The benefits of washable cotton pads

In this article we briefly remind you of the benefits of using washable cotton pads in your zero waste routine. But above all, we share with you our 2 tips to clean and bleach your washable cotton pads with natural ingredients!

If you are here, it is because you are surely convinced of the usefulness of reusable cotton pads. They allow you to save money while taking care of the environment… That’s why Ayda wanted to offer you washable makeup remover pads to complete our offer.

We wanted to offer you an accessory that will accompany you in your zero waste make-up removal routine. Made of organic cotton and manufactured in France, our washable makeup remover pads are made of a sponge side and a fleece side. Suitable for the most sensitive skins that need a lot of softness!

In addition to being polluting, disposable cotton pads are not very economical compared to washable cotton pads. A pack of disposable cotton costs between 60ct and 2€ depending on the brand. With an average consumption of 2 cotton pads per day, this means a budget of 25-30€ per year. Washable cotton pads last for several years if they are well maintained (about 5 years).

Our set of 4 washable organic cotton pads costs 8€, if you take two of them to be safe (16€), it represents a saving of about 110€ in 5 years!

Here are the details of the calculation: 25€ x 5 years (125€) – 16€ = 109€ saved

Saving money is good, but how do you maintain your washable cotton pads and keep them clean over time? If you have white reusable cottons, they may turn grey as they are used. Below are our tips for cleaning your washable makeup removers with natural tricks.

Cleaning stains from your cotton pads

You may have stubborn stains such as mascara, lipstick or grease stains left behind by two-phase makeup removers or your makeup remover oil. Even if your washable cotton pads come out of the machine clean, they will be a little less “pretty” than in their first months of use.

Before applying our tip to whiten your washable pads, here are some tips for removing the biggest stains:

• clean the biggest stains in cold water with Marseille soap
• let it dry for a few days so that the soap has an effect on the cotton
• soak your cotton pads in our magic mixture (recipe below)

Whiten your washable cotton pads

Now, it’s time for our super mix to naturally wash your washable cottons and make them all white again!

• put your washable cotton pads in a large basin or bowl
• pour in 2 tablespoons of sodium percarbonate
• add 1 tablespoon of soda crystals* (if there are traces of oil)
• then a few shavings of grated Marseille soap
• cover with 1.5L of hot water**.

*Soda crystals have degreasing properties, they also increase the cleaning efficiency of Marseille soap. A real natural 2-in-1!

**Sodium percarbonate is effective in water over 40°C.

Leave the mixture on for 24 to 48 hours before wringing out and rinsing your cotton pads. If your cotton pads are still a little stained, you can wash them with Marseille soap. Whitening them is pretty simple but they may need a little help depending on the nature of the stains.

Once the 24-48 hours of soaking are over, you can put your reusable cottons in the washing machine at 40°C with the rest of your clothes. We advise you to wash your cottons by separating the colors: white cottons with the clear laundry and colored cottons with the black or colored laundry.

Percarbonate and bicarbonate, what’s the difference?

Are sodium percarbonate & baking soda the same ingredient? No, they are not! Sodium percarbonate is used to bleach white and light-colored laundry. It is different from baking soda, which neutralizes odors and removes stains from clothes.

Can I mix white and colored cottons?

You can mix different colored washable makeup remover pads without any problem. Colored ones will not bleed onto lighter ones. On the other hand, it is preferable to separate the colors in the machine so that your white cottons remain as white as possible over the course of the washings. In this case, it is better to wash them with light colors.