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This article was co-authored by Danielle Bezalel and by wikiHow staff writer, Aly Rusciano. Danielle Bezalel is a sex educator and podcaster. Danielle’s podcast, Sex Ed With DB, provides smart, science-backed sex education, delivering trusted insights from top experts on sex, sexuality, and pleasure since 2017. Sex Ed With DB is in the top 1.5% of podcasts, with over 350K downloads. Listen to it here: https://pod.link/1286811573 Danielle has been featured on Netflix, Bustle, Mashable, Pop Sugar, Self Magazine, and more. She has a Master of Public Health from Columbia University with expertise in both sexuality and sexual and reproductive health. She also has a Bachelor’s in Film and Media Studies from the University of California, Berkeley and a background in digital media and content creation.
There are 9 references cited in this article, which can be found at the bottom of the page.
This article has been fact-checked, ensuring the accuracy of any cited facts and confirming the authority of its sources.
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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!
How to Make a Pad Out of Toilet Paper
Sex educator Danielle Bezalel says to grab 7-10 squares of toilet paper in a row, rip the row off, and wrap the toilet paper around the middle section of your underwear where your vagina touches so it stays secure. Change the toilet paper frequently until you have access to a pad or tampon.
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 (enough to cover the crotch of your underwear). If you can't find paper towels, fold toilet paper together to create a thick stack, instead.[1]- Paper towels are more absorbent and durable than toilet paper, so they're better to use if you can find them. If not, though, toilet paper works—you just might have to change the makeshift pad more often.
- Check to make sure the paper you have is unscented, as scented products can irritate your skin.[2]
- A thick stack of tissues can also be used.
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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.[3]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 helps secure the makeshift pad so it doesn't shift around.[4]- 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 it may be uncomfortable if your pad gets too 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 depends on the heaviness of your flow and the durability of the paper you used. 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.[5]- Even if you're having a light flow, still change your pad every 3-4 hours. This helps prevent leaks and odors.[6]
- If you have a heavy flow, you may need to change the pad more often.
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Wrap a clean sock in toilet paper for a quick fix. If you have a spare pair of clean socks on hand, 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.[7]- Socks are made to absorb sweat from your feet, so they should be absorbent enough to work for your period, too.
- Only use a clean sock for this DIY method, as the bacteria from a dirty or used sock could cause an infection.
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Try a washcloth or another small cloth if you have one. If you can find a clean cloth, use it in place of a pad. Fold it so it's about the size of a sanitary napkin and place it in your underwear until you can find a pad.[8]- 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, try another method.
Note: A cloth used for this purpose may 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.[9]- Wrap toilet paper around the pad and your underwear so it doesn't shift around.
Expert Q&A
Video
Tips
Tips from our Readers 
- 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.
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
- Like any menstrual product, there is a risk of toxic shock syndrome (TSS) when using a makeshift pad. The risk is low, but replacing your pad every 4 hours can help prevent symptoms.[10]Thanks
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References
- ↑ https://onlinelibrary.wiley.com/doi/full/10.1111/tmi.13817
- ↑ https://www.cdc.gov/hygiene/about/menstrual-hygiene.html
- ↑ https://youtu.be/yWDaN1BUSXs?t=135
- ↑ https://youtu.be/yWDaN1BUSXs?t=135
- ↑ https://kidshealth.org/en/teens/changing-pads.html
- ↑ https://kidshealth.org/en/teens/supplies.html
- ↑ https://www.blissnatural.in/blogs/news/sanitary-pad-in-emergencies
- ↑ https://pmc.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/articles/PMC8465734/
- ↑ https://youtu.be/yWDaN1BUSXs?t=202
About This Article
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!
Reader Success Stories
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"I was reading this during day 5 of my second period, and I've kept it a secret because I'm not ready to tell anyone, not even my mom. I was already using toilet paper because I didn't have access to proper period supplies, so this helped a lot. Until I get pads or tampons, I'm going to remember the advice that wikiHow gave me on using toilet paper instead. Thank you wikiHow!"..." more
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