AIBU to be so naive - embarrassing question!!!!

[loveyouradvice]

Almost too embarrassed to ask... so simple, so ignorant....

Im a long-term Lillets user... occasionally I buy Tampax as desperate and nowt else to buy....

So much stuff... Lillets, everything flushes down the loo....

Tampax - nice little paper wrapper AND double tube thing.... At home, where do you put these? Presumably neither flush....

I've spent last 3 days, carefully wrapping in loo paper and putting in bathroom bin... feel a bit ridiculous... but they feel too revealing just lying there for all to see in the bin.....

Guessing Im missing something really obvious....

I haven't bought tampons in a long time, but when I was a teenager and first started my period I'm sure it said on the packet (of both tampons and towels) that they should not be flushed. That would have been in the late 00's. I remember telling a friend and she had no idea they weren't supposed to be flushed. Lots of women don't know, especially as they used to say they were flushable products.

My pils have no bathroom bin. That is something I have never understood. Even if you flush the used tampons/towels what do you do with the wrappers if you have no bin?

All goes in the bin including the tampon. I buy poppins bags online for this

Don't flush anything. Wrap in loo roll of the wrapper itself and bin. Get a bin with a lid and empty frequently. If you are bothered about touching them put them in nappy bags. If you don't want anyone to see them get the black scented bags usually sold for picking up dog poo.

I suppose in theory they are flushable as they can be flushed, but that doesn't mean that it's a good idea.

I stopped flushing about 25 years ago, when there were regular news reports about beaches being covered in sanitary waste, condoms, cotton buds etc. I kind of assumed everyone knew this, like a PP said, you don't often talk about it IRL, but previous threads have made me realise a lot of people still think flushing is OK. This is why all bathrooms should have bins.

I buy scented sanitary disposal bags. They're usually about £1 for a box of 50 in places like Tesco or boots.
That way I don't have to worry if I'm out and about without a bathroom bin as I can bag and dispose later.
You could use them in your own bathroom

Only the 4 P's should go down the loo.
Puke
Pee
Poo
Paper (toilet paper only )

Everything else is disposable (ie in a bin ) not flushable.

am former water/sewerage company employee

Actually I think it's great people are reading this thread who didn't know you shouldn't flush and now do. That's really positive 😊

Like Mrs DeV, I didn't know you weren't meant to flush tampons until I read it here a few yesrs ago. I can read. I am not daft. That information somehow passed me by. Obviously I don't flush any more.

I only realised we weren't meant to flush tampons a couple of years ago, from a similar thread on here!

No one told me. When shown how to use tampons as a teen, I was told that you flush them. So always did! Not surprised that other people still do it, it doesn't come up in conversation generally. And I've never read the packets again since being a teen. I remember my mum ripping sanitary towels in half and flushing them too (not plasticy ones tho, more rippable papery ones).

Have a moon cup now so not an issue any more.

I use biodegradable nappy bags to put them in.

I rarely use them now, but struggle not to flush after 30+ years of flushing. Also, without getting graphic, sometimes it just isn't that easy. Thank goodness for my moon cup...

I buy the little sanitary bags from Superdrug .. 99p for a bag of 50, currently on 3,4,2, shove a few in my handbag in case I'm out .. jobs a good en

Menstrual cups... everything is just plain selfish. Can't believe so many women still use disposable San pro. It takes forever to decompose... it will still be here after you die!

I've always flushed my tampons, never heard that you shouldn't. Oh well, it will be the bin next time!

I've got some lovely washable sanitary towels, I wish I'd discovered them years ago

Menstrual cups... everything is just plain selfish. Can't believe so many women still use disposable San pro. It takes forever to decompose... it will still be here after you die

Thanks for that. Nice to know that injuries I sustained during birth which makes using a mooncup impossible are selfish.

I use the tampons I use because it gives me back some quality of life.

I am as eco-aware as I can be in other areas - but I think a little dignity once a month isn't too much to ask for.

Just buy those nappy disposable bags and stick all the used sanitary ware in there. That's what I do.

I can't believe the entitled sheer bloody nerve that means you can try to dictate what sanpro other women use, youaredeluded 😳

Some people do have fewer options, but we really should be moving away from disposable sanpro where we can. Otherwise we are inflicting the waste on other people, not just our views.

NiceCuppaTeaAndASitDown "I buy scented sanitary disposal bags. They're usually about £1 for a box of 50 in places like Tesco or boots."

Exactly. I've always used them and I believe they're biodegradable (can't check as I'm now post menopause so haven't got any). A million times better than the nappy sacks that so many people have mentioned, which reek to high heaven and are far too big.

I'm naughty and do flush the thing itself but wrapper and tube bit goes in the bin.
Agree with someone at the start who wasn't a fan of the Tampax Pearl - they're supposed to be the best ones ever but I think they seem really flimsy compared to Compax and I have not found that they prevent a leak any more than the other varieties. I don't mind the cardboard tube ones.

Never tried Lilets - are they better or worse?

Mooncup - tried it once when it arrived, thought I'll figure it out before my least favorite week of the month arrives and it bloomin got stuck. Took me 30 mins to get it out. Got a bit freaked out I might have to go to A/E or whatnot to have it removed. Never touched it again. I think it's too risky as if you do manage to actually get it out when you're actully on and it flies out, everything will go everywhere and that would not be good.

Can't believe there are still no better options in this day and age. Really hate the monthly fuss. Body won't even accept it when I try and do continuous pill one pack after another, to avoid it completely and still makes me bleed anyway.

Grr

I linked in an earlier post on this thread to some that are definitely bio-degradable anyway. But they are certainly available in supermarkets and places such as Superdrug and Boots - for example www.superdrug.com/Superdrug/Superdrug-Sanitary-Bags-X50/p/219103

I can't believe there are people who don't know - or worse - don't care that you shouldn't flush tampons. I'm in my 60's and have never flushed them and made sure my daughter (now in her mid-20's) knew too. We always used the sanitary disposal bags. Why is it not common knowledge?

Menstrual cups... everything is just plain selfish. Can't believe so many women still use disposable San pro. It takes forever to decompose... it will still be here after you die!

What, did you just say this?

See I could have a go at people for driving/flying/eating meat/taking long showers/using bleach/using fabric softener/teflon/microbeads because they're all bad for the environment.

But I don't, because I'm not a dick, and people can choose whichever products they bloody want!