Cleaning and caring for cloth pads is a lot less intimidating than many people think. Basically, treat them as you would any other item of clothing that has got blood on it.

• Do wash the pads before wearing them.
• Go ahead and wash them in the machine, or if you wash them by hand you can scrub them mercilessly. The natural materials become more absorbent with each wash. It's ok to toss them in the dryer as well.
• Use cold water to avoid setting stains.
• The pads will not develop odors unless they are stored damp in a place that doesn't have much airflow. (i.e. no need to hermetically seal them. Toss them directly into the hamper, or allow them to air dry before tossing into the hamper if you've soaked them first.

Soft structure Tyvek: Wash in hot water once before using. After that, wash in warm or cold water only and line dry to ensure a long life for your pads.

Tencel: Wash in cold water. Do not use Dr. Bronners because it causes the dye to bleed. Only use detergents and soaps that are specifically meant for laundry. If you use soap nuts or a homemade detergent, be sure to include salt to keep the colors from bleeding.

Silk Tops: Don't soak silk for more than half an hour. Washing with a natural shampoo or castile soap rather than laundry detergent may give better results and may help the pads live longer. Do not use a laundry detergent that has enzymes.

Silk and Wool: Do not use a detergent that has enzymes.

Here is a chart that shows which popular laundry detergents contain enzymes.

Rinse thoroughly under cold running water as soon as possible, then pre-soak in cold water for about an hour.

If you won't be able to wash the pads for a few days, it's better to let them air dry between soaking and washing than to leave them sitting in soak water. If you do leave them soaking for more than a day, be sure to change the water every day. Warm or hot wash is ok as long as stains have been rinsed or soaked out in cold water first.

It's ok to wash the pads in hot water, but be aware that hot water can set blood stains in your other clothing as well as in the pads.

If you share washing facilities with others and want to keep your pads private, you may want to wash them in a mesh bag. For a discreet soak, fill the washer with cold water and leave your laundry soaking in there for an hour or for as long as you can get away with it before turning the machine on.

Fabric softeners will reduce absorbency, but a little vinegar in the rinse is a great alternative.

Soaking these pads for longer than an hour isn't necessary and could even cause the fabrics to deteriorate more quickly. Each piece is only a few layers of fabric, so they don't need as much soaking time as do most all-in-one style pads.