To flush tampons down the toilet?

[CluedoCat]

Until very recently, I thought most women did this, and I didn't see it as much different to throwing a wad of loo roll down there. I know the box says you shouldn't, but I thought this way something said but never adhered to. However, I have recently learned it's really bad for the sweage system to do this, and the advice is to put used tampons in the bin?

The thought of putting bloodied tampons in the bin and keeping them in the house is gross to me - I'd rather just thrush it away and that's that. One of the many reasons I don't use towels is because the thought of them festering is disgusting to me.

AIBU to continue doing this, and am I apparently the only woman who does? I've never blocked the toilet or experienced any issues.

Re landfill

Please use common sense. Bins that say "Sanitary towels only" of course they are intended for tampons, applicators etc just (stigma probably), they don't mention it. All public toilets and workplace toilets are required to have bins even if not the rentokil type. Really there are very few situations where you would have to resort to wrapping up to take home.

Of course ideally we would use reusable sanpro (I do mostly) but lots of PPs have said it doesn't suit them. So the next best thing is hygienic safe disposal with household waste. In the grand scheme of plastic, rubbish and landfill, believe me sanpro is one of the more reasonable uses. The stuff that ends up in the sea and on TV has been flushed, flytipped or deliberately thrown there. Don't let the current Plasticphobia craze create a worse problem.

It gets me this "no way am I carrying a festering blood soaked tampon in my handbag" sure instead you are happy for another human being to shovel it out of a fatberg . We just have to stop bring so precious and squeamish about bodily functions, we are grown ups and mostly parents!

I think when I was younger my logic was that sanitary pads were bulky and contained plastic so they had to go in bins but tampons didn't. I always binned the applicators

Please use common sense

I think you need to do the same. I am perfectly capable of working that out BUT it is a daft, incorrect thing to write that may confuse some people, particularly people who have been used to different systems who are not British.

Sorry Tea I wasn't having a go but understood your post to mean you took it literally. I agree it's not as clear as it could be.

Massively selfish and entitled behaviour - but who cares as long as it you who doesn't have to deal with the blockage to the sewer system hey?

Switch to washable pads, menstrual cup or period pants. Definitely don't flush them!

www.cheekywipes.com/cloth-sanitary-pads-kits.html

One of the issues for me with resusable sanpro is the cost. I'm a single parent and I'm on a low income, I have very heavy flow and I can't afford £30 on one pair of knickers, or £20 on a mooncup or reusable pads.

dfwr reusable pads start at around £2. You can buy one or two when you are able, and gradually build up your collection. You will be using less disposable products in the meantime so will save a lot long term.

I never knew people flushed them until Mumsnet. Never occurred to me that people would.

£2 including postage for heavy flow? That's a lot cheaper than I've seen anywhere. Those cheeky ones are a fiver and £3.95 postage so that's £8.95 a pad. I simply don't have that spare.

So you're squeamish about the idea of YOUR tampon sitting in YOUR bin for a day or so until YOU empty it but you're ok with some poor person fishing it out further down the line, or a child finding it while they're making sandcastles on the beach? Ok then.

To be fair the plumber or child at the beach doesn't know it's yours

OP, I understand that you were taught as a teen that this is ok.

But now you know better, please do not flush your sanitary products down the toilet.

These are the ones I bought, and yes I stocked up gradually. They are also good for "other leakage" so I now wear them daily and they irritate my skin a lot less than the disposables (especially those bloody Tena lights that I appear to have an allergy to!!!)

www.ebay.co.uk/itm/10Pcs-Waterproof-Reusable-Bamboo-Sanitary-Menstrual-Cloth-Pads-Liners-UK-MB1l-/142919308720

i think those are made in China though?

Admittedly I don't know where they are made, but they are sent from the UK

There are also instructions online to make your own, if you're a crafty type? :)

www.totsbots.com/bloom-and-nora

If you are looking for ones made in UK these are made in Glasgow. Not used them but same company as Tots Bots nappies.

@Dfwr - look up making them yourself reusing stuff you probably have already with having kids. Precious Stars Pads and Flow of the Goddess on YouTube have how to videos. Plenty of others too.