Last Updated on April 25, 2024
Did you realize it’s estimated {that a} girl will use roughly 11,400 pads all through her lifetime? Each of those pads are disposable, which implies they find yourself in a landfill.
Pads are usually comprised of plastics, cotton, wooden pulp and artificial fibers. Since a few of these elements are artificial, your complete pad is not going to break down. That means the pad you wore whenever you had been a teen might be nonetheless round immediately, sitting in a landfill.
Some disposable pads additionally embrace synthetic fragrances and artificial chemical substances into the combination, which can trigger allergic reactions.
Tampons aren’t a lot better: During the common 40-year span that an individual usually spends menstruating, a person makes use of greater than 9,000 tampons.
That’s why I co-founded Kayaness, a sustainable interval firm, with Shleby Orme, a sustainable way of life YouTuber who occurs to be one in every of my greatest buddies.
Period underwear is a reusable different to pads and tampons, however not all interval underwear are created equal.
Kayaness is dedicated to creating high-quality reusable gadgets with moral manufacturing, recycled and reclaimed supplies that endure rigorous testing for security, and constructing merchandise which might be made to final.
If you’re contemplating switching over to interval underwear however don’t know the place to start out, right here’s a information to interval panties and use interval underwear.
what’s interval underwear?
Period underwear are undergarments you put on throughout your menstrual cycle to take the place of disposable pads and tampons. They are constructed to feel and look like common underwear.
Period panties have further layers and particular materials that line the crotch space. This allows them to soak up menstrual blood.
Period panties may be washed after which re-wore on repeat. They are a reusable possibility that may be worn all all through your interval, various from heavy to gentle days.
why change to interval underwear?
There are two essential causes to change to interval underwear: Reducing waste and saving cash. Let’s have a look at every somewhat extra in-depth.
interval underwear helps the atmosphere
It’s estimated menstruating girls will undergo greater than 11,000 pads of their lifetimes. Disposable interval pads could comprise as much as 90% plastic, which implies once they’re discarded and despatched to a landfill, they take a whole lot of years to interrupt down into tiny items, aka microplastics.
Period merchandise even have extreme plastic packaging: A 12 pack of pads is wrapped in plastic movie, and every pad is individually wrapped in plastic (for sanitary functions). Plastic movie can’t be recycled through curbside recycling in most areas.
Additionally, pads are made in factories, which are sometimes powered by fossil fuels. It takes quite a lot of power to remodel uncooked supplies like cotton and crude oil into useable merchandise. Not to say each standard cotton and plastic have destructive impacts on the atmosphere.
Conventional cotton, not natural cotton, is incessantly utilized in most interval merchandise. It is a water-hungry plant and closely sprayed with pesticides that may pollute groundwater.
Each of those supplies has their very own carbon footprint individually (you possibly can study extra about cotton’s carbon footprint right here). But plastic should be reworked from crude oil into moldable plastic which takes up quite a lot of power, water and assets.
A 12 months’s price of disposable pads and tampons for one particular person produces 8.9kg of CO2 emissions, the identical as charging a cell phone greater than 1000 instances.
That’s why Kayaness interval panties are comprised of natural cotton and recycled polyester. This, paired with the actual fact they’re reusable, dramatically cuts down on their carbon footprint.
interval underwear get monetary savings
Using disposables provides up over time. Let’s assume an individual menstruates for 40 years and buys a $8 pack of disposable pads each month (excluding tax). That provides as much as $3,840 over a lifetime, $96 a 12 months.
This is probably going an underestimate as the price of menstrual pads, the taxes, and frequency of buy can range. For instance, you probably have a heavy movement, you might end up buying two packs as a substitute of 1 per thirty days.
That stated, let’s look and see how a lot interval panties will prevent. Upfront, interval underwear will value extra: For 5 pairs of Kayaness’ high waist briefs, it could value $160 with out tax.
However, if you happen to use and maintain them for two years, that’s $192 saved based mostly on the prior instance above. At that time, the interval underwear would’ve already paid for themselves after which some.
If you employ them for 5 years, that’s $480 saved: Think of all of the matcha lattes that might go in direction of as a substitute!
use interval underwear: a easy step-by-step break down
If you’re excited about making an attempt out interval panties however really feel intimidated, right here’s use them. Hint: It’s actually easy!
- Order your interval panties (we’ll speak about discovering the fitting match for you beneath).
- Wash them earlier than your first put on. This may be within the washer (finished on delicate) or handwashing, however at all times let it air dry. More directions on wash your interval panties are given beneath.
- When your interval begins, simply slip in your interval underwear like regular panties. Depending in your movement, you possibly can put on these for a number of hours. You could even be capable to put on all of them day, in case your interval is gentle sufficient. However, you need to make it some extent to vary after 24 hours right into a recent pair.
- Change right into a recent pair of interval underwear and take away/clear the dirty ones. Repeat this course of till your interval is over!
wash interval underwear
To clear your interval underwear, there are a couple of steps you have to take:
- After you take away your interval underwear, soak or rinse them in chilly water. Do this till the water runs clear.
- If utilizing a washer, wash them on a fragile or mild cycle with a gentle detergent. To make your underwear final, take into account handwashing within the sink.
- Don’t put them within the dryer, allow them to air dry by laying the underwear flat or grasp drying them. You may even improvise and use coat hangers to hold them as much as dry.
discovering the fitting match
At Kayaness, we provide two types of interval underwear: High waisted briefs and boyshorts. Both these types present ample protection, all whereas prioritizing consolation. We additionally provide sizing from XS to 4XL, so there’s one thing for everybody.
faqs
do you put on a pad with interval underwear?
You don’t need to put on a pad with interval underwear, until you need to. It additionally will depend on your movement: If you’re a heavy bleeder, you might want somewhat further safety.
However, Kayaness underwear presents heavy absorbency and may maintain as much as 3-4 common tampons price of movement. This will final for hours.
Can you employ interval panties for postpartum bleeding?
Yes, you should utilize interval underwear for postpartum bleeding. However, throughout the starting of it, you might need to pair them with pads for fuller protection.
Can you swim in interval panties?
There are particular interval swimwear manufacturers on the market for this objective. Generally talking, a reusable menstrual cup or natural tampon is really helpful for swimming in your interval.
how typically do you have to change your interval underwear?
On common days, it’s good to vary your interval underwear no less than as soon as each 8-12 hours. However, it can completely rely in your movement: If you’ve a heavy movement, you might want to vary your pads extra incessantly.
what number of pairs of interval underwear do you want?
How many pairs of interval underwear you want will rely in your distinctive movement.
If you’re new to interval underwear, take into account investing in no less than two pairs to put on in your average-to-lighter days. This will allow you to strive them out and get a really feel for what works in your physique.
You may additionally use interval underwear solely at night time to have snug, fuller protection.
If you’re dedicated to completely transitioning to interval underwear, having about 8-10 pairs of interval underwear ought to be sufficient.
So, will you be making the change to interval underwear? Let me know within the feedback!
