Firstly, what are period underwear? They are underwear that you can wear instead of pads or tampons that absorb your period! *YES* they look and feel like normal underwear but they have an in-build lining that absorbs your period. When you need to change them, you simply just rinse and then wash them and pop on a clean pair!
Thinking about trying them or got your first pair and not sure what to do next or how period underpants work?
We get it. Making the move to something new can be a bit confusing, so we’re answering your FAQs.
Do period undies feel wet?
Ours don’t. We’ve designed our hi-tech patented lining using Merino wool as the top layer because it’s naturally moisture wicking, which means it draws moisture away from your body to keep you feeling fresh and dry.
However, some of our customers say they feel their blood drip or flow into the undies, but just for a second before its absorbed through the top layer into the middle terry layer where it’s locked away.
Do period undies smell?
No they don’t, for a couple of reasons. One is because the fluid is drawn away from your body into the middle layer of the built-in lining where it’s locked away, so the top layer feels nice and dry. The other is that our gusset is treated with a medically safe anti-odour designed to fight odour and the bacteria that causes it.
Will anyone be able to tell I’m wearing them?
They won’t, but we reckon you should tell your friends about period undies so they can feel comfy and dry too. And do their bit for the planet of course.
The reason people can’t tell (if you don’t shout about it) is that our underwear looks and feels just like regular undies. It’s made from soft organic cotton and you can choose from a Hipster Bikini or a Hipster Boyshort style depending how much coverage you like.
The absorbent lining is built into the gusset of the underwear so it won’t slip, move, fall out or peek through (unlike pads!) Plus, it’s just 3mm thick in our Moderate-Heavy undies, and just 6mm in our Maxi-24hrs pairs, tapering to 3mm away from the gusset, so you can’t see any bulk if you’re wearing tight clothes, or wearing them under a netball dress.
How will I know when to change my period underwear?
Just like when you first use a pad or tampon, it can take a little time to work out how often you need to change your underwear, and it will vary depending on your personal flow, and which absorbency of underwear you’re wearing: Light-Moderate (RED swimwear) Moderate-Heavy or Maxi-24hrs.
When the pants start to feel a bit ‘full’, or feel a little damp at the edges, you know it’s time to change.
Most of our customers report wearing one pair all day long at school then changing into a new pair either when they get home, or before they go to bed. You’ll get the hang of it.
If you do need to change your undies during the day when you’re out, or if you’re worried you might need to, our handy Waterproof Bag is perfect for storing your used undies securely (and odour-free) until you can get home to wash them.
How many pairs do I need for my whole period?
That depends how often you do the laundry (or, if you’re lucky, how often someone does it for you!)
Basically, you need one pair for every day of your period, which could mean around 4 to 7 pairs unless your period is particularly short, or longer than usual. Plus, you’ll probably want to wear a different pair overnight.
So, the first thing to do is work out how often you’ll be doing a load of washing, remembering that after rinsing your Modibodi in cold water after wearing them, they’re fine to toss into the machine with the rest of your clothes using normal laundry detergent – but no fabric softener.
For example, if you’ll be washing once every three days and you wear one pair for the day and one pair overnight, you’ll need six pairs, but if you washed every two days, you could manage with four…and so on.
How do you wash period underwear?
Let’s start with the fact it’s way easier than trying to wash blood out of ordinary white cotton knickers.
The absorbent gusset in Modibodi underwear is black for starters, so there’s no need to get out the stain remover. Secondly, there’s no need to soak, rub or scrub. (Yesss!)
Because our undies are literally designed to be bled into, all you have to do to keep them in tip top shape, is follow these four simple steps…not a big ask for a comfy period and planet-friendly protection.
STEP 1: Rinse your period underwear in cold water. You should do this just after you take the undies off either under the tap or in the shower until the water runs clear. No need to soak or scrub.
STEP 2: Chuck them in the washing machine and run them on a cold wash. It’s even better if you put them in a delicates bag!
STEP 3: Use regular laundry detergent and hold off on the fabric softener as it breaks down the natural fibres which help make the underwear so effective.
STEP 4: Hang them out to dry (no tumble dryer). That’s it.
Try your first pair of period underpants today.
