Reusable incontinence pads for women sounds like a new invention but it’s far from it. Just think about it, what did women use before disposable pads? Some kind of washable ones. There was no other option. The material that they’re made of today, and the level of absorption, are of course not comparable.
Today the reusable incontinence pads work just as well as the disposable ones. I would say the only big difference is that you need to bring a wetbag with you to put them in. The wetbags look just like cute little makeup bags. No one can tell it contains incontinence protection.
In this article you will find the top 5 reusable incontinence pads for women money can buy. We’ll have a quick look at each one. After that we go though a couple of the most common questions on this subject. Let’s dive in.
The 5 best reusable incontinence pads for women
So, what is a great reusable incontinence pad? Well, I’ve been looking for pads that absorbs well, are comfortable stay in place, wash up well and have a long life, attractive look and a nice price. I absolutely hate when they bunch up or for some reason don’t stay in place and stain my underwear. Some of them have waterproof layers helping to reduce the risk for stains but there’s no guarantee of course. Just like with disposable ones, you need to know your flow and change when time is due.
Here’s a list of my top 5 reusable incontinence pads for women
- Treehugger cloth pads
- Rael
- Etsy/AYRAcreations
- GladRags
- Imse Vimse
A note! Most of these are marketed as reusable period pads, but they work just as well incontinence pads. It really doesn’t matter what kind of fluid it is. It could also be sweat or discharge.
Treehugger cloth pads
Treehugger has 3 different types of pads. Or actually, 1 pad with 3 different top layers. The middle and backing is the same. They all also have snapping wings to stay in place. You can choose between Minky (polyester), Bamboo, and Cotton. All three are great, but they do have slightly different characteristics.
Worth mentioning is that they plant a tree for every pad hey sell. How about that?
Treehugger Minky
Price example: 3 pads for $40.50 (Heavy flow pads)
Pros: stain resistant, soft, long life, hundreds of colors, feels dry to the skin
Cons: warm, slowest absorption
Buy Minky from Treehuggerclothpads.com →
Treehugger Bamboo
Price example: 3 pads for $42.89 (Heavy flow pads)
Pros: smooth (feels like velour), absorbs fast, adds extra layer of protection without adding thickness
Cons: can stain if not treated, no prints, loose softness with time
Buy Bamboo from Treehugger.com →
Treehugger Cotton
Price example: 3 pads for $40.50 (Heavy flow pads)
Pros: thin, cool, fun colors
Cons: can stain if not treated, not as soft as the other ones, a little less absorbent
Buy Cotton from Treehugger.com →
Rael
Price example: 3 pads for $38.99
Rael is a brand that has both disposable and reusable pads made of 100% certified organic cotton. Their washable options have 6 leak protection cotton layers that helps to keep your skin dry and odours at bay. You secure them with a snap closure and they’re very comfortable to wear.
Reusable incontinence pads from Rael also have an added security, wings and channels on the side. The side panels and unique channel designs trap the fluid inside and prevent overflow.
After using them, just through them in the laundry. You can wash and reuse them up to 120 times. This is safe and effective, even for the most sensitive of skins.
Buy Rael from Amazon.com →
Etsy/AYRAcreations
A great place to look for reusable incontinence pads for women is Etsy. This is a global marketplace for unique goods. There you can find tons handmade good quality washable pads for incontinence.
The pads are usually colorful and have some nice print. They’re not necessarily cheaper but very comfortable and soft. There are a lot of different sellers. Make sure you check out their reviews before buying something.
AYRAcreations
Price example: 2 Heavy pads for $33.64
For reusable pads I love the seller AYRAcreations. They have such great quality pads in lovely prints and they ship fast. You can also get wet bags, face masks, and other great reusable things from there.
The pads in the image are made of minky, Zorb, Bamboo and PUL waterproof cotton.
Buy AYRAcreation pads from Etsy.com →
GladRags
Price example: 1 night pad for $18.92
Gladrags are made of 100% cotton and divinely soft and comfortable. Like all the other brands they have everything from a pantyliner to a thicker and longer nightpad. They’re also perfect to wear if you have sensitive skin. There are no chemicals and they breath.
The gladrags doesn’t have any backing layer. That means you need to change the pad in good time. They do have absorbent inserts. That means you can choose how many inserts you want and need, extending the time before changing.
Buying all the incontinence pads you need can seem a bit daunting for the wallet. I recommend you buy one or a pair each month. Then, before you know it you’ll be set for years to come.
You can buy them directly from the Gladrag website, but if you’re ok with getting assorted colors and print you should buy them from Amazon. Their prices are better.
Buy Gladrags from Amazon.com →
Think Eco
There are a number of brands that sell a similar product. Think Eco have chosen to focus on a pad that are made of 90% cotton and to sell at a very reasonable price. To reduce cost, they’ve tried to make it as simple as possible. And sometimes simple is just as good.
This pad has 6 layers. 5 of the layers are made of absorbent certified organic cotton and 1 of them is a waterproof layer. It’s the fifth layer. I think this is so smart. It adds that extra protection but is still so soft and comfortable to the touch.
Buy Think Eco from Amazon.com →
Wetbags
Wetbags are waterproof little bags where you can keep your used cloth pads. Some wetbags, like the one in the picture, have two pockets. One pocket that is waterproof and one in cotton where you can store your unused items.
The wetbag in the picture is highly recommended. You can get it in 4 sizes, with or without a strap and pocket, and it’s durable and washable. You can use it for any wet stuff you have, pads and bathing suits alike.
Check out the wetbag from Berrybugshop →
Is there an alternative to incontinence pads for women?
Yes there is. There are actually several alternative to incontinence pads.
- Reusable incontinence underwear
- Disposable incontinence pads
- Disposable incontinence underwear
- Pelvic floor strengthening devices
- Bladder support control products
Which option’s the best, depends on why and how much you leak. Also, your personal preferences of course. If you want to know more about any of these, check out the articles,
This is a very interesting blog post on reusable incontinence pads for women. Because of an airway infection for weeks now, I have to cough a lot, especially at night. You can imagine being a woman that is getting a bit older, that I need to wear incontinence pads a lot during these nights and that I have a lot of waste to throw away. These reusable pads seem like a perfect solution to avoid excess waist.
You should give them a try. I’m sure you won’t be disappointed. =)