Colored cloth pads

I just read your article on sanitary napkins and I have a question. I use Glad Rags (www.gladrags.com) during my menstrual period - they are reusable, washable cloth menstrual pads, all of mine are coloured and some of them are organic. Does any of this make a difference in my niddah status? I know that your article mentioned "raw cotton" - which is not the same as organic cotton, but I'm wondering if my pads will pose any problems with my niddah status.
Thanks so much for this great site!

Dear questioner,

Thank you for your question.

Colored cloth pads do not make a difference in your niddah status during your menstrual period. A flow of blood makes you niddah even if you find it only on a colored surface. Furthermore, you may already be in niddah when you start using the pads.

Colored cloth pads might make a difference if you wore them to absorb light staining (as opposed to a flow). Such pads are halachically equivalent to colored underwear, and a stain found on colored underwear does not make you niddah. Please see our article on Stains for more details.

This internet service does not preclude, override or replace the psak of any rabbinical authority. It is the responsibility of the questioner to inform us of any previous consultation or ruling. As even slight variation in circumstances may have Halachic consequences, views expressed concerning one case may not be applied to other, seemingly similar cases.

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