FAQs

This section addresses frequently asked questions from WASH advisors, humanitarians, public health promoters, and other stakeholders seeking to distribute Reemi products in humanitarian, emergency, or development settings

Reemi Period Underwear

Period underwear are worn like regular underwear during menstruation and absorb menstrual blood directly into the gusset. The absorbent, leak-proof gusset holds about the same amount of blood as two sanitary pads, preventing any leaks. They are comfortable, discreet, reusable, and can be washed and worn again for 3–4 years or longer.

Our recommendation is 4 units of Period Underwear. Most organisations supply between 3-5 pieces per person. Considerations such as climate, wet season, and heavy days may need to be taken into account.

They are ready to be changed when they feel wet at the seams of the gusset. This is dependent on each person and their cycle. Reemi suggests participants to trial these at home at the start or end of their period (which is often lighter) to understand how they work and how often they will need to change them. They can be worn for up to 12 hours.

Reemi Period Underwear should be rinsed in cold water until the water runs clear and then washed with soap and water. Alternatively they can be washed easily in the Reemi MHM Washing Bag. They should not be washed in hot water.

Reemi designed these with fast-drying fabrics to dry as quickly as possible. This is dependent on sunlight levels, wind and where they are dried. In full sun they should take a few hours, in more humid/wet conditions they may take 24 hours to dry. The Reemi Drying Bag provides a privacy screen to be able to hang them outside.

The antimicrobial layer helps kill bacteria as well as odour on initial contact so these should not cause infections or irritations and may help with existing infections.

We have found that women have either tailored large sizes to fit or have exchanged un-worn Period Underwear with a family member or friend.

Absolutely, by providing Reemi products, women can have these on hand and not need to worry about purchasing menstrual materials.

Most people do not need to purchase additional sanitary products once they have Reemi products. However, some people with a heavy flow or preference might want additional products.

Mixed-method approaches are not considered a failure but expected due to the varied personal preferences and experiences of menstruation. Globally, most people use more than one menstrual hygiene product. We consider success when our products have high-adoption rates and create impacts on health, cultural stigma and inter-generational knowledge transfer.

The minimum amount of water needed to wash the period underwear is about 500ml. This will sufficiently clean the underwear and remove bacteria when washed in the washing bag.

The biggest challenge to acceptability has been trusting that the product will work. We recommend a demonstration, where the facilitator pours a small amount of water from a water bottle (ideally 5-10ml) onto the gusset and passes it around so people can feel that it doesn’t leak and it is immediately dry to touch. There has often been feedback that women may feel uncomfortable reusing period products but we have found extremely high adoption rates for Reemi products. In many instances, women have resorted to reusing cloth and this has provided a hygienic alternative.

Reemi MHM Washing Bag

This bag helps support the washing of menstrual products without needing to touch the product by providing a hygienic method to wash cloth/underwear/pad.

Fill the bag with water, soap and menstrual cloth/underwear/reusable pad. Pull the drawstring and tighten the top of the bag. Fold the top over 2-3 times. From the outside of the bag, move the menstrual product back and forth. The menstrual product should scrub against the abrasive washing pad inside the bag to help clean it. The plastic strip shows when the water is clean or dirty. Empty water and repeat with clean water until the product is clean.

The Reemi Washing Bag is seam sealed and designed to hold water but if water is left in the bag for several hours, some water may leak out. It can be filled with water and carried to a private area to wash.

A minimum of 500ml is recommended to use in the washing bag.

Yes, other items can be washed in the Washing Bag.

Yes this can be shared amongst household members.

MHM Drying Bag

The Drying Bag is designed to hang period products inside for privacy so no one can see what’s drying inside the bag.

Peg the Reemi Drying Bag on a washing line, with one pocket over each side of the line. Un-dome the tape from inside each pocket. Place the cloth/underwear upside down so the gusset is over the tape. Dome tape together. Close the button and loop to keep it private. Allow it to dry in the sunshine. Remove cloth/underwear once it feels dry to touch.

Two pieces of underwear or two menstrual products can be hung inside the Drying Bag, one on each side.

This will depend on how much sunlight there is, it will be anywhere from a few hours to maybe two days. The fabric is very breathable and black to attract the sun to support faster drying. Other items can also be hung inside for privacy.

Yes this can be shared with household members.

Yes, 80-90% of UV will still penetrate through due to the fabric’s loose density.

Pegs are provided as part of the MHM Drying Bag, these are attached to the bag for hanging on a washing line.

GRANT SUPPORT

Yes! We would love to support your grant application through providing materials or written support. Please email us at hello@reemi.org.

Are Reemi products cheaper than existing alternatives?

The estimated unit cost of the Reemi MHM kit when procured in bulk (<10,000 kits) is USD$23.10 (approximately GBP 17.10), covering four pairs of period underwear, a washing bag, and a drying bag. Based on an expected lifespan of four years and an average of twelve menstrual cycles per year, this equates to a cost of approximately USD 0.48 (GBP 0.35) per menstrual cycle, per person, as estimated by Reemi.

Most Humanitarian programmes assume that each menstruating person needs 15-20 pads per month. By comparison, the cost per person to procure sanitary pads range between US$4-$11, equating to US$48 - US$132 per year and between US$4-11 per menstrual cycle, per person.

These comparisons do not include freight, distribution costs and overheads.

Life-cycle assessment research consistently shows that product longevity and number of uses are the dominant drivers of environmental impact per year of use, outweighing fibre type alone when impacts are assessed on a functional basis.

In line with this evidence, Reemi prioritises durability, performance, and user adoption. Designing a product that lasts significantly longer (often more than twice the lifespan of period underwear); made predominantly from synthetic fibres, supports sustained use, reduces the need for replacement, lowers total material throughput over time, and improves programme value for money. Importantly, this approach also enables more cost-effective manufacturing, allowing resources to be redirected towards reaching more women and girls.

Common humanitarian planning assumes 15-20 sanitary pads per month, per person. Based on the lower limit of 15 pads, Reemi Period Underwear, could replace 180x sanitary pads per year and over the lifespan of Reemi Period Underwear (4 years), this equates to 720 sanitary pads.

Importantly, Reemi period underwear has also demonstrated strong inclusivity outcomes. Following evidence highlighted by Jane Wilbur (London School of Hygiene & Tropical Medicine) that reusable pads can be difficult to use or maintain for people with disabilities, Reemi has prioritised designs that do not require manual positioning, fastening, or frequent handling and are discreet. As a result, Reemi period underwear has shown high acceptability and adoption among users with disabilities across multiple programme contexts.

It is important to clearly distinguish between local production and local market access, as these concepts are often conflated in humanitarian discussions on localisation.

Most hygiene and menstrual health products are manufactured in high-capacity hubs such as China, where scale, technical expertise, and quality assurance enable consistent performance and affordability.

Local production in humanitarian settings is typically small-scale and may face constraints related to quality consistency, specialised materials, and unit cost, factors that are critical for menstrual health products.

Reemi prioritises local market integration rather than local manufacturing, ensuring products are available through local distributor networks. This supports market-based responses, dignity of choice, and long-term sustainability beyond humanitarian aid cycles.