Cloth panty liners are simply amazing. They are great everyday feminine wear. If you don't like your panties to feel moist due to daily discharge or if you just want some extra security in case you might experience some spotting, cloth panty liners are the way to go! They are way more comfortable than the disposable ones you can find in most stores. You can't even feel you're wearing them :D!
Update!
I have been thinking a lot lately each time that I heard women say that you can save a ton of waste by using reusable cloth pads and menstrual cups, and that is of course more than true!!, but I always had this nagging feeling in the back of my head that we were missing something. I finally know what that is! It definitely adds up to the other advantages mentioned of cloth liners and makes them an even more attractive alternative to disposable ones. It is their eco-friendliness! They can also save you lots of money.
Their eco-friendliness? Yes, their eco-friendliness.
If you, like me, like to take care of preventing yourself from the moist feeling of daily discharge in your undies, you probably also use some day to day undies-protection, better known as panty liners. Chances are that these are disposable panty liners, as the reusable ones are not as well known. I don't know about you, but disposable panty liners always gave me this icky, itchy, wet, and smelly feeling. I therefore often used to change my disposable liner a few times a day, just to feel dry and fresh again. It only helped for the littlest amount of time. I hated the feeling they gave my nether regions and I changed them as often as I could just to avoid the amount of discomfort they gave me. I could easily change them 4 times a day. I was very unhappy about having to use them and having to change them so often. I had the feeling something was wrong with me, but having previously switched to cloth pads, showed me it had nothing to do with me but everything with the disposable liners. I hated everything about them. Not only the feeling they gave me, but also that they produce a ton of waste, consume a ton of resources and produce a lot of pollution being produced! I did a bit of math so you can see how quickly the numbers add up : )
Two a day:
If you were to change your panty liner two times a day that would make 14 a week, 60-62 a month, and 630 a year.
Three a day:
If you were to change your panty liner three times a day that would make 21 a week, 90-93 a month, and 1095 a year.
Four a day:
If you were to change your panty liner two times a day that would make 28 a week, 120-124 a month, and 1460 a year.
One a day:
Even if you were to change your disposable panty liner just once that would make 7 a week, 30-31 a month, and 364-365 a year, which still is a lot of (unnecessary!) waste, money and use of resources.
Next to their eco-friendliness, as a bonus, they will also save you a ton of money. If you think about it, if you use disposable liners daily, you are literally throwing away your money on a day to day basis, thus not only when your menstruating, and this during your entire lifetime. That is a lot of waste, resources and money.
If you, on the other hand, use reusable cloth panty liners, you only have to buy a large enough number of them to make you feel comfortable and then you can reuse them for years to come without having to replace them. If you can sew, or wanting to learn how to sew, they are also very easy to make yourself, which potentially is an even greater money saver!
Extra bonus: they come in thé cutest prints! They will make sure to put a smile on your face everyday!
If you would love to try cloth panty liners for yourself:
My favourite panty liners are those from The Blue Meadow, those from Aunt Flow (mini liners), those from Lolasloft (on which I've already done a review), those from RainbowsGrace, and those from LittleSunshineHut. All five are to be found on Etsy.
Sadly, Aunt Flow is closed now due to some stupid FDA regulation in the US that states that cloth pads are medical devices (Since when is menstruation a disease? I thought it was just mother nature at work...), and until pad makers pay a monstrously high amount of money, they are no longer allowed to sell cloth pads anymore. Since cloth pad makers do not even have to send in a sample of their pads, just pay the money, this is, in my opinion, just quick money making business and exploitation of women's naturally occurring bodily processes, as is the case with disposables.
Review time!
The Blue Meadow
An everyday pantyliner, by Anthea, based in the UK, that can also be used for very light flow, although I have not yet tested the latter. (I guess they then can also be used as cup backup. Have to try that :p)
Dimensions and materials used:
Measures approximately 6" long and 2" wide snapped.
