What is the challenge with home-made period solutions such as cloth rags?
In principle, there is nothing wrong with home-made solutions such as clean, breathable cloth. But in practice, cleaning and drying cloth rags can be a major challenge.
Taboos around menstruation make it difficult to hang period cloths to dry outdoors. This leads to repeated use of damp cloths, which are a breeding ground for bacteria.
Other solutions such as paper and low-quality sanitary pads can be extremely uncomfortable as they cause chafing, rashes and leaks.