For ladies only

If the last 18 months has done nothing else, it has illustrated how reusable/washable items are vastly preferred to disposables, especially during times of shortages. You never run out and there's never a "run" at the grocery store.

For example, young parents who use cloth diapers for their babies were in a much better position during the pandemic than those using disposables. They never ran out, nor did they have to trample others and strip store shelves bare in a desperate bid to stock up.

The same applies to feminine hygiene.

This summer, I did something I haven't had to do for a long time: I ordered some new washable panty liners from Naturally Cozy. My old ones were getting ragged.

I've reached the happy age where I no longer need monthly sanitary products, but I am freakin' addicted to these cloth panty liners. I use them daily. I think the last time I ordered a batch was eight or nine years ago. That's how long they last.

When the new liners came in, I was pleased to see the quality had, if anything, improved since the last time I ordered.

The literature accompanying the products indicate the edges are not serged but instead finished with a zigzag stitch: "This stitch allows some fraying around the edges of your pads. The serger stitch tends to cause chafing and our patrons prefer the softer feel of fraying. If you have long strings after your first wash, simply clip them off. The fraying should then just cause a soft comfy feel – 'Broken in' – like your favorite pair of jeans. Ultimately, the double or triple zigzag stich that we use will make your pads last much longer than if they had been serged."

After one washing, sure enough:

 Yet they are, if possible, even more comfortable after washing.

Even though washable items cost more at the outset, they amortize very well over time. This month, Proctor & Gamble raised prices on many items, including feminine hygiene. But once you own washable versions of monthly necessities, price increases are a thing of the past.

Shortages are expected to continue. According to this article, "Experts are warning that items like toilet paper, tampons, diapers, plastic bags, chlorine, steel, furniture, computer chips, and cleaning products will also be in short supply soon."

I dunno about you, but washable monthly necessities sound like an awfully good idea looking ahead.

Panhandle Preparedness Expo

This is late notice, but for anyone who is local, the Panhandle Preparedness Expo is this weekend (Oct. 3 and 4) and runs 9 am to 5 pm at the Bonner County Fairgrounds in Sandpoint, Idaho. It only costs $3 for a day, or $2 with a donation of a non-perishable food item.

They have speakers, demonstrations, and vendors. Specifically don't forget to check out one vendor, the excellent folks at Naturally Cozy, who will have a booth there. They make, among much else, washable feminine hygiene products, which we (myself and daughters) have used for over a decade. Ladies, if the year 2020 has done nothing else, it's illustrated the need for washable necessities, so I strongly urge you to consider their products.

Anyway, I apologize for the late notice. Even if you're unable to attend the expo, you can see their list of vendors here. Happy prepping!

Need a face mask?

The excellent family that runs Naturally Cozy (which makes the best washable feminine hygiene products in the world, in my humble opinion) have branched out. By popular request, they are making face masks.

"We researched the different patterns and came up with a version that is pleated like a real surgical mask, and that ties," they said.

These are just the spiffiest things! You have a choice of fabrics to suit your taste.

It looks like masks are going to loom large in everyone's future. Why not have something colorful as well as practical?

(And speaking of practical, there should not be a prepper woman out there without a full set of Naturally Cozy washable protection. Just sayin'.)

For ladies only: Naturally Cozy

Guys, go away. Ladies, please stay.

As long-time readers know, we phased out disposable products a number of years ago. Literally the first disposable product we got rid of was feminine hygiene. That's because our then-neighbor Enola Gay (who runs the Paratus Familia blog) opened a small cottage business making washable hygiene products. We were among her first customers. That was about 10 years ago.


The business was so successful Enola couldn't keep up, so she sold it to another young family that lives in north Idaho. The business, called Naturally Cozy, continues to flourish. Once in a while I like to give them a shout out because, after all these years, my enthusiasm for their products has never waned.

Before switching to washables, I'd long been dissatisfied with store-bought sanitary napkins for a number of reasons. One, I don't like what they're made of. Two, I don't like the price. Three, I don't like that they're non-biodegradable. Four, I don't like the idea of being, say, trapped in a blizzard and unable to make a dash for the store for emergency supplies. Five, I don't like things that aren't reusable.

