How do I care for my pads?
How do they work?
Do Reddy's leak? How reliable are they?
How many will I need? 
How long do they last? How many do I need? 

Tell me about the belts?
How do the PF pads work?
What’s inside the pads?
What fabrics do the pads come in?  

Why should I wear cloth? 
What are the health issues?
Can I use Reddy's if I sometimes get yeast infections?
Why Cloth?

I am concerned about my children's world. Does using cloth really make a difference?
What is 'blood money"?

How do I care for my pads?

Cloth pads are soaked and rinsed daily for the duration of the cycle, and because the proteins of the blood don’t adhere to the fabric when it is wet, the soaked pads can be washed in the laundry and dried before the next period.

Taking care of your pads is very simple - when you soak as you go. Soak used pads in a bucket. Refresh water daily. When your cycle is finished, simply wash pads by hand or in the washer. Pads can be machine or line dried. Sunlight is an effective natural sanitizer. When you are away from home, put the rinsed pad in a waterproof bag (diaper or ziploc) until you reach your soak.

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How do they work?

Reddys in-panty pads are held in place by your panties - no ties or fastenings mean no bulk or discomfort.

Reddys panty-free pads are worn with an elastic belt that is fitted to your body - a snug fit ensures ultimate comfort and protection.

Reddy’s pads are made of absorbent cotton flannel and are designed to hold their shape and stay in place. With those considerations resolved, you only change your pad when you are ready for a new pad.

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How do I care for my pads?

Very simple - when you soak as you go. The pads get thoroughly rinsed and can then be tossed into the washer and dryer.

Soak used pads in a bucket. Refresh water daily. When your cycle is finished, simply wash pads by hand or in the washer. Pads can be machine or line dried. Sunlight is an effective natural sanitizer. When you are away from home, put the rinsed pad in a waterproof bag (diaper or ziploc) until you reach your soak.

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Do Reddy's leak? How reliable are they?

The design of the pad, with its anatomical fit, highly absorbent layers and strategic stitching is extremely efficient. If you chose the right absorbency for your flow, the pads should not leak at all.

There are 3 factors that contribute to leakage.

•     Insufficient absorbency
•     Pads losing their shape
•     Pads moving around

Leakage happens down the sides of the pads because our legs squish the pads out of shape. By quilting the pads – literally stitching the padding through it’s full thickness at enough places along the pads - the pads hold their shape constantly, both while wearing and washing.

Another factor is pads moving … the snugness of the belt holds the Panty Free pad in place – when you walk, sleep, run, do yoga, whatever. The belts are made of firm elastics (in beautiful colors) and are adjustable to accommodate shape variations. By adjusting the belt to a snug but not tight position, the pads suspend off the belt and it feels like you are not wearing anything. There is no constricted feeling when your body craves comfort. The In Panty pads hold in place because of the length of the pad.

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How many will I need?

Since you most likeley won’t be changing your pads because of leakage (the absorbency and design take care of that), you will change them because you are ready for a fresh pad. Most women change their Reddy’s once a day, but that’s a personal thing. A set for an average cycle of 5 days, with 2 heavy, 1 ½ medium and 1 ½ light days is between 7-10 pads: 2-3 heavy pads (really absorbent – for ‘superplus’ flow, great for overnight and postpartum, which require a larger padded surface), 3-4 medium (they go both ways really well) and 2-3 light (great as panty liners but absorbent enough for light to medium flow).

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How long do they last? How many do I need?

When cared for as recommended, Reddy's last for years.

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Tell me about the belts?

The plush belt has a satin finish on one side and a soft plush finish on the other. They are available in black, beige, white and gorgeous handdyed colors in the purple/wine range.

The organic belts are organic cotton over rubber elastic. They are also soft, though not with a plush finish. They are available in natural cotton color as well as the handdyed colors above.

You can use one belt for your pads, but some folk like the variety for 'fashion' reasons. I support that  you enjoy your pads to the max.

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How do the PF pads work?

The pads have loops at the ends and an adjustable belt is threaded through these loops. The belt uses the same technology as bra strap adjusters. The optimum size belt holds the pad snug but not tight. Once your size is found, you won’t need to adjust the belt every time.

The pads have been color coded: lights are purples, medium the reds and browns and the heavy blues and greens. All fabric is dark colors for the simple reason that blood is dark and we don’t believe light colors mean sanitary. Bloods stains and the soaking and rinsing methods we recommend cleans the pads satisfactorily. The colors are chosen for the organic flannel in dark shades. 

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What’s inside the pads?

Rolled up flannel 6/8 layers for the light, 10/12 layers for the medium, 12/14 layers heavy.

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What fabrics do the pads come in?

Reddy’s pads are available in 100% cotton flannel and organic flannel in handpicked dark colors and patterns that feel good and look gorgeous. We select the fabrics according to availability and are constantly sourcing 'soft and gorgeous flannels' - our criteria.

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Why should I wear cloth?

Wearing cloth can change the way you feel about being a woman. You will not only feel extremely comfortable during your menstruation, you may also develop a healthy and intimate relationship with your body.  Using cloth contributes to a more sustainable world and saves you money at the same time.

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What are the health issues?

Cloth addresses the following health concerns women have.They don’t have to tell us what goes into a tampon. There are laws that protect our right to know what’s in our shampoo, but none for tampons. Considering that the vagina is on of the most absorbent and vascular environments in our body, we’ve got to wonder what our bodies absorb from tampons. (When herbalists prescribe a garlic vaginal suppository, garlic can be smelt on the breath within 10 minutes. Pretty darned absorbent).

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Can I use Reddy's if I sometimes get yeast infections?

Absolutely. Many women report less occurrence of yeast infection when they switch to cloth.  This is because of the absence of plastics in the pads. The breathability of cloth discourages the moist environment that yeast loves. If you are suffering from yeast infections, for extra sanitation we recommend 5 seconds in the microwave after you have washed your pads. This will kill off any bacteria that might survive the wash.

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I am concerned about my children's world. Does using cloth really make a difference?

When the average American woman uses about 10 000 disposable menstrual products in her lifetime, unhitching from that cycle of unnecessary waste clearly makes a difference.

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What is 'blood money"?

Many people feel the high price being paid for disposables - both economically and environmentally - is profiting only a few.

With 85 million menstruating women in North America spending over $20 billion a year on hygiene products, big corporations are invested in our bodies. These companies are responsible for much of the misinformation that keeps us from feeling positive about our bodies.

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