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Today's washable pads for menstruation and a directory
for old washable pads on this site
{Two contemporary makers: Party
In My Pants and Glad Rags)
When haven't women used washable menstrual
pads in our society? Cotton menstrual rags hanging out to dry were a feature
of many an American- and European-city landscape. Often users soaked the
bloody rag in a bucket overnight to loosen the stain, then washed it the
next day. [Read my thoughts on what European and American women used in the past.]
For women with money, the disposable Kotex
(for COtten-like TEXture) pad, developed from bandages made in the First
World War for American soldiers in France by Kimberly-Clark, was a boon
in 1921 and thereafter, enabling them to forget about Sears, Roebuck menstrual
traveling kits - I kid you not; see it at MUM!
- and the like. The texture was cotton-like, because women were used to
cotton and the new Kotex was made from wood pulp, making it cheaper. But
not cheap enough for the poorer woman, who still relied on the cotton rag,
or similar cloth, even today.
But with the heightening of awareness among women in the 1970s and 1980s,
individuals and small companies revived the washable pad. Women comfortable
with their bodies, and willing to spend the time required for the care of
the pads, found the colorful and sometimes "wild" pads a delight.
The next three pages show a tiny selection of what is available from
mostly mail order companies in the United States, Canada and New Zealand.
In the future I will tell you how to contact the companies.
See a modern, beautiful bowl to soak used menstrual pads in.
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Washable menstrual pad with underpants
Elastic bands hold this modern flannel pad in underpants made by the
pad manufacturer Glad Rags (another
maker is Party In My Pants).
Pads come in all kinds of colors and patterns, and often have fillers to
vary the thickness (and therefore absorbency) of the pads.
An official of a large menstrual products company
visited MUM and saw washable pads for the first time in her life, although
she had heard of them. Probably 70 percent of MUM visitors have never heard
of today's washable pads, and probably 90 percent have never seen a menstrual
cup. And these are intelligent, informed women.
Someone wrote MUM the following in March 2006:
"About washable pads: there are quite
a few moms who have work-at-home businesses making these things. I find
them to be far superior to Glad Rags. This page shows several styles:
http://www.diaperware.com/mooncare/mooncare.htm
See also the patent medicine Cardui,
Dr. Grace Feder Thompson's letter appealing for
patients, Dr. Pierce's medicines, and Orange Blossom medicine.
© 1998 Harry Finley. It is illegal to reproduce
or distribute work on this Web site in any manner or medium without written
permission of the author. Please report suspected violations to hfinley@mum.org
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