Washing your pads is as easy as washing any other piece of clothing. Just pop ‘em in the washing machine and toss ‘em the dryer. You can also wash your pads by hand. Some women soak or rinse their cloth pads beforehand, but with Party In My Pants it's really not necessary.

To wash your pads you can use most any detergent, as long as it doesn't contain bleach. We recommend a product called Oxo Brite, an environmentally friendly detergent and stain remover. It works by dissolving proteins so it won't fade your pad’s styling pattern. You'll find Oxo Brite at most health food stores, co-ops, and Trader Joe's. Some women make their own detergent that contains Borax as a cleaning booster. While these homemade types of detergents may be perfectly safe, we don't know the long term effects of Borax on the pad's nylon shield. For that reason, we recommend sticking with a commercial detergent.

There are only two big rules for washing your pads: don’t use super hot water or bleach. Both will damage the waterproof shield and bring about your PIMP’s untimely demise. Stick with warm water and if you want an extra fresh pad, try adding a little plain white vinegar to your wash water.

Drying your pads in the dryer is ideal – just make sure it isn't set on high. High heat can sometimes melt the nylon shield and ruin your pad. Use low or medium heat instead. If you choose to air-dry your pads, know that they won't come out nearly as soft. When fiber is moistened, it relaxes. If it's air-dried in one position, it holds the shape and becomes fixed in that position to some degree. That's why you get that stiff feeling with air-dried clothing: all the fibers are locked in position, whatever position they were dried in. If cloth is agitated as it dries (such as being flopped around in a dryer), it doesn't dry in any one position and is more flexible.