Cloth sanitary napkins are on the rise, because more and more women are looking for alternative monthly hygiene and products that are sustainable and protect the environment and their wallets equally. Moreover, the purchase of such monthly products is firmly linked to certain shopping habits in our mind. So it makes perfect sense to buy sanitary towels, tampons and other menstrual hygiene items in a drugstore. But so far there are no cloth sanitary towels there. However, that does not have to mean that it will stay that way.

Because drugstores, like the German "DM" in particular, are mostly known for making a lot of progress in terms of sustainability about their offered products as they are listening to their community on the Internet. So it can be quite useful not only to inquire by the local market but also to activate other women and to bring up the topic on Facebook or Instagram. Because the thing is actually quite simple: if there is a demand, one or the other drugstore will consider whether the product range should not be expanded to include cloth sanitary towels.

Washable sanitary towels

Washable sanitary towels used perfectly normal, but now you have to look for them like a needle in a haystack. An alternative to the drugstore shelf are selling points like unpackaged shops, of which there are more and more, organic shops but also practices of gynecologists, alternative practitioners and midwives or also shops which offer cloth diapers. You can find an ever-expanding list of providers that carry washable sanitary towels or cloth sanitary towels from ALMO here. There you will also find many events where you can learn more about alternative menstrual hygiene and cloth sanitary towels. Fabric sanitary towels you can touch, so to speak, because many women have prejudices and can not really imagine how a fabric sanitary napkin works in everyday life, how it can be stored in a used condition and much more.

It will probably take some time before there will be washable sanitary napkins in the range of drugstores. However, since fabric sanitary napkins have a long lifespan and it is not necessary to buy fabric sanitary towels at the drugstore every month, as you have been used to, there is nothing to prevent you from ordering them online. In the ALMO shop you get fabric sanitary towels that have been tried and tested and will exceed your expectations. As you are used to from conventional sanitary towels, the fabric sanitary towels have an absorbent core and wings that you can use to attach them to your panties. The wings are simply wrapped around your panties and buttoned at the bottom.

What will surprise you is the cozy feeling in the pants, because a plastic bandage can not achieve that.

Every single form of monthly hygiene has its advantages and disadvantages, depending on whether the safest possible leakage protection, sustainability and environmental compatibility, costs or the simplest possible handling with pleasant wearing comfort are in the foreground. No product fulfills all the points 100%, but alternative monthly hygiene products take the lead, especially because of their sustainability and cost savings.

Disposable pads & tampons

They are the classics on the drugstore shelf and are therefore the standard products that women have to deal with particurarly frequently during their menstrual cycles.

Leak protection & hygiene:

Sanitary towels are usually available with and without wings, sometimes in longer, narrower or tailored versions. They should be changed regularly, on heavy to normal days at least 5-6 times in 24 hours. Tampons should be changed at least every six hours (TSS syndrome).

Sustainability & environmental protection:

Conventional disposable sanitary towels and tampons are usually packaged in plastic and also contain plastic (phthalates, also known as softeners). Superabsorbents and gel cores ensure that as much menstrual blood as possible is absorbed and that the wearer feels pleasantly dry. The natural components such as cotton are partially bleached, which creates dioxins. In addition, artificial fragrances are added to convey a special feeling of freshness.

There is currently no legal obligation to label these additives and their components. The decomposition of the disposable sanitary napkins and also the tampons needs several centuries in the case of conventional products. After all, organic products decompose in shorter periods of time.

Health:

Cotton is used in both sanitary towels and tampons and, like many other products for daily consumption, is treated with pesticides, especially glyphosate. It should be clear to everyone that this is not good for the sensitive mucous membranes of the vagina in the long term. But in the case of tampons, for example, whether treated or untreated does not matter. These are mainly bought according to one criterion: they should be absorbent. This in turn can let the mucous membrane drying out. The result is frequent fungal infections. Anyone who frequently suffers from itching, burning and discharge in the intimate area should consistently wear cotton underwear for 2-3 months, avoid plastic tampons and sanitary towels and, above all, avoid fragrances in them - this also applies to the washing detergent.

Purchase & costs:

The standard range is now available in every supermarket, gas station, kiosk, sometimes in toilets and of course in drugstores. Organic products are not always available everywhere. Possible sources of supply for low-pollutant tampons and disposable sanitary towels are partly drugstores, partly organic shops and online shops. Accordingly, conventional sanitary towels and tampons are comparatively cheap, their organic counterparts a little more expensive. However, the costs add up, per woman and cycle, several thousands of euros are spent in life just for monthly hygiene. This does not include ruined underwear sets because the promised leakage protection of the menstrual pad did not keep what it promised.

Handling & wearing comfort:

The adhesive tape in the sanitary napkins holds more or less well, depending on the product - i. H. sometimes the disposable pads puffs up in the panties and interferes with walking, running or sitting. While sanitary towels are perceived as unhygienic even by some women, packaging and disposal are usually not a problem - you roll them up and throw them in the trash. Goodbye used sanitary napkins!

Alternative monthly hygiene. Around half of the world's population has it, has had it or will have it in the future:
The menstrual bleeding.

Although billions of women worldwide share this aspect of their femininity, the knowledge of monthly hygiene is rather hidden. Disposable products such as sanitary napkins and tampons can be found as examples in advertising and educational classes at school. Alternatives are rarely mentioned. There is a lot to know when those special "days" happen in a woman's life!

The menstrual period: so individual lieke everyone of us.

Every menstrual cycle is unique. Every woman experiences it differently, every menstruation is different, from woman to woman from month to month. It can be short and intense or weak and lasting for many days. The strength of the menstrual period literally ties some women to the bed, while other women are doing sports at the highest level or give inspiring speeches. In some countries in Asia such as Japan, Indonesia or South Korea women have the right to take paid vacation during their period – to rest at home.

Because the menstrual cycle is so different from woman to woman, the products for monthly hygiene should be also different for each woman. On the typical drugstore shelf there are therefore pads and tampons for heavy or light bleeding, with and without leakage protection. Panty liners are mostly used during the weakest days of the cycle. So far so good – but isn't there more? Oh yes!

Monthly hygiene:cloth pads, tampons,cups & sponges

The good news first: if a woman searches long enough, she will find the right monthly hygiene for herself. And the search itself is worthwhile, because we use a big number of products during our life with the female cycle. The calculation is comparatively simple:

• 5 till 7 tampons or pads per day
• for 5 till 7 days per month
• and an average of 12 times a year
• till 40 years long

Monthly hygiene products in Germany were charged at 19 percent, i.e. the higher VAT rate. They were considered a "luxury good". In the course of her life a woman spends around € 2,000 to € 4,800 only for her menstrual cycle days.

Alternative monthly hygiene is cheaper

alternative Monthly hygiene is therefore worth a second look for several reasons.

A sponge can be used from months to 1-2 years and costs between 4 and 6 euros. A menstrual cup has a lifespan of up to 10 years, the same applies to cloth sanitary towels. Thus the costs are just as lower as the garbage that is produced.

Every single form of monthly hygiene has its advantages and disadvantages, depending on whether the safest possible leakage protection, sustainability and environmental compatibility, costs or the simplest possible handling with pleasant wearing comfort are in the foreground. Cheapness is an issue that comes into play when we talk about alternative monthly hygiene. In the next blog post we will look at the health aspects and advertising promises of conventional monthly hygiene products.