Washable Underpads: Washing, Drying and Lifespan

Before washing: handle safely

• Wear gloves when handling soiled pads, and wash hands afterwards.
• Do not shake soiled linen, which spreads germs and smell.
• Remove solids such as stool into the toilet using a flush, then rinse.
• Rinse in cold water first, which loosens urine and stool without setting stains or odour. Warm or hot water at this stage can fix protein stains.
• Soak heavily soiled pads in cold water with a little detergent or an enzyme-based laundry soak for a short period, as the label allows.
• Keep soiled and clean items apart, and store soiled ones in a lidded bucket or a ventilated bag, not in a closed plastic bag for days, which breeds odour and mould.
• Wash promptly, ideally the same day. Do not leave soiled pads stacked.
• Use a dedicated bucket and basin, and clean them afterwards.

See disposal, laundry and odour control and infection control for home caregivers.

Washing step by step

1. Pre-rinse in cold running water until clear. 2. Load the machine with other washable pads or similar linens, without overfilling. Washable pads are thick and need water and space. Wash separately from clothes where possible, or at least from delicate items. 3. Choose the temperature. Many pads can be washed at 60 degrees Celsius or higher, which helps hygiene, but some have waterproof backings or tops that tolerate less. Follow the care label. If no label, use a warm to hot wash (about 40 to 60 degrees) and check for damage over time. 4. Use a mild detergent, and the recommended amount. Too much leaves residue that reduces absorbency and irritates the skin. 5. Avoid fabric softener, conditioner and scented additives, which coat the fibres and make them repel liquid, so the pad no longer absorbs. They also irritate sensitive skin. 6. Avoid bleach and strong stain removers unless the label allows. Chlorine bleach can damage backing and fibres. For disinfecting, a hot wash is usually preferred; ask a nurse about safe disinfectants for infection. Oxygen-based laundry boosters may be allowed. 7. Use an extra rinse to remove detergent, especially in hard water. 8. Do not overload. A full drum does not clean thoroughly. 9. Avoid hot soaking with dry-cleaning chemicals, solvents, phenyl or harsh floor cleaners. 10. Check the pad after washing for odour, stains, thinning, delaminating backing or cracks.

Hand washing (without a machine)

Many Indian households wash by hand.

1. Rinse in cold water, then wash in warm soapy water, scrubbing gently with a soft brush. 2. Rinse thoroughly in several changes of clean water until no suds remain. 3. Wring gently, not twisting hard, which damages the backing. 4. Disinfect if advised by soaking in hot water, as the label allows, or by drying in strong sunlight. 5. Wear gloves, and clean the bucket and the washing area afterwards.

Hand washing is tiring and less thorough than machine washing. Consider a small machine or a laundry service if volume is high.

Drying

Proper drying is as important as washing.

• Sun drying is excellent: ultraviolet light helps to kill germs and freshen. Dry in direct sun, with the backing side facing away from the strongest sun to protect it, if the label suggests, and avoid very long exposure that can make backings brittle.
• Air dry in a well-ventilated place when the weather is cloudy.
• Tumble drying on a low setting is allowed for some pads; high heat can melt or crack the waterproof backing. Check the label.
• Do not iron unless allowed, and never iron the waterproof side.
• Do not put on a radiator, heater or hot pipe.
• Dry fully, including the core. A pad that feels dry on the surface but is damp inside will smell and grow mould. Check by feeling the centre, and weigh it against a dry pad if unsure.
• Rotate so that you always have at least three or four dry pads ready.

The monsoon and humid weather

Drying is the main challenge in humid, rainy weather.

• Keep extra pads so that damp ones can wait for sun.
• Use a clothes drying rack in a ventilated room, with a fan, near a window or in the best-ventilated spot. Avoid drying in a closed bedroom, where moisture and smell build up in the room where the person lies; see pest, damp and mould at home.
• Use a dehumidifier if you have one.
• Iron dry only if the label allows; otherwise, use a hair dryer on a cool setting for the surface, but this is not enough for the core.
• Switch to disposable pads temporarily during long wet spells; see underpads: disposable and washable options.
• Do not store damp pads; they grow mould, which can irritate lungs and skin.

Storage

• Store clean pads in a dry, clean cupboard or drawer, away from damp, sunlight and insects, and not in sealed plastic bags if there is any residual damp.
• Keep a stock in a handy place near the bed.
• Label by date and rotate so that older pads are used first.
• Do not store with mothballs or strongly scented items, which can transfer odours and irritants to skin.

Lifespan: how long do they last?

Lifespan depends on quality, frequency of use, washing temperature and care. Many washable pads are designed to last for several months to a year or more of daily use, with some makers quoting hundreds of washes. As they age, absorbency falls, the backing may crack or peel and the fabric thins. Signs it is time to replace:

• Leaks onto the mattress though the pad is not full.
• The surface repels liquid instead of absorbing it, a sign of residue or wear.
• Backing is cracked, peeling, bubbled or sticky.
• Thin, pilled or worn areas, or holes.
• Persistent odour after proper washing.
• Stiffness or a rough feel that irritates skin.
• Discolouration that does not wash out and looks unhygienic.

Replace pads gradually rather than all at once, and keep a record of how many washes each has had. Buying a quality pad from a reliable supplier gives a longer life; see spotting fake or poor-quality care products.

Odour and stain troubleshooting

• Urine smell persists: the pad may not have been rinsed in cold water first, or detergent residue is trapping odour. Soak in cold water with an enzyme-based laundry product, wash again with a hot cycle and extra rinse, and dry in sun. A cup of white vinegar in the rinse can help neutralise ammonia, if the label allows, but avoid mixing with bleach.
• Musty smell: damp storage or poor drying. Wash and dry properly in sun.
• Stains: pre-treat with cold water and enzyme soak. Stains are cosmetic if the pad is clean, but persistent staining may signal poor washing.
• Pad no longer absorbs: likely fabric softener or detergent build-up. Strip by washing hot with plain detergent and rinsing several times, with no softener. If it still repels, replace.
• Backing leaks: the waterproof layer has failed. Replace.
• Skin irritation: residue or a wrong fabric. Rinse well, change detergent and consult the nurse; see incontinence-associated skin damage: prevention and care.

Protecting the bed and the skin

Washable pads protect the mattress, but a waterproof mattress protector is still advisable; see mattress protectors for incontinence. Check the skin at every change, keep linen smooth and use breathable bedding; see bed linen for sensitive older skin. Use a barrier cream sparingly, because thick creams can transfer to the pad and reduce absorbency; see barrier creams and skin care under pads.

Hygiene and infection

If your parent has diarrhoea, skin infection, scabies, a contagious illness or an infection such as MRSA, ask the doctor or nurse how to launder safely. In such cases, disposable pads may be better, or hot washing and separate handling are needed. Wash hands after handling.

Cost thinking

A washable pad costs more at first but spreads cost across many uses. Count the cost of detergent, water, electricity and time. If washing and drying are hard, the saving may vanish. See an incontinence products budget: what a month costs.

When to ask a professional

Ask a nurse or continence adviser which pad type and washing method suit your parent, particularly if there is infection, sensitive skin or pressure sores. Ask a doctor about rashes, sores or recurrent infections. Seek urgent help for fever with confusion, blood in urine, deep or spreading sores, or no urine for many hours; call 112 for emergencies.