So what’s it like, using washable hygiene? In a word, comfortable. The pads are made of soft flannel and organic cotton, so there is no chafing and it’s easier on the "lady parts." The fabrics breathe, which decreases trapped moisture and the problems that accompany it. Contrary to popular belief, washable hygiene isn't "icky" any more than washable cloth diapers are icky.

Women can choose their personal flannel pattern, which makes it easy to distinguish between pads for different family members.

Of course the initial cost of purchasing pads and panty liners are higher than disposables. But it’s also worth adding up how many disposables you purchase on a monthly or yearly basis, and compare that to the cost of washables. So far we’ve gotten 10 years’ worth of use out of our pads and they’re still going strong.

This is one of those products that, once used, you start to wonder what you ever saw in the disposable versions (which, not incidentally, are made with all kinds of nasty chemicals). Most women aren’t aware of what goes into the manufacture of disposable monthly pads. Laboratory analyses of a popular brand of disposable hygiene products found toxic chemicals classified as carcinogenic as well as reproductive and developmental toxins, including styrene (a human carcinogen), chloromethane (a reproductive toxicant), chloroethane (a carcinogen), chloroform (a carcinogen, reproductive toxicant and neurotoxin) and acetone (an irritant).

I also have about a month's worth of the daily-use panty liners and have come to loathe the store-bought versions after 10 years of cloth softness. I finally hit menopause (yay!) so I no longer have to worry about monthly pads, but I use the panty liners every single day and adore them beyond reason.

For those concerned about environmental impact, consider this: "It's estimated that nearly 20 billion (billion!) pads and tampons are discarded each year in North America alone. The plastics in a pad will take hundreds of years to decompose. The process of manufacturing these disposables also pollutes our waterways, air and animal habitats. Switching to reusables can make a difference."

Naturally Cozy products go beyond just monthly needs. They carry daily panty liners (of course) as well as cotton nursing pads, incontinence products, post-partum pads, washable toilet wipes, hand towels, and even flannel "clutches" to carry personal items discreetly. Additionally, since this is a home-based business, they are sensitive and responsive to customer requests, so if you have a special need or a product you’re looking for, just ask.

There is also the satisfaction of giving business to a hard-working young family which is hand-producing high-quality products.

Naturally Cozy has item samples you can order to "test drive" a product, if you want to try them out before ordering a full set.

I don't endorse products very often. When I do, it's because I can strongly recommend them. Once you've tried these washable versions, you'll never go back to store-bought disposables.

Ladies, I urge you to think about washable reusable hygiene items as a gift to yourself this upcoming year.

For ladies only

The website for the reusable feminine products we use, Naturally Cozy, has been revamped and updated and looks positively lovely.

As I’ve written in the past, we transitioned to reusable feminine products ten years ago. Our original pads are still going strong. We haven’t purchased store-bought disposables in all those years. With three females in the house, can you imagine how much money we’ve saved? And frankly, in terms of preparedness, there is absolutely no finer option for women.

Their products go beyond just monthly needs. They carry daily panty liners, cotton nursing pads, incontinence products, post-partum pads, washable toilet wipes, hand towels, and even flannel “clutches” to carry personal items discretely. Additionally, since this is a home-based business, they are sensitive and responsive to customer requests, so if you have a special need or a product you’re looking for, just ask!

Please go take a look at their website, and tell the folks at Naturally Cozy I said “hi.”

Essentials for preppers: feminine hygiene, toilet paper

(See "UPDATE" at bottom of this post)

Okay, guys -- time to disappear for awhile. Ladies, please stay.

Some of you might recall our neighbor Enola Gay began a business several years ago making washable reusable feminine hygiene products. The business was so successful she couldn't keep up, so she sold it to another young family that lives in north Idaho. The business, called Naturally Cozy, continues to flourish.

Before switching to washables, I'd long been dissatisfied with store-bought sanitary napkins for a number of reasons. One, I don't like what they're made of. Two, I don't like the price. Three, I don't like that they're non-biodegradable. Four, I don't like the idea of being, say, trapped in a blizzard and unable to make a dash for the store for emergency supplies. Five, I don't like things that aren't reusable (a couple of years ago we phased out whatever reusable household items we could, and feminine hygiene was high on the list). And six, as a prepper, I can think of no finer prep item than washable hygiene. Can you?

