Incontinence Pads – Types And Uses

ByMed guard

Bed pads are waterproof sheets that you must put under your sheets to protect your mattress from night-time accidents. Bed pads are also known as incontinence bed pads which are useful for every age group and gender. There are numerous reasons as to why one may be suffering from night time bedwetting, like:

  • Bladder issues
  • Medication side effects
  • Neurological disorders

Bed pads offer comfort, protection, and peace of mind to those dealing with night-time accidents or any infections. Keep reading this article to learn more about the different types & sizes of incontinence bed pads and how to care for them.

Types of Incontinence Pads

There are two primary types of incontinence bed pads:

  • Disposable

Disposable bed pads are single-use items and are typically made from a less resilient fabric. You can use them in situations where washing the bed pads between uses is not possible.

  • Reusable

One can use reusable bed pads for as many times as one wants. But they need to wash it between the uses. Reusable bed pads can cost a bit more upfront, but you will save more money in the long run. And we should not forget that single use items can be damaging to the environment. Thus so many people are starting to consider using washable or reusable products whenever possible. There are also reusable incontinence sheets available to use while changing the pads or cloths.

How to Wash Reusable Incontinence Bed Pads

One needs to wash most reusable incontinence bed pads, including the wearable bed pads, after each use. Of course, one should always check the manufacturer’s washing guide before washing, but most of the bed pads are machine washable in cool or warm water and dryable on a low-tumble dry setting.

Additions like fabric softeners or chlorine bleach often potentially affect the absorbency, so one needs to be cautious if they use those. Feel free to wash the incontinence pads alone or with any of your other regular laundry items.

Let us also explore other types of pads:

  • Waterproof Bed Pads

Bed pads come in many different sizes, the most common is 34″ x 36″. This size is perfect for most twin-size or hospital beds and is suitable to use on other furniture around your home as well.

There are also smaller sizes available like 18″ x 24″ or 24″ x 36″, which are more geared towards furniture, like wheelchairs, mattresses, dining chairs, etc. On the larger side of the spectrum, sizes like 36″ x 72″ bed pads are available, which are perfect for a queen or king-size beds.

  • Incontinence Bed Pads with Wings

Many reusable bed pads come in winged varieties. The “wings” are also known as “tuck in tails”. This has extra fabric on the sides of the bed pad that you can tuck underneath the mattress. This helps the bed pad to stay in place and puts your mind at peace, knowing the pad will not slip around under the sheets.

Alternative Uses of Washable Bed Pads

  • Pet Pads

Whenever you take your pets to the vet or pet day-care, the pets often get nervous and frightened, which can lead to unfortunate accidents in your car or on your clothes! Here, to prevent this, waterproof bed pads are a great option. It prevents puppies from urinating in your vehicle. You just need to add a layer of bed pad in their carrier or in the car’s backseat. This will allow for easy clean-up in the case of an accident.

  • Running Errands

Besides protecting your car from pet urine, washable bed pads come in handy for keeping your seats dry and clean.

For instance, when you bring plants home from the garden centre, transport party platters in your trunk, etc., you can simply spread out the liner to protect your car interior.

Economy bed pads are the perfect inexpensive, durable, and high-quality option to keep in your glovebox.

  • Surgery and Illness

Nausea, sweat, vomiting, and incision drainage are normal after any surgery, so you need to make sure that you plan for this possibility by putting an incontinence pad on your bed or floor until you completely heal.

As we know that cold or flu is inevitable from time to time. When someone in your family is sick, you can avoid stains and odours that ruin your bed or carpet.

Absorbent bed pads are soft and comfortable and help make unwanted messes easier for cleaning up.

Washable or reusable bed pads and incontinence sheets are an environmentally friendly and affordable option for protection against any infections or night time accidents. They are easy to use, care for, and are the perfect item to have on hand because of their versatility.