Reusable/Washable Product Advice

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I’m contemplating using some washable/reusable products in conjunction with disposables as it would be great to have less rubbish every week (my disposables produce an insane amount, my mum has been commenting on it) and I’m moving to an apartment on my own, meaning I’ll have less time to stay in for deliveries.

Plus, if I’m just in the house on my own, I’m less concerned about discretion/bulk etc. I have to confess that the cost for starting for reusables has always put me off (even though it’ll probably save me money in the long run). Plus, I was wondering how absorbent they really are.

I’ve ordered a terry square and some plastic pants to see how I get on but I was wondering if anyone who has experience with them could answer some queries I have:

How is the absorbency compared to disposable products? (I’ve ordered the 420gsm capacity)?

Do you find they mask odour well if used with plastic pants?

How long do they last?

How are they for faecal incontinence? (Whilst it’s uncommon for my IBS to be a massive issue at home due to having access to the toilet, some leakage does happen on occasion).

Do the inevitable stains come out easily when washed?

Thanks in advance.

 

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Well, I can see why disposables were invented...

Having spent an absolute age trying to do various folds and getting nowhere, I just gave up and put my regular Tena slip on. I'm diagnosed with dyspraxia and am having issues with grip at the moment so the idea of struggling all the time with folding doesn't appeal. Still, I imagine the plastic pants will be helpful on long journeys and when major IBS flare ups strike. I guess I'll just have stop being so self conscious about the amount of rubbish I put out on a weekly basis.

Hopefully with things slowly returning to normal over here I'll see a urologist pretty soon and stop needing nappies all the time anyway. I'm moving area though so I imagine I'll have to start at square one again.

 

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I think disposables are best by far. Even if expense can add up, nothing beats their overall convenience. Just use and throw it away, what can be better? Another thing about reusable and washables is when you use one you have to put it in a bucket of some kind and when it's your day to wash them there will be a lot to wash and odor would probably be a real concern at that point. If you're concerned about trash output they have something called Diaper Genie. I would think they would be available in the U.K. Originally made for baby-sized diapers they now have them in adult sizes. Each used disposable goes into its own plastic bag from the top opening of this ,er, item (for lack of a better word. And when the canister gets full you empty just a bunch of compact plastic bags. No fuss, no muss!

 

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@Sci_Fi_Fan when I started wearing full time about 3 years ago, it was disposing of the rubbish that I worried about more than anything else. I don't worry so much now, but I am still conscious of how heavy the bin gets.

 

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Thanks for the replies guys!

I think disposables are best by far. Even if expense can add up, nothing beats their overall convenience. Just use and throw it away, what can be better? Another thing about reusable and washables is when you use one you have to put it in a bucket of some kind and when it's your day to wash them there will be a lot to wash and odor would probably be a real concern at that point. If you're concerned about trash output they have something called Diaper Genie. I would think they would be available in the U.K. Originally made for baby-sized diapers they now have them in adult sizes. Each used disposable goes into its own plastic bag from the top opening of this ,er, item (for lack of a better word. And when the canister gets full you empty just a bunch of compact plastic bags. No fuss, no muss!

Yeah, disposables are certainly the most convenient. Thinking about it, one of the most convenient things about wearing them is not having to change my clothes prior to going out and if I were using reusables for round the house I'd have to change into a disposable anyway if I needed to go out for any reason. I've seen those disposal solutions and have been considering them. It's more about the need for deliveries as well, I'm not in a position to stay in for most of the week and wouldn't want neighbours taking them in as I've had packing split and boxes of wipes/bed mats have the product written on the side. I'm loading up on products before I move out so I shouldn't need a delivery for a couple of months at least. Still, I'm glad I at least gave reusables a go and with the money I would have spent getting some reusables I can get some more cases. I guess I've got two extra towels now as well!

@Sci_Fi_Fan when I started wearing full time about 3 years ago, it was disposing of the rubbish that I worried about more than anything else. I don't worry so much now, but I am still conscious of how heavy the bin gets.

Yeah, going from wearing nappies just when I needed protection the most (wearing suits at work, staying in other people's houses/hotels etc.) to all the time has certainly upped the rubbish amount (I get through 3-4 in a day). On the upside, I'm never in any discomfort, I don't smell, my clothes last longer and my bed sheets don't need changing due to any accidents or the inevitable dribbling after getting up to urinate in the night. I'm always just worried the bin will split. Foxes are a common problem where I live and it's not uncommon for people's bin bags to get attacked.

 

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@Sci_Fi_Fan

I don't have any suggestions for you but have from time to time thought about finding a reusable product for my bedwetting. Since I only occasionally bedwet wet for now when at home I have a waterproof bed pad that I sleep on so if I wet I just need to wash it, the top sheet and the sleep clothes I was wearing (boxers and shorts usually). This works great but I do have to make sure the bed is made so any visitors to the house do not see the bedwetter's pad on my bed. Once when in an apartment I didn't and that would be the day the monthly pest control guy came to spray.

With a reusable underwear like thing this would not be as big of a concern. Though I like things neat and clean so I'd still probably make my bed... most mornings.

JT

 

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@Jaytee, well, as far as not covering your bed when the pest control guy came, I feel your pain!!! I usually try to keep my "things" out of sight on most days myself!
And @Sci_Fi_Fan, I don't know if foxes will be attracted to a bin with used diapers in it, as the odor may repel them. But animals such as foxes may be most likely when there is food in the bins! Where I am in Florida, bears are the main issue when it comes to putting out bins at night. These are Florida black bears and they prefer to keep their distance from humans. They are not particularly big as bears go, but they can smell food up to five miles away!:O So if you're worried about animal invasions, use the reusables (lol!!)
But all animal speculation aside, if I were you, I would keep some reusables on hand more of a "back-up" thing than anything else. If for some reason your disposables delivery is delayed or you can't get to the store to get them, then the reusables would come in very handy indeed! I've heard that after buying some reusables it's a good idea to just rinse them out before you use them for the first time. And if you have access to a dryer, it will fluff them up and soften them. Might as well be comfortable, right?

 

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@Jaytee - That sounds embarrassing! People use stuff like that for night sweats so maybe he didn't think it was a bedwetting thing. The Superundies that were mentioned on the other thread look good but pricey and I don't know where to get them in the UK. I haven't wet the bed since I was in my mid-teens so night times are less of an issue. I have a heavy after dribble though and I'm getting up at least twice a night to use the toilet so need some protection otherwise my underwear and sheets inevitably get damp. Plus, I have had night time accidents from the IBS but fortunately they're pretty rare but wear heavier protection if I'm staying away from home.

@billliveshere - That's a point, maybe my nappies were a helpful deterrent! Turns out delivery isn't a massive issue here, I'm in an apartment block and deliveries will just leave it on the doormat if you're out.

 

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@billliveshere I hear ya man.

@Sci_Fi_Fan It was embarrassing but thankfully not as embarrassing as if I had been there when the pest control guy came through.

 

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Sci-fi-fan,
First, Welcome to our Neighborhood! A lot of great folks here! I don’t know if you can get Kins (Babykins) products affordably in the UK, but they make some great Velcro reusable diapers that I use all the time. I have allergic reactions to some of the super polymers used in disposables so I use cotton whenever reasonable. I lost most of the use of my right arm for almost two years due to a tumor on my spinal chord, and these worked great as a replacement for disposables even under casual clothes like shorts etc. Good luck!