad.
Are Reusable Menstrual Pads Regulated?
Yes. In the U.S., reusable menstrual pads are Class I medical devices regulated by the FDA. Reusable, unscented menstrual pads fall under product code NUQ and 21 CFR 884.5435. They are exempt from 510(k) premarket notification, which means they do not require FDA clearance before being marketed. That does not mean they are exempt from FDA oversight.
Manufacturers and other establishments subject to registration requirements must register with the FDA and maintain their device listings annually. Most establishments required to register also pay an annual FDA establishment registration fee. FDA-registered medical device facilities are also subject to FDA inspection. Applicable requirements can include quality management systems, complaint handling, medical device reporting, recordkeeping, and device labeling.
View the FDA classification for reusable menstrual pads
Can Cloth Pads Be Used for Bladder Leaks?
Yes. Reusable pads can also be useful for light bladder leakage and stress incontinence. For this use, many people prefer a quick-wicking surface that moves moisture away from the skin.
Domino Pads KEEPDRY styles use a fast-wicking top layer and are a popular option for this purpose.
Shop reusable pads for bladder leaks
How Do You Wash Cloth Pads?
You do not need a complicated laundry routine. Always check the care instructions for your specific brand, but a basic routine works well for most reusable pads.
- Cold rinse. Rinse used pads in cold water, or use a cold pre-rinse cycle in your washing machine.
- Machine wash. Use your normal laundry detergent and follow the temperature instructions for your pad brand.
- Skip bleach and fabric softener. Both can damage fabrics or interfere with absorbency.
- Dry according to the manufacturer's directions. Many cloth pads can be tumble dried on low or hung to dry.
- Store completely dry. Make sure pads are fully dry before putting them away.
For more detail, including help with stains, odors, mineral buildup, and laundry residue, see our full care guide:
How to Wash & Care for Cloth Pads and Period Underwear
Helpful Laundry Products
Most pads do not need special laundry products for routine washing. For stubborn problems, these can help:
- Plantish Stain Remover Block for treating stubborn stains before washing.
- RLR Laundry Treatment for occasional laundry buildup from detergent or minerals.
How Do You Manage Cloth Pads Away From Home?
A wetbag makes changing reusable pads away from home simple. Double-pocket wetbags are especially useful because you can keep clean pads in one compartment and used pads in the lined compartment.
If you only need one spare, a mini wetbag takes up very little room in a purse or backpack. Wear one pad when you leave home, carry one clean replacement, then place the used pad in the wetbag after changing.
Shop cloth pad wetbags and accessories
What Cloth Pad Size Should You Choose?
Start with the amount of coverage and absorbency you normally need. A pantyliner may be enough for spotting or backup. Medium pads work well for many daytime needs. Longer or heavier pads provide more coverage for heavy-flow days and overnight use.
Do not compare sizes by name alone. A "regular" pad from one company may be quite different in length and width from another brand's regular pad. Check actual measurements before ordering.
If you are new to cloth pads and unsure what you prefer, a small variety pack is often more useful than buying an entire stash of one style immediately.
Cloth Pad Shapes and Construction
Reusable pads are made in several ways. Two common designs are turned-and-topstitched pads and serged pads.
Turned and Topstitched Pads
With this construction, fabric layers are sewn together around the perimeter, turned right-side out, and stitched again. The absorbent body and wings are generally part of the same overall shape. Many reusable pad brands use this type of construction.
Serged, Two-Part Pads
Domino Pads use a different construction. The absorbent portion is layered and serged separately, then sewn onto the moisture-barrier liner. This leaves only one fabric layer through most of the wings and reduces bulk around the underwear gusset.
The overall shape also affects how a pad sits once snapped around underwear.
The photos compare pad shape and construction. Both brands shown are available in multiple sizes.
How Long Do Cloth Pads Last?
There is no universal replacement schedule. Lifespan depends on the materials, construction, number of pads in your rotation, washing routine, and frequency of use.
Replace a pad when its condition affects comfort or performance. Signs can include worn fabric, damaged snaps, holes, deteriorating leak-resistant layers, or reduced absorbency that does not improve after proper washing.
Well-made pads can last for many years. Some Domino Pads have remained in use for well over a decade. Domino Pads also include a lifetime snap warranty.
Can Cloth Pads Handle Heavy Flow?
Yes. Reusable pads are available in absorbencies ranging from light pantyliners through heavy and overnight pads. The important part is choosing enough absorbency and enough front-to-back coverage for your flow.
On heavy days you may need to change more often. For overnight use, look for longer pads or designs made specifically for heavy flow and sleep.
Shop overnight and heavy-flow cloth pads
Choosing a Cloth Pad Material
The top fabric has a noticeable effect on how a pad feels and performs. There is no single best material for everyone.
- Cotton: Familiar fabric feel and widely available across reusable pad brands.
- Bamboo velour: Soft and plush. Domino Pads use hand-dyed bamboo velour on many styles.
- Minky: Very soft synthetic fabric that tends to resist visible staining.
- Moisture-wicking fabrics: Designed to move moisture away from the surface. These can be useful for bladder leakage or anyone who prefers a drier-feeling top layer.
Our Picks for the Best Reusable Cloth Pad Brands
We do not carry every cloth pad brand we can find. We have selected brands that we believe offer some of the best choices in different categories, from premium materials and moisture-wicking fabrics to organic cotton and budget-friendly multipacks. Fit, fabric, construction, absorbency, and price matter differently to different people, so there is no single cloth pad that is best for everyone. Here are the brands we recommend and what each does particularly well.
Aisle, formerly Lunapads: A Longstanding Reusable Pad Brand
- Canadian brand formerly known as Lunapads.
- Cotton outer fabric.
- Useful for shoppers specifically looking for the brand that evolved from Lunapads.
- The current Aisle pad selection is smaller than the original Lunapads range, so availability may be limited.
Domino Pads: Best for Fabric, Fit & Size Choices
- Handmade in Texas by our small in-house team.
- Available in Petite, Regular, Long, overnight/postpartum, liner, and thong-liner styles.
- Choose Bamboo, Minky, or KEEPDRY top fabrics.
- Uses WindPro fleece as the leak-resistant barrier instead of PUL.
- Single-layer wings reduce bulk around the underwear gusset.
- Third-party tested for PFAS/PFOA.
- Lifetime snap warranty.
Hannah: Best for Budget-Friendly Organic Cotton Multipacks
- Made in Vietnam.
- Organic cotton outer fabric.
- Multipacks offer an economical way to build a pad rotation.
- Many Hannah styles run smaller than comparable styles from some other brands, so check measurements before ordering.
Imse Vimse: Best for Simple Organic Cotton Multipacks
- Swedish brand.
- Organic cotton outer fabric.
- Available in convenient multipacks.
Tips for Your First Cloth Pad Purchase
- Check measurements instead of assuming every brand uses the same sizing.
- Start with a few pads before buying a full cycle's worth.
- Try different top fabrics if you are unsure what texture you prefer.
- Choose more absorbency or length for overnight use and heavy-flow days.
- A starter set or variety pack can help you compare styles without committing to one pad type.
Not Sure Which Cloth Pad to Choose?
Answer a few questions and we will point you toward options that fit your needs.
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You can compare every cloth pad brand we currently carry in one place.
If you are also comparing reusable menstrual products, you can browse our full period underwear selection by brand:
Shop All Period Underwear Brands
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