Washing absorbent products (pads and pants)

Deciding to use washable absorbent products requires a commitment on your part. There are several important things to consider when deciding whether they are for you.

• Access to reliable washing and drying facilities is important. Laundry of washable products is usually no harder than doing normal household washing. However, bed pads can be heavy work and you might find this is too much for you physically.

• Think about how many products you will need and how often you will need to wash them for a steady supply. If it is just one a night you need to consider what you will do about washing that product, for example:

  • soak it in a bucket and then wash with your usual load later.
  • pre-wash it on a quick wash and then wash with your usual load later.

• Modern washing machines usually adjust the water to the load size so you don’t waste water with small loads. However, you are likely to use the same amount of electricity.

• Washable products can be laundered with other items in a family wash. However, you may find this unacceptable and the additional laundry too much of a burden.

• Tumble drying of washable products can be expensive. This is especially true for large body worn pads and bed pads.

• Washable products can be air dried. However, this can take a long time (especially if they have a ‘built in’ plastic backing).

• Discreetness may be an issue when products are hung out to dry on a washing line or placed on a radiator.

Advantages of washable absorbent products:

• You don’t have to worry about always having a supply of disposable products.

• You need fewer products and less storage space.

• Some pant designs look similar to normal underwear. Some bed and chair pads are available in colours / designs intended to co-ordinate with furnishings.

• They can be cost effective when used in the long term

• There is no need to worry about disposal of products. This can be a challenge when away from home and / or if you need to dispose of large quantities of products.

• Reusability means a reduction in landfill. However, the environmental benefit of this is offset by the energy required for the additional laundry!

Disadvantages of washable absorbent products:

• Some designs are bulky and not discreet.

• Absorbency performance can be poor especially for heavier leakage and leakage that comes in gushes or floods.

• Individual items are relatively expensive to buy – capital outlay is high and mistakes can be costly.

• Used products have to be transported home for laundering.

• Manufacturers generally recommend that washable products are unsuitable for faecal incontinence although many people do put a disposable flushable liner inside the washable pad. This will contain solid waste which can be flushed away. Click here if you would like more information about which products work well if you have faecal incontinence

• Skin sprays and ointments may stain washables.

• Use of washable bed pads as the sole product requires you to sleep naked below the waist

Washing other products (male and female devices and toileting alternatives)

• Many other products are usually reusable. Examples of these are male devices and accessories, hand held urinals and other toileting alternatives such as commodes, bed pans and sani chairs.
• Disposable items in this group are usually used for travel or when in hospital.
• In your own home, these products can usually be washed with warm soapy water and dried.
• If you are taking your own products into hospital, you should follow the hospital procedure for cleaning toileting equipment. This may involve sterilising products to reduce the risk of cross infection.
• For information about cleaning specific items please go to the section on products.