to expect a bin in the bathroom?

[IsabelleSE19]

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?

It's very simple, if you want a bathroom bin in your house, have one.

If you have periods and are going out, ensure you take all of the supplies you might need with you. That might include something like a nappy sack so you can pop a used item into because the bathroom you are using at the time might not have a bin in it. You periods, don't expect other people's houses to be set up in a way that suits you.

I am not carrying around used sanitary protection because someone doesn't have a bathroom bin. I'll wrap in loo roll and put in the kitchen bin

You would be more than welcome to use my kitchen bin Jacques

As someone who only has a kitchen bin, that would be absolutely fine with me.

"You periods, don't expect other people's houses to be set up in a way that suits you."

I have to carry nappy bag around with me now? Do I need to carry a plastic bottle in case I have to pee?

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.

What a faff! And who needs ANOTHER thing to carry round with them?

"You periods, don't expect other people's houses to be set up in a way that suits you."

What a bizarre thing to say.

I can't decide if posters on here are weirder about periods or about bins and them being 'disgusting' or 'revolting'. They're bins; they're not meant to be fragrant delightful objets for your delight.

"When you have something in your hand that needs to go into a bin, do you have to immediately without moving from the spot, have to put it in a bin, or are you capable of putting it down for a minute, then picking it up again and walking with it to the nearest bin?

I know this question wasn't aimed at me, but I think WRT sanpro then yes, it does make a huge difference to be able to reach over and pop straight into a bin rather than walk it through various rooms worrying about drippage (not sure about others but my periods are that bad, unless I used half a roll the blood would soak through the tissue by the time I got to the kitchen!)."

Completely agree Cherry.

I would say in the case of used sanitary products then yes it should immediately be placed in a bin.

The other scenario is that I replace my tampon, wrap the offending used one & applicator in loo roll & then place it on the bathroom counter/side of sink/top of cistern whilst I wash my hands

I have to carry nappy bag around with me now? Do I need to carry a plastic bottle in case I have to pee?
You can use my facilities - toilet and bin. I said, don't expect my house to be set up in a way to suit you.
You are welcome to use loo roll if you prefer, I don't care, wrap it any way you want and put it in my bin, just don't tell me where I should store my bin.

I'm not weird about bins or periods. I'm not the one freaking out about putting used sanpro in my bag or carrying it to a bin in another room!
I have no need for a bin in my bathroom so I don't have one.

I'm on either side of the fence here.

My parents have no bathroom bin and it is annoying to have to scoop up cotton pads, contact lens debris etc every time. However, even if they did have a bathroom bin, I'd never leave used sanitary products in it. Some things, I'd just rather take care of myself thanks.

I have a bin in the bathroom

I have a bin in my bedroom

I have a bin in spare /guest bedroom

😇😇😇😇😇😇😇😇😇😇

"I have no need for a bin in my bathroom so I don't have one."

But your guests may have a need for one.

"I'm not the one freaking out about putting used sanpro in my bag or carrying it to a bin in another room!"

The thing is though MyWineTime, if I'm at your house, how would I know if you want me to carry the used tampon to a bin in another room or if that's not OK with you, unless there's a sign on the wall?

Some things, I'd just rather take care of myself thanks.

How are you going to 'take care of' used sanitary stuff differently from your parents? Doesn't taking care of a bin involve, um, just emptying it? Or do you envisage people scrutinising the contents, perhaps laying them out on display so they can have a really good look at them?

Sapphire, clearly not.

However, I have emptied enough bins in my time to know that sometimes bags split or contents spill out. I'd just rather not have someone clearing up my used tampons after me.

I can honestly say the small possibility of a bin splitting or spilling when it contains a sanitary bundle I've put in has never occurred to me. Am I alone?

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.

The other year I went to Court for a hearing. I'd been to this particular Court loads of times and the security man knew me. However, this one time he decided he wanted to search through my handbag, including inside the make up bag I keep my tampons / panty liners in. He was rather mortified when I opened it up for him to check (I wasn't as bothered as he was!). I imagine I'd have wanted the ground to open up and swallow me if I'd also been carrying used, washable, sanitary towels with me! Some things don't need to be delved through by a security guard.

I have nothing to add to the discussion but I think ghosty should be awarded some sort of prize.

The thing is though MyWineTime, if I'm at your house, how would I know if you want me to carry the used tampon to a bin in another room or if that's not OK with you, unless there's a sign on the wall?

If there's no bin in the bathroom, then it's safe to assume it's OK to put the used tampon - or indeed any rubbish - in an alternative bin.

If there's no bin in the bathroom, then it's safe to assume it's OK to put the used tampon - or indeed any rubbish - in an alternative bin.

The rules are possibly different in different houses... I stayed with friends abroad with no bathroom bin, in a country where they have different rubbish/recycling procedures. Was mortified when they told me they 'kept finding things' in the wrong bin. They obviously meant my wrapped tampons and pads. I'd endured the embarrassment of trying to stuff them up my sleeves and casually secrete them in (what I thought was) the right bin for days, for nothing.

So how is that improved by a bathroom bin? It suggests they'll go rifling through the bin to sort it into the correct main bin.

We all have our own different foibles. No way could I leave sanpro in a bathroom bin for someone else to deal with, possibly days later. Bathroom bins are often small, no lid, it's easy to see what's in there. They're often not emptied regularly.

And now we realise people are possibly sifting through them to identify rubbish v recycling...

Yes, bad example, you're right!

I suspect sifting through is more common in other countries than the UK, so I wouldn't worry about 'people... possibly sifting through them to identify rubbish v recycling'.

I think I was trying to make the point that trying to discreetly smuggle this stuff up your sleeve into the kitchen bin, or wherever, as I did, is stressful and embarrassing; a bathroom bin just eliminates that awkwardness. Also that a householder no doubt knows the 'rule' for how to throw stuff away in their house, but you can't assume that guests will magically know what the rules are.

I am still baffled by the squeamishness about 'leaving' sanitary stuff for others to 'deal with'; in my house we just bag up the bathroom bin (it has a lid, so there's no sanpro staring at you from it!) and chuck it. Not much to 'deal with' really.

But your guests may have a need for one.
It's incredibly rare that I have complete strangers in my house, any other friends would have no problem in using the bin in the kitchen (which is just outside the bathroom anyway) or just asking me!
If you wouldn't feel the need to ask permission to use a bathroom bin, why would you need a sign to tell you to use the kitchen bin? It's very visible about 4 feet away from the bathroom door and there is almost zero chance of anyone seeing you use it if you can't cope with the shame.

HungryHorace used sanpro is neatly folded with poppers to hold it closed. It would be obvious on opening the case that is contained sanpro. Unless he took them out and opened them up, there would be no way of knowing whether they were used or not.
But if you had a used disposal tied up in a nappy sack, he's unlikely to undo it and delve inside.
Do you feel that women should always hide the existence of having periods? I wouldn't want to advertise it but I would never make my choice of sanpro based on what a random man might think about it.

I'd endured the embarrassment of trying to stuff them up my sleeves
You were staying with friends and you couldn't just ask them?
You wouldn't even have to mention periods - which bin should I used for general waste that can't be recycled? You could even invent some notional cotton wool balls or facial wipes.
I don't understand what is so difficult about walking to a bin and putting something in it! I've never been interrogated as to what I have just put in the bin. No-one's ever fell over laughing and pointing about me using a bin or having a period.
This degree of embarrassment about the very existence of periods is not healthy.

This degree of embarrassment about the very existence of periods is not healthy.

That's quite funny looking at the posts on here expressing utter disgust and mortification at the very idea of putting a sanpro item in a bin in a bathroom.