So when Enola started her business, we (Older and Younger Daughters and I) were just about her first customers.

We've been using these products for over seven years now, and I thought it was time to touch base once again and offer our experiences on how well they work.

Keep in mind the quality has improved drastically since we purchased our original sets of napkins. The fabrics and sewing techniques used in their construction have improved the products' quality, softness, thickness, and absorbancy. Yet our original napkins are still going strong. They show only the slightest bit of fraying around the edges and continue to perform their function superbly.


I also have about a month's worth of the daily-use panty liners and have come to loathe the store-bought versions after seven years of cloth softness.

So what’s it like, using washable hygiene? In a word, comfortable. The pads are made of soft flannel and organic cotton, so there is no chafing and it’s easier on the “lady parts.” The fabrics breathe, which decreases trapped moisture and the problems that accompany it.

We keep a dedicated bucket in our washroom for soiled pads, with a pair of dedicated tongs hooked over the edge. The bucket should be full enough of water that the soiled portion of the napkin is always submerged. Sometimes we’ll add a splash of hydrogen peroxide to the water, which helps loosen blood from fabric.

When we’ve all finished our cycles and the soak bucket is full, I use the tongs to lift the pads into the washing machine where I wash them by themselves, twice. The napkins should NOT be put in the dryer. Instead, we lay them on a wire shelf we installed near the washing machine and allow them to air dry.

About twice a year I soak all the (clean) pads in vinegar, then wash. This gets rid of any odor buildup.

We keep another dedicated bucket of water in the washroom for panty liners, then wash them with our whites (socks, underwear, etc.).

Contrary to popular belief, washable hygiene isn't "icky" any more than washable cloth diapers are icky.

Women can choose their personal flannel pattern, which makes it easy to distinguish between pads for different family members.

Patterns range from playful to dignified.

Of course the initial cost of purchasing pads and panty liners are higher than disposables. But it’s also worth adding up how many disposables you purchase on a monthly or yearly basis, and compare them to the cost of washables. So far we’ve gotten seven years’ worth of use out of our pads and they’re still going strong.

There is also the satisfaction of giving business to a hard-working young family which is hand-producing high-quality products. These kinds of cottage industries are known for their sensitive response to customer needs, and Naturally Cozy is no exception. They even offer a line of incontinence products because customers asked for them.

I don't endorse products very often. When I do, it's because I can strongly recommend them. That's how I feel about these particular hygiene items. They're wonderful.

Naturally Cozy has item samples you can order to "test drive" a product, if you want to try them out before ordering a full set.

Ladies, I urge you to think about washable reusable hygiene items as a gift to yourself this upcoming new year.

Naturally Cozy also started another business addressing essential goods for the prepper: toilet paper. Specifically, an astounding amount of TP packed into a very small space. They call their company Privy Paper.

This is good-quality two-ply stuff.

And we're talking a lot of it.

If anyone is local, Naturally Cozy/Privy Paper will be at the Bonner County Citizens Preparedness Expo this upcoming weekend.

If you stop by, tell them I said "hi."

UPDATE: A day after posting this piece, I saw an article entitled "China 'fake sanitary pads' scam sparks health concerns." It seems "the discovery of a huge 'fake sanitary towel' operation in southeast China has prompted fears about the possible impact on women's health." Granted, this issue seems to be confined to China; however in my opinion it just reinforces how lovely it is to have a good handmade reusable version of a monthly necessity.

Product review: Naturally Cozy feminine hygiene

Okay, guys -- time to disappear for awhile. Ladies, please stay.

Some of you might recall our neighbor Enola Gay began a business a few years ago making washable reusable feminine hygiene products. The business was so successful she couldn't keep up, so she sold it to another young family that lives in north Idaho. The business, called Naturally Cozy, continues to flourish.

