Easy peasy.  Reusable pads have wings that fasten around your undies with a snap. They are swapped out just the same as you would a disposable pad, but instead of throwing them into an icky garbage can where they'd go to the landfill and sit there for hundreds of years, you simply place them into a container or bag to await washing at the end of the cycle, or whenever you would like to wash them. And, when you do so, you can give yourself a big ol' congrats for being so planet-friendly!

This is one of the most common questions asked and, of course, the answer is that every woman varies.However, to make things easier, we can generalize a bit. 

If you are choosing reusable pads for your period and want to wash just once at the end of a cycle, you will probably want about 12-18 pads, in a variety of lengths and absorbencies.

If you are choosing reusable pads for bladder leaks, you'll simply multiply the number you'll use in a day by the number of days you want between washes plus a few extra. So, if you will use 2 pads/day and want to wash once a week, you'd probably want about 16 pads (2 pads/day x 7 days + 2 spares)

As much as we'd love to sell you a whole whack of pads in one go, what we'd really love is for you to be a devoted reusable pad user for life and we find that people are happiest with their cloth pad stashes when they take time to build them up over several months, allowing them to fine-tune to their needs.

While we’d love to sell you a boatload of pads right off the bat, more importantly, we want you to end up with a reusable pad stash that works well for you.  We find that most people are happiest with their stashes when they build them up over time, allowing themselves a chance to find out what works well for them.

The answer to this question will depend on whether you are using the pads for periods or incontinence.

For Periods:

We suggest beginning with 6-12 pads, in a few different lengths and absorbencies and building from there.

Here are a some scenarios to help guide you with your purchase:

If you have a fairly heavy period:

1-2 x Extra-Long Heavy Absorbency Pads

3-6 x Long Heavy Absorbency Pads

2-4 x Standard Moderate Absorbency Pads

If you have a fairly average period:

1-2 x long Heavy Absorbency Pads

3-6 x Standard Moderate Absorbency Pads

2-4 x Standard Short Light Absorbency Pads

If you have a fairly light period, or to use as cup back-up:

1-2 x Standard Moderate Absorbency Pads

3-6 x 8” Standard Short Absorbency Pads

2-4 x Standard Short Liners

If you would like to use reusable pads instead of your cup overnight, add 1-2 x Long Heavy Absorbency Pads

To make it simple for you, you may with to check out our Reusable Pad Basic Starter Set or our Reusable Pad Mini Starter Set

For Bladder Incontinence:

You probably have a pretty good idea of how often you prefer to change your pad.  You should be able to change your washable pad about as often as you did your disposables. The key is to choose an absorbency that works well for you. 

Then, it is simply a matter of a little math to multiply this number by how many days you'd like to go before washing.  So, for example, if you have occasional dribbles or sneeze pees, and change your pad twice a day, you'll probably want light absorbency pads.  If you want to wash once a week, you'll need 14 pads (plus 2 insurance ones) for a total of 16. Maybe you only use one pad a day and want to wash every 4 days? That's 4 (plus one for insurance) for a total of 5 pads.

Your formula is: number of pads used each day x number of days between washing + 1-2 pads for insurance = total of pads needed

To make it easy for you, we suggest beginning with our Single Absorbency Starter Set. This is a set of 4 pads, in the absorbency and length of your choice. Still unsure of which one to choose?  Check out our guide, How to Choose Reusable Pads.

Firstly, we highly recommend you wash and dry all your new pads and liners before first use. Just let them tag along with your regular laundry.

1. Store unrinsed pads in an open wetbag or pail until ready to wash.

2. When ready to wash, soak pads overnight in COLD water with a bit of dissolved OxiClean™ and detergent. (Amie Active pads do not require soaking.)

3. Rinse pads and treat any remaining stains. Repeat soak, if necessary.

4. Wash and dry pads with regular laundry, WITHOUT fabric softener.

If you are using reusable pads for incontinence, you can even skip soaking. It's that easy!

Bleaching is unnecessary on a regular basis when reusable pads are properly cared for. However, there are a very few situations where bleaching is helpful. (For example, after a vaginal yeast infection.) Done properly and infrequently, it will not wear down your fabric. While we cannot guarantee your fabric will not fade, it is unlikely when bleaching is done correctly.

To do a bleach soak, use a disinfecting bleach which has 5.25% sodium hypochlorite. Add 1 Tablespoon bleach to 1 gallon of cold water. Soak for only 30 minutes and rinse with hot water, then wash and dry as usual.

The standard answer is around 200 washes. However, it is our experience that this is a very conservative estimate.

