NubileConcubine

Intro (can skip):

I lost my job at the start of the pandemic and had to start being even more conscious than usual about spending. I take hormonal BC but I still get my period once every few months. The cost of sanitary products wasn't huge in my area but, since my periods are so heavy, it was a big dent in our budget.

We had a pack of bar rags, gifted to us, and I got to thinking. One cycle I did some fenagling and discovered my now favorite way to sop up my blood.

Step 1: Get a rag

-the rag doesn't need to be brand new, you can sanitize an old one and it'll be totally cool (even if it retains stains)

-to sanitize:

-hand wash the rag with hot water and hand soap or machine wash it with your clothes

-make a diluted bleach solution with hot water(can be fairly diluted to save bleach)

-pick a container with a lid, be sure it's bleach safe (plastics that are bleach safe will be marked "2" or "3"), big mason jar is good

-put the rag in the solution and shake it up

-let it sit for a couple hours

-rinse it out and hang to dry!

Here's an example picture of one of my rags to show what they can look like even after full sanitization. It's got holes, it's got stains, but it's clean as a whistle y'all. No need to dispose of it!

Step 2: Wearing it

(I will be showing this process flat so it won't be completely accurate to how you'd do it irl. But hopefully it gives you the gist.)

-Fold the rag in half (long ways if it's not a square)

-Place the folded rag in your underwear where a pad would go, adjust it so it covers your whole vulva plus an inch above where it starts. If it doesn't reach all the way to your ass, get a bigger rag.

-Once the rag is placed and your underwear are pulled up, reach behind you and grab the back corner of the rag from underneath like this:

-then pull that part open, to create a sort of "wing" effect. I find this keeps the rag from crumpling between your legs especially if you have bigger thighs. It gives better coverage and comfort when sitting down. This is approximately how it looks when opened but keep in mind it'll be between your legs so it'll feel tighter and more stable than it looks here:

The best options for underwear for this method are ones with good coverage. I like to use boxer briefs or just briefs. I've used bikini underwear with this method before as well but I like the sturdiness of larger types.