Before switching to washables, I'd long been dissatisfied with store-bought sanitary napkins for a number of reasons. One, I don't like what they're made of. Two, I don't like the price. Three, I don't like that they're non-biodegradable. Four, I don't like the idea of being, say, trapped in a blizzard and unable to make a dash for the store for emergency supplies. Five, I don't like things that aren't reusable (a couple of years ago we phased out whatever reusable household items we could, and feminine hygiene was high on the list). And six, as a prepper, I can think of no finer prep item than washable hygiene. Can you?

So when Enola started her business, we (Older and Younger Daughters and I) were just about her first customers.

We've been using these products for five years now, and I thought it was time to touch base once again and offer our experiences on how well they work.

Keep in mind the quality has improved drastically since we purchased our original sets of napkins. The fabrics and sewing techniques used in their construction have improved the products' quality, softness, thickness, and absorbancy. Yet our original napkins are still going strong. They show only the slightest bit of fraying around the edges and continue to perform their function superbly.


I also have about a month's worth of the daily-use panty liners and have come to loathe the store-bought versions after five years of cloth softness.

So what’s it like, using washable hygiene? In a word, comfortable. The pads are made of soft flannel and organic cotton, so there is no chafing and it’s easier on the “lady parts.” The fabrics breathe, which decreases trapped moisture and the problems that accompany it.

We keep a dedicated bucket in our washroom for soiled pads, with a pair of dedicated tongs hooked over the edge. The bucket should be full enough of water that the soiled portion of the napkin is always submerged. Sometimes we’ll add a splash of hydrogen peroxide to the water, which helps loosen blood from fabric.

When we’ve all finished our cycles and the soak bucket is full, I use the tongs to lift the pads into the washing machine where I wash them by themselves, twice. The napkins should NOT be put in the dryer. Instead, we lay them on a wire shelf we installed near the washing machine and allow them to air dry.

About twice a year I soak all the (clean) pads in vinegar, then wash. This gets rid of any odor buildup.

We keep another dedicated bucket of water (with a splash of bleach) in the washroom for panty liners, then wash them with our whites (socks, underwear, etc.).

Contrary to popular belief, washable hygiene isn't "icky" any more than washable cloth diapers are icky.

Of course the initial cost of purchasing pads and panty liners will be higher than disposables. But it’s also worth adding up how many disposables you purchase on a monthly or yearly basis, and compare them to the cost of washables. So far we’ve gotten five years’ worth of use out of our pads and they’re still going strong. The panty liners initially wore out quicker, but the quality has improved to the point where I anticipate similar longevity from my latest batch.

There is also the satisfaction of giving business to a hard-working young family which is hand-producing high-quality products. These kinds of cottage industries are known for their sensitive response to customer needs, and Naturally Cozy is no exception.

I don't endorse products very often. When I do, it's because I can strongly recommend them. That's how I feel about these particular hygiene items. They're wonderful.

Naturally Cozy has item samples you can order to "test drive" a product, if you want to try them out before ordering a full set.

Ladies, I urge you to think about washable reusable hygiene items as a gift to yourself this upcoming new year.

UPDATE: I forgot to mention -- Naturally Cozy also has a line of incontinence products. Remember where I said small cottage industries often have sensitive responses to customer needs? Case in point.

Does anyone want to meet Enola Gay?

My friend Enola Gay who runs the Paratus Familia blog is planning on being at the Spokane Gun Show this weekend on Friday, Saturday, and Sunday (Nov. 4-6) located at the Spokane Interstate Fairgrounds and Expo Center.

While she'll have a few guns for sale, mostly she'll be selling copies of her book The Prepared Family Guide to Uncommon Diseases, as well as samplers of her homemade reusable feminine hygiene products.

In our house, we've used Enola's reusable hygiene products for about 2 1/2 years, and as a result, I'm her biggest fan.



Enola invited me to share her booth and sell The Simplicity Primer as well, but my weekend kept getting busier and busier (plus I'm still recovering from a bad cold) so it just didn't work out. However she kindly offered to sell copies of my book for me.

So I autographed a stack of books for her and delivered them to her house.

Into each book I slipped a couple of business cards.

So if anyone would like to meet Enola Gay and see her items, be sure to stop in at the gun show and tell her I said "hi."

