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If you're on your period and you don't have a sanitary pad on hand, you might be feeling stressed out or even embarrassed. Luckily, though, a little creativity will get you through the day until you can find a pad or a tampon. There are several options you can use to make your own makeshift pad, like using toilet paper, a washcloth, or even a sock!
Steps
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Fold together a thick stack of paper towels or toilet paper. If you can find paper towels, grab enough of them so they make a stack that's at least 1 ⁄ 2 in (1.3 cm) thick, and about as wide and long as a normal pad. If you can't find paper towels, fold toilet paper together to create a thick stack, instead. [1] X Research source
- Paper towels are more absorbant and durable than toilet paper, so they're better to use if you can find them. If not, though, toilet paper will work—you just might have to change the pad more often.
- You can also use thick stacks of tissues if you have them.
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Place the stack on the crotch of your underwear. Once you've folded the stack of paper towels or toilet paper, press it into your underwear in the same place your pad would normally go. It's okay if it overlaps the sides of your underwear a little—just fold the edges down, similar to wings. [2] X Research source
Tip: If you have tape on hand, fold a strip into a circle to make it double-sided, then use it to attach the toilet paper to your underwear.
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Wrap a long strip of toilet paper around your underwear 4-5 times. Wrap the toilet paper so it goes over the pad, all the way around the crotch of your underwear, and back again. This will help secure your makeshift pad so it doesn't shift around. [3] X Research source
- Feel free to wrap more toilet paper around the pad if you want. The more paper you use, the more secure you'll be against leaks—although you may be uncomfortable if your pad gets bulky.
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Change the paper pad at least every 3-4 hours. Exactly how often you'll need to change the pad will depend on the heaviness of your flow and the durability of the paper you used. However, when the pad gets soaked or starts to disintegrate, or once you've had it in place for several hours, it's time to replace it. To do that, just tear away the paper wrapped around the crotch of your underwear, discard the pad, and make a new one. [4] X Research source
- Even if you're having a light flow, you should still change your pad every 3-4 hours. This will help prevent leaks and odors.
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Wrap a clean sock in toilet paper for a quick fix. If you have a spare pair of clean gym socks or you're wearing a pair of socks that's still clean, take one of the socks and wrap toilet paper around it several times. Place the sock in the crotch of your underwear, then wrap more toilet paper around your underwear and the sock to hold it in place. [5] X Research source
- Socks are made to absorb sweat from your feet, so they should be absorbent enough to work for your period, too.
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Try a washcloth or another small cloth if you have one. If you can find a clean cloth, you can use that in place of a pad, as well. Fold it so it's about the size of a sanitary napkin and place it in your underwear until you can find a pad. [6] X Trustworthy Source PubMed Central Journal archive from the U.S. National Institutes of Health Go to source
- It's a good idea to test whether the fabric is absorbent first. Run a small corner of the material under water. If it soaks up the water, you can use it as a pad, but if the water beads up and rolls off the fabric, you should find another option.
Note: A cloth used for this purpose will probably be permanently stained.
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Check first aid kits or craft supplies for cotton or gauze. Cotton balls, cotton wool, and gauze are all absorbent materials that you can use as a pad in a pinch. If you find cotton wool or gauze, fold and stack it together until it's the shape of a pad. If you have cotton balls, wrap at least 6-7 of them in toilet paper to keep them together. [7] X Research source
- Wrap toilet paper around the pad and your underwear so it doesn't shift around.
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Tips
Tips from our Readers
The advice in this section is based on the lived experiences of wikiHow readers like you. If you have a helpful tip you’d like to share on wikiHow, please submit it in the field below.
- Never forget a pad by keeping one on you at all times. Put them in your purse, backpack, or wallet (for a small liner).
- If you can, go to the nurse or ask a friend for one.
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Warnings
- Makeshift pads should only be used until you can find a real pad or a tampon. Do not rely on these options as the primary solution for your period.Thanks
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Things You'll Need
Using Toilet Paper or Paper Towels
- Toilet paper
- Paper towels or tissue (optional)
- Toilet paper
- Sock (optional)
- Washcloth (optional)
- Cotton or gauze (optional)
References
- ↑ https://onlinelibrary.wiley.com/doi/full/10.1111/tmi.13817
- ↑ https://youtu.be/yWDaN1BUSXs?t=135
- ↑ https://youtu.be/yWDaN1BUSXs?t=135
- ↑ https://kidshealth.org/en/teens/changing-pads.html
- ↑ https://timesofindia.indiatimes.com/life-style/health-fitness/photo-stories/need-a-makeshift-pad-here-are-five-easy-ways-you-can-make-one/photostory/64931674.cms
- ↑ https://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pmc/articles/PMC8465734/
- ↑ https://youtu.be/yWDaN1BUSXs?t=202
About This Article
Article Summary
X
To make a substitute sanitary pad, first get a large amount of toilet paper and fold it over itself until you get the thickness you want. Then, place the toilet paper on the usual spot on your underwear where a pad would go. If you’d rather use rags as a replacement pad, find a small, clean rag and fold it to the approximate size and shape of a pad. Once it’s folded, place it on the inside of your underwear. Just make sure to wash the rag before reusing it. To learn how to make a substitute sanitary pad out of cotton, read on!
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Reader Success Stories
- "I have the 1st day of school tomorrow, I don't have any pads, And I don't want to tell my parent I'm on my period. I'm not ready. I use to buy mine myself. But they changed the age limit you have to be in to go to the store. So this is a great way to do." ..." more
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"I have the 1st day of school tomorrow, I don't have any pads, And I don't want to tell my parent I'm on my period. I'm not ready. I use to buy mine myself. But they changed the age limit you have to be in to go to the store. So this is a great way to do."
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"Thank you so much! I had my first period yesterday on an extremely rainy day! I whipped out my phone and found this! It was a life saver! I got pads now, so I'm fine, but again, thank you!"
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"Thank you! My friend had gotten her first period and she had no pads! She was so stressed but I found this and got through the situation. Such a live saver!"
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"I was worried about it. I had a period at school and didn't have a pad or tampon and would get embarrassed. Thank you for saying that toilet roll works. "
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