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AIBU?

Share your dilemmas and get honest opinions from other Mumsnetters.

Original poster

to expect a bin in the bathroom?

356 replies

IsabelleSE19 · 16/01/2017 13:30

Recently I've stayed with a very dear friend of mine and close family of DH's. Both households are very hospitable and I love visiting them. BUT. In neither case was there a bin in the bathroom, and in one of them there wasn't even one in the guest bedroom. AIBU not to want to put used cotton pads/buds and sanitary stuff back into my sponge bag, or cart it round the house in my hands looking for a bin?

OP posts:
Artandco · 21/01/2017 09:53

I wouldn't reuse the same cloth without washing as you could spread germs into eyes etc. We have a huge pile of small cotton cloths ' cheeky wipes - used as baby wipes when they were babies'. About 30-40. Anyone just uses and throws in white wash basket after. Then on high wash with towels when done. Fit in same load so no extra washing. Cost about £15 for them, 7 years ago. So that's 7 years of no baby wipes, no face wipe or cotton wool costs

NicknameUsed · 21/01/2017 09:57

"I'm really in to composting, recycling etc so produce very little kitchen waste"

So am I, but we still have a lot of kitchen waste as our council doesn't offer food waste recycling or any plastic waste recycling that isn't a plastic bottle. I can't recycle plastic containers that might have had mushrooms in for example.

"I wouldn't reuse the same cloth without washing as you could spread germs into eyes etc."

So washing in soap and hot water wouldn't remove the germs? BTW I don't wear eye make up so tend not to need to concentrate on my eyes when cleansing.

MyWineTime · 21/01/2017 10:16

I'm amazed that people think it is more hygienic to put sanpro in a kitchen bin than bathroom
My kitchen bin gets emptied every day. If I did have a bathroom bin, it would only need emptying about once a month.

If anyone in the house or regularly visited the house used disposable sanpro and would be too mortified to put it in the kitchen bin, then there might be some benefit to having a bathroom bin, but that just isn't the case in my house, so the need for it would be so rare as to being pointless.

Deathraystare · 21/01/2017 10:24

I remember a post about this before and people getting truly overexcitable about it. I must say I am glad my friend now has a bin in her bathroom. Hate having to traipse through to the kitched with various bits of rubbish etc (not that it is that far away and is on the same floor.

TheDowagerCuntess · 21/01/2017 10:28

They will know it's you in the kitchen bin as well if you're the only menstruating woman who's been in the house recently. Why is the kitchen bin better?

No they won't - the kitchen bin is full of rubbish - it's easy to push something down into it, unseen.

Bathroom bins have floss and a few wipes in them. An item swathed in loo roll is obviously what it is.

NotLadyPrickshit · 21/01/2017 10:29

Maybe not so much for guests but surely when women/girls who live in the house are actually having their period the bathroom bin is emptied more frequently than normal - mine is emptied every day then but every 2-3 days the rest of the month.

Artandco · 21/01/2017 10:36

Not - not if they use washable stuff. Personally we live in a flat, any rubbish has to stay in flat until bin day. So moving stuff from bathroom bin to another bin makes no difference. It's still indoors. Hence we used washable nappies and wipes, washable pads etc so smelly washed and gone instead of sitting around. Our bathroom bin if no guests probably gets emptied once every few months as nothing 'dirty' in there unless guests add.

rollonthesummer · 21/01/2017 10:39

Have only read the OP, but wondering if anyone has mentioned guest SAN pro yet!?

NicknameUsed · 21/01/2017 10:42

I must be odd in that I don't really create much bathroom bin waste. It's really only DD with her used sanpro stuff once a month. She doesn't wear make up BTW. Neither MIL nor my sister have bathroom bins and until this thread I admit that I hadn't noticed because it isn't usually an issue for me. The only time it has been was last time DD and I stayed at MIL's and DD was on her period. I had to get some plastic bags for her to put soiled stuff in and put it straight into the dustbin.

MIL is nearly 88 and has alzheimers so I can't expect her to think of this kind of thing.

NicknameUsed · 21/01/2017 10:44

"but wondering if anyone has mentioned guest SAN pro yet!?"

Loads of times. All of our friends and family who come and stay are well past needing waste disposal for sanpro, so it isn't an issue.

MissVictoria · 21/01/2017 10:49

I don't have a bin, just a big black bin bag, and it gets tied up and thrown in the outside bin once it's full. All bathroom waste goes in there, from loo roll tubes and packaging, empty shampoo bottles, sanitary towels/liners (so daily) latex gloves, empty moist loo roll packets, random junk mail my dad takes upstairs with him, food packaging if my dad doesn't have a bag in his room too, old razor blades, everything. Never once has there been any "smell" from used sanitary products, even in summer, even when its been a pad from a heavy period and it's sat in there for up to a week. I typically roll them up, and wrap in a bit of tissue. Absolutely never would i ever carry a used sanitary product out of the bathroom with me, that's just plain disgusting. It's been against your body collecting bodily fluids, sweat, and all the germs left over from when you've been for a pee or crap. It's WAY more unsanitary to carry it about shoved up your sleeve and everything you touch after leaving the bathroom you're contaminating. If you're seriously so precious about leaving a sanitary towel in a bin (you can easily get nappy bags to seal it up if you're that bothered about potential smells but i've never noticed any) be glad we don't do things like in greece or china etc where due to ancient insufficient plumbing or just culture all toilet paper goes in a bin not down the loo.

