https://unpa.me/en-US/community/menstrual/17254117
The biggest advantage of Daliseul cotton sanitary pads is that they are easy to wash. Simply soak used pads in cold water for about 10 minutes to remove blood, then run them on the washing machine's wool or regular cycle (for heavy flow) with a small amount of sodium percarbonate, and you're done.
I have heavy periods, frequent and heavy bleeding when stressed, and sensitive skin, so using disposable sanitary pads caused my skin to get irritated and smelled terrible, which was very distressing. But after using Daliseul, it has become so comfortable that I really love it.
I originally used a different one, but washing this one was a hassle because stains would remain if I didn't pre-wash it.
It was manageable on days when I had the energy and light flow, so I used fewer cloth pads. However, as my bleeding became heavy, I was producing as many as 10 or 15 or more pads a day, and it was so exhausting to pre-wash and run them through the washing machine one by one. So I searched for another company and bought Daliseul, and using it really gave me a breath of fresh air when doing laundry.
Since cloth sanitary pads absorb more blood than disposable ones, washing is the real key. However, if you simply fill a basin with cold water, put the used ones in, drain the water after 10 minutes, put them in the washing machine, set the temperature to 40 degrees on the wool or normal cycle, add a spoonful of sodium percarbonate, and run the machine (set the spin cycle to the weakest setting or skip it), they will be washed thoroughly.
Plus, since you can insert extra pads into the sanitary pads, I don't have to worry even on heavy flow days. The set includes panty liners, large, and extra-large sizes. Thanks to the pads in the large and extra-large sizes, I could insert two or three pads when my flow was heavy or bleeding was severe, which allowed me to hold out a little longer or sleep. Since I tend to bleed when stressed, panty liners are essential for me. I tried cloth sanitary pads and liked them so much that I bought these panty liners as well. My skin, which used to get irritated or itchy while using disposable panty liners, has gradually subsided or gotten better, and the odor has decreased (I am sensitive to my own body odor). Also, they are easy to wash; you just put them in the washing machine and run them. I even boiled the liners a few times, and they didn't lose their shape. The buttons are made of stainless steel rather than plastic, so they don't rust or melt, which is great. The sanitary pads have small extra fabric on both sides that looks like wings. I really love that part; even when I sleep on my side on heavy flow days, it collects and absorbs the blood, preventing leakage. Thanks to this, leakage has significantly decreased, and even on days when my flow suddenly increases, that extra wing-like fabric prevents leakage to the sides, so I rarely have to sit for long periods of time and have my underwear get a mess.
To summarize, the biggest advantages of using it were that it is relatively easy to wash because the fabric drains blood well, it can absorb more than disposable sanitary pads, and the extra fabric on the wings prevents side leaks. However, there are downsides; since it is a cloth sanitary pad, it is a bit bulky, so if you pack about 10 on heavy flow days, your bag becomes a whole bagful.
However, this is a drawback shared by all cloth sanitary pads. Since I am very satisfied with the reduced menstrual cramps, the disappearance of skin irritation and itching compared to using disposable pads, and the minimal odor, carrying a bag as bulky as a traveling merchant is a downside I can tolerate. Also, when a large amount gushes out at once or in clumps, they don't absorb as quickly or dry as disposable pads do. However, if I feel uncomfortable in this situation, I can just go to the restroom and pat it dry with tissue, and it cleans up quickly, so it is fine (in my case, the clumps don't absorb well, so I just clean them up with tissue). Furthermore, cloth sanitary pads are a bit pricey to buy in bulk at once. Even when I used disposable pads, I spent over 50,000 won a month just on pads because I had heavy flow, a long period, and heavy bleeding. So, considering that you can wash and reuse them for several years, I think cloth pads are more economical in the long run, even though it requires a lump sum upfront. I have been using cloth sanitary pads from other brands plus Daliseul for a little over 5 years. Compared to when I used disposable pads, my menstrual cramps have decreased, odors are less noticeable, my skin condition has improved, and I can sleep better on heavy flow days, so I am very satisfied. I have settled on Daliseul for the reasons explained above. I hope this helps anyone who is considering cloth sanitary pads.