Christine, the owner of Amie Reusable Pads, found her first set of cloth pads lasted over 20 years…though that includes many missed cycles from pregnancies and breastfeeding, the ultimate in eco-friendly!

Each pad is made up of three basic layers: the topper fabric (which faces up toward your body), the absorbent core, and the protective backer.

The topper fabric can be made of many different fabrics, each with their own advantages. Our prints are all cotton spandex, Amie Active pads are topped with athletic wicking jersey and we use handdyed bamboo velour for our postpartum pads.

The core is made from either Bamboo Organic Cotton Fleece and/or Zorb (a super-absorbent, hypoallergenic fabric).

The back layer is soft shell, a terrific technical fabric. This layer’s job is to prevent the flow absorbed by the core from transferring onto clothing. The core needs to be adequate to absorb the level of flow at any given time, but the backer fabric is there as literal back-up!

Liners are a different product. Our liners are made of absorbent fabric only, with no waterproof/water-resistant backer. They are intended either for daily use, to absorb excess cervical fluid, as cup back-up in the event of very small leaks, or at the very tail end of the cycle, when flow is diminished to light-staining.

Each pad and liner has a high-quality KAM-brand polyresin snap to fasten it into place.

Amie reusable pads and pantyliners are handmade in the quaint and charming little town of Rockwood, Ontario, Canada.  We also have a terrific seamstress who makes many of our pads in the fabulous city of Guelph, Ontario, Canada.

This is a very common question. The ‘pretty’ side (usually a pattern) faces up with the fuzzy, plain soft shell fleece facing down.  (In the case of our Amie Active line, the black 'holey' side will face toward your body.) The fuzziness of the soft shell helps to grip underwear and keep the pad from slipping.

Absolutely!  And, we applaud you for moving to a sustainable product to manage your needs.  Many women use our pads for light to moderate (and sometimes even heavy-moderate) bladder incontinence.  Our backers are waterproof, so you can rest assured that you will not leak directly through the pad, as with some brands backed with regular fleece.  We suggest beginning with 1-2 pads, chosen according to your level of need and building your supply after testing them.

Our infographic located here may help you to narrow down where to start, or you can reach out to us for help at any time.

These are the upper limits for each pad, based on testing with water. The pattern of flow of either menstruation or bladder leakage can mean your mileage may vary somewhat.

Interesting fact: As much as it can seem like a lot, in reality, average total blood loss over an entire period is actually just 30-60ml!

Upper Limits of Absorbency for each pad:
Postpartum/Super Pad: 200ml
Extra Long Heavy Pad: 100ml
Long Heavy Pad: 75ml
Long Moderate Pad: 60ml
Standard Moderate Pad: 45ml
Standard Short Light Pad: 25ml

A light absorbency pad is constructed the same way as a moderate or heavy absorbency pad, except with a bit less absorbency. A light pad has a topper fabric (usually a fun print), a waterproof backer and an absorbent core. It can be used for lighter cycle days, minor bladder leakage or cup backup.

A liner is constructed quite differently. Amie reusable liners are made of two layers of flannel and a printed cotton spandex topper. A liner has about the same absorbency as a light pad, but does not have a waterproof/water-resistant backer. Liners are mainly intended for non-cycle days - for everyday absorbency (for example, to absorb heavier cervical fluid). They can also serve as protection for the very end of your cycle, when flow is simply a small amount of thicker, brownish discharge. Some people use them as cup backup and this may work for you, depending on the level of cup leakage you experience.

No problem-o! 

The Amie tag on the underside of the pad will tell you.  You will see a small letter in the top right corner. L is for Light, M is for Moderate, H is for Heavy and S is for Super or Postpartum absorbency.  Liners do not have absorbency marked.

Please send us a message and we’ll get right back to you. 

Absolutely! Your order will arrive in a compostable mailer, which is also reusable. If you cut carefully, you'll find a second sticky strip, covered with a release liner. To reuse the mailer, simply add your own contents, remove the release liner and seal it up!

Inside your mailer, your items will be wrapped in tissue, which is also compostable. The tissue helps to keep your order flat and in place while it travels.

It will ship within 5 business days of ordering. The only exception is our postpartum pads, which we only keep in very limited supplies. Most postpartum pads are made to order and can take up to 2 weeks to ship.

Because of the nature of reusable pads, we are unable to take returns.

However, we are humans at the other end of your order and we (gasp!) occasionally make mistakes. If you are ever unsatisfied because of something we have not done correctly, please contact us immediately so we can make it right!

Amie is a home-based business located in Rockwood, Ontario, Canada. All products ship from Ontario