NotLadyPrickshit · 21/01/2017 10:51

Artandco I have to say that not a single solitary person I know IRL uses washable sanitary products... I didn't even know it was a thing until I joined mumsnet.

Personally I can't imagine anything worse than rinsing out blood soaked pads in the sink - even if I'm caught unawares the underwear goes in the bin (wrapped in loo roll & tied up in a nappy bag).

Artandco · 21/01/2017 11:41

Not- you don't rinse in sink. In washing machine on quick rinse cold, then open machine and add towels etc and wash at 60. Like a washable nappy, you don't rinse or soak them anymore just in machine

Artandco · 21/01/2017 11:42

But now did you not know it was a thing? Washable have been around hundreds of years, disposable relatively new

NotLadyPrickshit · 21/01/2017 11:50

Not a thing as in something that people in the modern world still used other than eco warrior tree huggers living off the land in a commune

Still not changing from disposables the thought of washing those with my towels, rinsed or not, I'm weird about laundry loads anyway makes me heave... but that may be because a friend has just explained the mooncup to me Confused

Artandco · 21/01/2017 11:58

It's not country hillbilly, I live in the city

MyWineTime · 21/01/2017 12:04

Hate having to traipse through to the kitched with various bits of rubbish etc
If you had something to eat in someone else's house, would you have a problem traipsing through to the kitchen with the plate or any other bits of rubbish?
Why is it only when people are in the bathroom that they seem to be incapable of taking their rubbish to the bin?

If you're seriously so precious about leaving a sanitary towel in a bin (you can easily get nappy bags to seal it up
If you're seriously so precious about carrying a sanitary towel to the kitchen bin or putting in your bag you can easily get nappy bags to seal it up.
I'm not sure why I should be expected to supply nappy sacks for your sanpro. I am happy for you to put it in my kitchen bin.

Personally I can't imagine anything worse than rinsing out blood soaked pads in the sink - even if I'm caught unawares the underwear goes in the bin (wrapped in loo roll & tied up in a nappy bag).
You would rather throw away undies than wash them? wow! What about sheets, would you wash them or bin them?
Are you like this for all blood or is it just period blood?
I do usually rinse washables in the sink, it's really not that difficult, I rinse my mooncup too.

IWantATardis · 21/01/2017 12:25

I have to say that not a single solitary person I know IRL uses washable sanitary products...

How would you know, though?

Other than the occasional request for sanitary products from friends / acquaintances caught unprepared for the arrival of their period, women's personal choice of sanitary products is just not something I've ever heard discussed in conversation in real life. I have no idea whether people I know use tampons, pads, or washable sanitary products.

Or is my circle of acquaintances unusual in not talking about it?

Artandco · 21/01/2017 12:36

And agree, nobody I know would really know what I use or not

NotLadyPrickshit · 21/01/2017 13:20

Artandco I used to live in hillbilly country & like I say I'd never heard of this.

Mywinetime I've never had sheets soaked in blood but yes I imagine I'd bin those too rather than faff about trying to get stains out irrespective of the type of blood it is.

IWantATardis I'd certainly be aware if anyone in my close circle of friends used them... it's been a topic for 2 group chats & work this morning... currently discussing this with my mother.

Personally I don't use any type of pad as I don't like the feeling of it bunched up in my knickers or the dribbles but what do you do if you need to change at work? Carry the soiled rag in your handbag all day?

MyWineTime · 21/01/2017 14:41

what do you do if you need to change at work? Carry the soiled rag in your handbag all day?
When I bought my reusable supply, I also bought a small cosmetic case that had 2 sections in it. I kept a clean pad in one side and could put the used one in the other. They fold up very neatly. Then I just put them in the washing machine every few days. They wash really well.

I've never had sheets soaked in blood but yes I imagine I'd bin those too rather than faff about trying to get stains out irrespective of the type of blood it is.
ShockShockShock
You do realise that blood is very easy to wash out. Rinse in cold water and stick it in the washing machine.
Is this squeamishness or laziness?

Kai1977 · 21/01/2017 14:42

Davethecat yes I think it's more that. Even if the house owner doesn't use a bin in the bathroom, there may be guests who need to use one who then have to carry stuff around the house which doesn't seem the most hygienic thing to do.

Even if I didn't need to use our bins anymore (e.g. after menopause) I'd still keep one in the bathroom, as does my Mum.

DesolateWaist · 21/01/2017 14:44

I have to say that not a single solitary person I know IRL uses washable sanitary products... I didn't even know it was a thing until I joined mumsnet.
Well I have never told anyone. You could be my best friend and not know.

Personally I can't imagine anything worse than rinsing out blood soaked pads in the sink - even if I'm caught unawares the underwear goes in the bin (wrapped in loo roll & tied up in a nappy bag).
I don't rinse them out in the sink, I put them in the washing machine.

NotLadyPrickshit · 21/01/2017 14:54

Mywinetime I've never claimed it's squeamishness it's just not something that I've heard of IRL nor is it something that I would do - much in the same way as I didn't use cloth nappies or wash pants after accidents during potty training because I couldn't be arsed with the fannying about

Must admit I'd be squeamish paranoid about carrying a used sanitary pad in my handbag at work though... I'd likely drop my bag & it'd fall out for all to see Blush

DesolateWaist · 21/01/2017 14:56

Do you not have sanibins in your work toilets?