Interesting coincidence

So I'm chatting with my friend Enola Gay the other day, and the subject came around to preparedness and its relation to the Proverbs 31 woman. A Proverbs 31 woman is something she and I (and a wide circle of our friends) aspire to become.

Enola mentioned that the phrase "She can laugh at the days to come" had always puzzled her until she put it in the context of preparedness. We who are concerned about our future, be it personal, governmental, or economic, have an interest in storing some basic necessities as well as some basic comforts of life.

But once you have such items stored, it makes that passage much more understandable. It's a whole lot easier to "laugh" in the face of economic uncertainty if you know you're not going to starve to death.

So anyway, I thought it was an interesting analysis of that passage. Later when I was doing my bedtime Bible reading, I flipped to Proverbs 31...

And found I'd already underlined it.

For ladies only...

Okay guys, time to disappear. I know you'll want to anyway when you find out that the subject of this post is....(drum roll please) ...feminine hygiene.

Seriously, ladies, by now you probably know I'm into preparedness. I like to think we're fairly well prepared in terms of the basic necessities (and some of the comforts) of life if the economy gets tough(er). For the last few years we've been using reusable alternatives to most everything that’s disposable. And what's more disposable than feminine hygiene products?

For some time now, I've been "test marketing" reusable feminine napkins made by my friend Enola Gay. Along with some other ladies, we've suggested tweaks and fiddles and adjustments until she's come up with a design that works.


And let me tell you, these work. Beautifully. These napkins are better than any store-bought disposables I've ever used. No leaks, no slips, easy on and off, and they feel terrific (and soft!). If it's possible to gush over such a product without sounding like an idiot, I'll happily gush.

My favorite style is unquestionably the one designed for nighttime use. There's nothing worse than lying half-asleep in bed and, uh, feeling things getting out of hand. If you're lying on your back, there's an excellent chance you'll wake up with a stain on the sheet. Oh groan. But with this nighttime design, there's extra material in the back to catch that middle-of-the-night flow.

Reusable feminine hygiene products means you never run out. Have you ever had that moment of panic when you realize you need a napkin now and you don't have any more? For some women, it's a simple matter to drive down the street to the nearest store to resupply. For us rural women, it's more of a challenge (especially in winter) to make a dash to the grocery store. But what would it be like if disposable napkins weren't available at all?

After I started using these reusable napkins, I realized there's a side benefit I hadn't thought about: the cha-ching factor. You know what it's like - you keep using a disposable napkin until it's saturated (and possibly leaking) because every time you use a fresh one, a little "cha-ching" ("How much did that cost?") runs through your mind. But with reusable napkins, you can change as often as you please (for that "fresh feeling," don't you know) with no additional cost. Ever.

Washing is easy. I keep a bucket and tongs dedicated to soaking my napkins. When that time of the month calls, I fill the bucket about half-way full of water and use the tongs to press the napkin's soiled part fully under water. That's it. As the days pass, I pile more and more napkins on top each other (adding more water as needed to make sure the soiled part is always soaking) until either my cycle is over and/or I do a load of laundry. As long as the soiled part is soaking, I don't need to add anything else to the bucket except plain water - no hydrogen peroxide or vinegar or anything. When it's time to wash, I start the washing machine, use the tongs to fish out the napkins, and toss them in the washing machine with a load of dark clothes. Voila.


I air dry my napkins by laying them flat on my clothes racks to dry.

I've adopted Enola's attitude that "ladies only" items should be pretty and feminine. Accordingly I bought attractive picnic-style baskets from thrift stores for our items, and my daughters and I keep the napkins discretely stored in convenient places.


Enola's home business is called "Naturally Cozy" and she's ready to start taking orders. I estimate these products will pay for themselves inside six months. I ordered three sets – one for myself and a set for each of my daughters. Never again will we have to make an unexpected dash to the store for disposable napkins.


Enola has perfected a design for a daily-use panty liner as well. Whoo-hoo!


So here's my testimonial for Enola's reusable feminine hygiene products. If you want some peace of mind for that inevitable and unavoidable time of the month, I can't recommend these highly enough.