How to dispose of incontinence pants at home

High-quality, ergonomic, and highly absorbent incontinence products play a massive role in boosting the quality of life and dignity of anyone experiencing bladder weakness. But, what are you meant to do once they’re full or soiled? If you're new to the world of incontinence, disposing of your shiny new products might not be obvious. Has it got you thinking, how do I dispose of incontinence pants? Do they go in the recycling? Do you flush them away? (Please do not ever flush them away). How do you even take them off? We’ll cover it all, don’t worry just keep reading!

There is no doubt about it: when used appropriately, pads can improve the outcomes of bladder weakness and support the well-being and dignity of people with incontinence. But, they don't last forever. Most large pads, pants, and nappies won't need to be changed immediately if you've only had a small leak. Due to their increased absorbency capabilities, they can absorb and hold a substantial amount of urine before they need to be changed. For smaller pads however, they may need changing right after you experience a leak. 

When it comes to faecal soiling, regardless of the incontinence solution you choose, you'll need to change these straight away. If you don't, you can end up with some rather nasty skin irritations. Best to get rid as soon as possible. 

The majority of wearable incontinence products aren’t recyclable. They tend to be made from a combination of different materials, much of which can’t be recycled. With this in mind, you’re better off putting them in your general waste bin rather than the recycling bin. Unless specifically mentioned in the product specs, you’re best off assuming that they’re not recyclable. As technology advances, hopefully, we will see a future with more recyclable products, but for now, they’ll need to be bagged and binned in with the general waste.

Unless specifically branded as a flushable item, do not ever flush any pads, pants, nappies, wipes or bags down your toilet. If you start flushing your incontinence items down the toilet, you’re going to end up on the receiving end of a big plumbing bill and a lot of stress. One more time, do not flush them away, put them in the bin!

1. Remove: Removing them is usually fairly simple. Most good quality pants will come with tearable sides, so you won't need to faff around trying to pull them down and make a mess. You simply tear away the sides and off they come.
2. Empty solid bowel motions: If your incontinence pants have any solid bowel motions, then empty them in the toilet and flush them first.
3. Roll them up: To minimise the risk of spills or odours, it’s important to roll the pull-up pants from the crotch area to the waistband. This helps contain any remaining moisture and keeps the soiled area contained.
4. Place in sanitary bag: Then, holding on to both sides to prevent spillages, you should seal the used pants in a designated sanitary bag/nappy bag, which is often designed to neutralise odours. This should then be knotted, or you can use the twist-tie closures if available. 
5. Dispose: Now you can dispose of the sealed bag in your general household waste bin.

Small incontinence pads that are ergonomically shaped are a lifeline for anyone with bladder weakness who lives an active lifestyle. These incontinence pads provide reliable, discreet protection and allow you to enjoy everyday activities with comfort and confidence. However, when improving your levels of hygiene, personal care, and house cleanliness, you’ll need to dispose of these items correctly. 

1. Remove and close: First, remove the pad, fold it on itself and secure it closed using the sticky adhesive.
2. Place in sanitary bag: Once folded, place the pad in a sanitary bag.
3. Dispose: If you're out and about, most female toilets will have some kind of sanitary bin. For men, it's quite different. Most male toilets won't have sanitary bins (crazy right?) we think that's really bad, so we've been trying to convince our local MPs to do something about it. Men may have to access a disabled toilet to use a sanitary bin if you experience a leak. 

• Never never flush pads and pull-up pants down the toilet. This can clog the toilet and lead to severe plumbing and water damage issues. 
• Always get rid of your pads and pull-up pants once they're fully filled to maintain hygiene and cleanliness
• Always wash your hands after disposing of urinary incontinence items
• Find a supplier that produces affordable incontinence items without compromising on quality. 
• Use specialised disposal bags, such as the Vivactive extra large incontinence nappy disposal bag.

It’s easy to overlook the importance of learning how to dispose of your incontinence items in the right way - and, certainly, this is a topic that is seldom discussed! 

Using a good nappy bag can be really useful when getting rid of those used items. Don’t settle for baby nappy bags, they’re far too small. Trying to fit a large pair of incontinence pants into a normal-sized nappy bag is no easy feat and if you’re unlucky, you can make a bit of a mess. What’s the solution? Big nappy bags that have been designed specifically for adults. Vivactive XL Nappy Bags are amazing for this. They’re big, strong, and fragranced with a lovely apple scent. They come with big, easy-to-use handles so you can quickly and easily wrap everything up and get it in the bin without a fuss.

At Vivactive, we understand how vital discarding incontinence items properly is for your personal hygiene, to reduce the impact on the environment, and to avoid complications like urinary tract infections. That’s why we strive to be your go-to source of information - as well as your trusted provider of high-quality incontinence items. 

At Incontinence Choice, we understand how vital discarding incontinence items properly is for your personal hygiene, to reduce the impact on the environment, and to avoid complications like urinary tract infections. That’s why we strive to be your go-to source of information - as well as your trusted provider of high-quality incontinence items. 

We hope this blog helped you understand how to dispose of incontinence pants correctly. Why not explore our range of products from brands such as Vivactive, TENA, Attends, and more?

You could also check out our male incontinence products and female incontinence products to see if there’s anything that could help you.