Washable Pads for Incontinence

If you have struggled with bladder leakage or urinary incontinence, you probably know very well that disposable pads can add up quickly...both in terms of money spent and garbage gained.  If you experience light to moderate bladder leakage (and even on the heavier side of moderate), reusable pads may be just what you are looking for. We want to do all we can to help you make the switch to washable pads that will put a hard stop to both of these things. We hope you'll find that reusables are the best pads for incontinence you've ever tried!

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Excellent alternative to disposable pads

"As a senior with mild incontinence I have been using these well made reusable pads for several years. They are so comfortable and allow me the freedom and confidence to stay active all day and sleep at night knowing I'm fully protected. The colours are fun and I have my favourites. Don't hesitate if you are ready to switch from disposables. I wash them in my regular laundry and hang dry."

— Cheryl C.

Ready to get everything you need in one place?

Our Incontinence Essentials Set was designed with exactly you in mind — seven reusable pads in the absorbency of your choice, a large wet bag, a small wet bag, a drying strap, and a wing extender, all together so there's nothing to figure out. Shop the Incontinence Essentials Set here.

Also available in all-black Amie Active fabric.

Why are reusable pads great for incontinence protection?

• stop the irritating rashes and reactions many people experience with disposable pads
• stop spending your hard-earned money on literal garbage
• feel comfy with natural fibres against your skin; no more sweaty paper and plastic pads
• feel confident knowing your pad is wonderfully absorbent and has a waterproof backer to prevent embarrassing leaks
• help reduce your carbon footprint by choosing a product that will be reused at least 200 times

Will washable pads smell?

Reusable pads have a huge advantage here. Disposable pads contain super-absorbent gelling material, chemicals and fragrance intended to mask odours that, paradoxically, have an offensive smell of their own, particularly when wet. Cloth pads are just that - cloth, and are free of odours.  Most of the time, following a standard wash routine will keep them nice and fresh, but occasionally, they will need a very simple step to give them a little TLC. Read on!

How do you wash reusable pads?

When you remove a pad, you can rinse it or simply leave it in a container open to the air so the pads can breathe (this is really important), and toss them in with your regular wash and dry when ready to wash.  You can also hang them to dry if you prefer.  Sunshine, especially, is a terrific natural sanitizer and freshener. Occasionally, women will find that their pads start to hang onto a urine smell after washing. This has a very simple and economical fix.  Before washing a batch of pads, simple soak them in a tub of water with a tablespoon or so of baking soda for about 15 minutes.  This will neutralize the smell of urine. Wash and dry as usual.

Which ones should I start with?

Choosing the right reusable incontinence products is fairly straightforward. Most people find it easiest to start with a set — you'll do far less laundry, and you'll have everything you need right from the start. Not sure which absorbency is right for you? Our quick quiz can help you figure it out in just a few questions.

We have pads in light, moderate and heavy absorbency, to make sure you can get the best pads for incontinence management. However, the caveat is that these pads were named for period use. Please read the descriptions below to get a better idea of what might work well for you.

We also do carry a very large super/postpartum absorbency pad which can be a lifesaver if needed. (Please do read the caution below about drying times.)

❗ When in doubt between two absorbencies, we suggest you go with the more absorbent of the two

• If you experience very light bladder leakage, like small dribbles or the occasional low-level sneeze pee, light absorbency pads are a great place to start.
• If you'd describe your incontinence as frequent sneeze-pees or small splashes with exercise or exertion, we suggest a moderate pad, in either a standard or long length.
• If you typically experience frequent leaks, small but continual dribbling or small to moderate gushes, heavy absorbency pad, in the extra-long length should be a good fit.
• If you experience a partial emptying of your bladder, we suggest trying a super/postpartum pad. This is a very large pad with a lot of coverage and a lot of absorbency.  The downside is that it can take a long time to dry, so we always suggest going with a heavy absorbency pad, if it will work for you.
• If you experience quite heavy or total urinary incontinence, it is unlikely reusable pads will be a good option for you.

Can I use pantyliners?

Weeeelllll...you can use them, but we'd like to point out that our reusable pantyliners are different from disposables, in that they don't have a waterproof backer. They are designed for daily freshness for women who like to use pantyliners, for very small amounts of thick-quality end-of-cycle menstrual flow or for just the teensiest dribbles of urine.  Mostly, we steer people toward our pads instead of liners for the extra insurance of the waterproof backer.

Do cloth pads show through clothing? Are they bulky?

Nope!  Thanks to lots of advances in fabric development, we think you'll find that reusable pads for incontinence are trim and discreet. The inside layer of our pads is a bamboo/organic cotton fleece that is highly absorbent. You can feel confident wearing them, even in leggings. The postpartum/super pad is an exception. It is a pad with a lot of absorbency and is more of a workhorse than a thin/discreet pad.

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Such a better alternative

"I am in menopause, so I use these pads daily for very light incontinence. I just don't want any surprises. They're so much more comfortable than that irritating plastic of the liner wings, better for the environment, and will definitely save me money!"

— Deborah M.

We want you to have pads that will serve you well for a long time and are always here to help. If you have any questions, please contact us anytime using the contact form at the bottom of every page.