-Cotton top
-Cotton flannel core (1 layer)
-Micro fleece back
My opinion:
I love these little liners. They work perfectly for me. I have long been looking for such a petite liner that would feel as comfy as these and at the same time would stay in place really well! I love the shape of them! It literally makes me forget I'm wearing liner! They are also supercute! Anthea really knows to pick out the most pretty prints and position them well.
The only downside I can think of is that they only come topped in cotton. I would love to try them in flannel! Flannel is so soft and cosy and warm, and can really give an extra comfy and warm feeling especially when it's cold outside! :D It's also a great wicking fabric and makes you feel extra dry (positive dry, like if you have extra discharge or spotting and still do not feel wet :p)
Aunt Flow
Aunt flow, by Ruthie, offers 3 kinds of panty liners of which the mini liners are my favourites to wear on a day to day basis.
For the measurements I this time just copy-pasted what Ruthie, the owner of Aunt Flow, put into the ad of the mini's since I like her description style so much, as well that it's super detailed and also in cm!!
--Mini Pantyliner--
::MINI PANTYLINER CONSTRUCTION::
Next-to-skin layer: 1 layer 100% cotton flannel
Absorbent layers: organic bamboo fleece
Waterproof layer: NONE
Bottom/next-to-underwear layer: 1 layer 100% cotton flannel
::MINI PANTYLINER DIMENSIONS::
Length: 6.25" or 16 cm
Width at middle, unsnapped: 6.5" or 17 cm; Snapped: 2.75" or 7 cm
My opinion:
I love these panty liners so much! They are super breathable and comfy and cosy! I also love their size shape, and that they come in the cutest prints! They stay in place well just so that you would forget you're wearing one! An extra bonus with these is that they're all flannel-topped!
Ruthie's customer service is also amazing. She is very kind and super helpful! If you need a pad to be altered in some way, she happily does a custom order for you and does the best she can to make it exactly the way you need it.
Since, sadly, Aunt Flow will be closed as of January 1st 2015, you will no longer be able to buy pads of her due to the FDA, but nonetheless I will do an extra review on them as a tribute to the great ones she offered and her wonderfully friendly customer service!
RainbowsGrace
An everyday pantyliner for discharge solely! They are made by Emani and based in the US.
Dimensions and materials used:
* 7in in length
* 2in at the gusset
* Cotton topped
* Core layer of flannel
* Backed in flannel for maximum thinness
My opinion:
These are great day to day panty liners! They are super breathable! I also love their size and shape, and that they come in the cutest prints! They stay in place well just so that you would forget you're wearing one! Most of them are cotton-topped, but I'm sure that, if you would like one in flannel and Emani has the fabric, she would love to make you one. She is very sweet and helpful!
A daily liner as well as a thin pad perfect for lighter days at the end of your period for that extra little reassurance as cup back up. They are made by Sarah in the UK.
Dimensions and materials used:
The Little Sunshine Hut liners have a bamboo core, are topped with a cotton print design (I wish they also had flannel ones!), and backed with 1 layer of water resistant fleece.
LENGTH: 7.5 inches long
WIDTH: 3 inches with 1 snap setting or 2.5 inches with 2 snap settings approx. (measured without wings). Make sure you select the option when ordering. If you are unsure you may want to try the 2 snap setting to try the difference between sizes!
My opinion:
These are great day to day panty liners as well as light day pads! I always wear them when I'm unsure when my period will start and at the ending of my period, as they are so comfortable, stay in place so well, and make me feel secure. Sometimes, I even wear them as cup back up! I love their size and shape. I also really like the second snap option as 3'' is a bit wide for me.
All of the Little Sunshine Hut liners are cotton-topped, but I wish they came in flannel too, as I love flannel liners and pads. Flannel adds even more comfort to a liner or pad in my opinion. It's great to have the choice. But that said, even if they are only topped in cotton, I love these liners to bits and I'd highly recommend them to anyone. I should also mention that Sarah's customer service is also outstanding!
Recently, Little Sunshine Hut also started offering mini liners, but I have not yet had the chance to try any. If one day I do, I will also add a review on them!
Regular size liners of Little Sunshine Hut: