How To Use & Launder
Wear 'em, wash 'em, repeat.
Yes, they really are that easy!
Note: Classic Pads have the wing tabs sewn to the front of the pad to form a gently contoured shape when wrapped around to the underside.
To Wear 'Em
Against Skin
Cotton/Flannel Print (absorbent side with channel stitching)
Against Panty
Solid Colour Fleece (leak-resistant layer)
Pads are all-in-ones — there's nothing to stuff, add, or piece together. Use regular, snug fitting panties when using cloth pads for the best fit and coverage.
Place pads with print side facing up (the side with channel stitching), wrap wings out, down, and around panty gusset and snap into place. For wingless pads, just lay in and go. The fleece backing against panties helps prevent slipping.
To Wash 'Em
The easiest way to clean your pads is to just toss them in with your regular laundry and launder as usual in cold water. Scroll down for everything you ever wanted to know about pad care and laundering tips.
Fuss Free
New Moon Pads are easy to wash, whether by machine or by hand, and they dry quickly, either in the dryer or on the line. Launder pads before initial use. Unsnap wings prior to laundering.
Laundry Temperature
When laundering pads, heat is NOT your friend. Launder pads in cold water, never hot, and set the dryer to low or medium heat. Not only does hot water set blood stains, but high heat, whether in the washer or dryer, can damage fabrics, cause a higher shrinkage rate, and significantly lower pad life expectancy. If you must launder in warm water, keep it below 30C (90F). With proper care, each New Moon Pad will easily last 200+ launderings.
Drying Tip
To dry pads faster and more thoroughly, add a dry bath towel to the dryer with the pads before turning it on. The dry towel helps draw out and absorb moisture from the wet pads. This trick works for any laundry load, not just pads. It saves energy and helps make everything fluffy and soft.
Do Not Use Bleach Or Fabric Softener
Bleach is corrosive, can cause skin irritation, and will significantly decrease the life of your pads. Fabric softeners decrease fabric absorbency and are not recommended. Using vinegar in the rinse cycle in place of fabric softener and wool dryer balls in place of dryer sheets avoids a lot of chemicals in the laundering process and is a HUGE savings compared to no longer having to buy expensive fabric softener or dryer sheets, neither of which should be used on fabric intended for absorption.
To Set Colours
Soak vibrant-coloured pads in a pail of water with 1 cup (250 ml) of vinegar added prior to initial laundering. This "sets" their colours so they don’t bleed onto other items. Always wash like colours together, never with light or white items.
Shrinkage
Pads are made from all new fabrics, so there will be some initial shrinkage with laundering (around 5-7% for cottons, depending on care; see laundry temperature info above), though it will not affect the absorption properties of each style as they’re designed to accommodate shrinkage.
How To Remove Stains
In most cases, just regular laundering in cold water will keep pads stain-free. If you do find a pad or two with any staining, you can pour hydrogen peroxide directly onto the stain and let it soak in, making sure to launder the pad before the hydrogen peroxide dries. Try not to get too hung up on stain removal. Stains sometimes happen. If they do, they don’t affect function, and nobody but you will know they’re there. If you're stain-averse, I suggest going with a busier or darker print so any staining won't show.
How To Prevent Stains
If you absolutely must be absolutely sure that there are absolutely no stains, rinse the affected area thoroughly with cold water, lather your hands with mild soap, and work the lather thoroughly into the fabric with your fingers, then launder in cold water. Check after the wash cycle. If there is residual staining, repeat the soaping process and rewash in cold water.
Pre-Soaking (Optional)
You can pre-soak pads in a lidded container in cold water, if preferred, but let’s face it, who has the time for the fuss and bother? And leaving pads soaking in water can also reduce their life expectancy. They come out just as clean without soaking. If you do pre-soak, be sure to change the water daily and add a bit of baking soda to the water to increase alkalinity (which helps to remove stains and neutralize odours).
Pad Pot Options
If you prefer to soak your pads after use until you’re ready to launder them, there are lots of options for pad pots, some of them conventional, some of them not so much. Pad pot options are only limited by your imagination. You can use everyday containers from around the house or go shopping for something fun and funky. As long as it can hold water and has a lid (or is relatively spill-proof), then you’re good to go. The idea is to make your choice personal and individual and have fun with it!
Care While Traveling
New Moon Pads are actually very easy to care for while traveling. If you don’t have access to a laundry facility, they can be washed out easily by hand and hung to dry from a shower curtain rod or a hanger. Just rinse the pads until the water runs clear, wash them by hand in the sink with mild soap, making sure to rinse them well afterward, wring them out well, and hang them to dry. Another really easy way to clean them is to put them on the floor of the shower while you take your shower and walk all over them (yup, they can take it). Then just a quick hand scrub and rinse, and that's it. If you're camping, tent lines work great as a clothesline (if you're not shy). Most people wouldn't even have a clue anyway as to what they are; just tell them they're pot holders. ;o)
"I just placed my second order for New Moon Pads after wearing the first order for about 9 months. I love not having to place an insert in them. They are comfortable and wash and dry great. So glad I found New Moon Pads."
~ Linda
