to ask...where do you put your used tampons at home?

[YellowCat3]

Okay, I'll fess up...for years I've flushed them [blush. I've never thought too much about the enivronmental impact as I thought it was the same as loo roll, but have recently become aware that I definitely need to stop.

But I don't like the thought of them lingering around the house. We don't have a bin in the bathroom as it seems disgusting somehow, and our only bin is in the kitchen. It seems beyond skanky to put soiled tampons in there. I just wondered what other women do - do you put them straight in the bins outside, or are you happy to have bloody tampons in the bins inside for days? Not sure if I am being OCD about this (probably), but feel puzzled as to the best way to dispose of them?

Same as @lakieladie

Can I just ask those who use wipes for poo-related tasks, what do you do with them?

Amazed that so many people think wrapping tampons in loo roll is going to prevent them stinking out a bin.

But period blood doesn't stink. At least, mine doesn't.

I use a biodegradeable "fab little bag", like BrusselPout for mine, pop them in the bathroom bin and empty once the period is over. I also take the bags with me when out and about / visiting, as they are completely opaque, so it isn't obvious what's in there. Because they seal shut, you can even pop a used one in your handbag until you get home, if you can't find a bin.

A few years ago, I bought and tried a mooncup and both times I tried it, it got sucked up and suctioned itself very high up near my cervix! After recovering it twice for me, my husband chucked it in the bin and banned me from using it ever again LOL LOL LOL. I don’t understand how women get on with them!?

It sounds like you either inserted it too high, you didn’t check the seal when you inserted it, or it was the wrong size and moved.

It doesn’t sit as high inside the vagina as a tampon, if you check the seal on insertion and it’s the right size it shouldn’t move. If it does seem to get stuck I just put my finger round it and pull slightly while bearing down and that should break the seal.

Seriously, my toilet is tiny, no room for the narrow bins I've seen, wish there was truly I have nothing against bathroom bins. Besides it would just get manky with wee splashback from the males in this house evennworse would be the dog getting in to it!

If I was to have a guest they'd know me well enough and i them to just say they were just putting some rubbish in the kitchen bin. Non problem.

I have a Mirena instead of periods.

@QueenBeex, the link I posted upthread (fab little bags) might be worth taking a look at - I found them because I was also looking specifically for something biodegradable

I put mine in paper bags for sanitary products disposal and then into a bathroom bin. I leave the bags out for anyone who needs to use them.

For those who don't have bins in their bathrooms, what do your guests do if they're on their time of the month? Do they walk through the house with their tampons wrapped in toilet paper and throw it in the kitchen bin? I really struggle at the in-laws because there is nowhere to put them without making a show of myself walking past everyone and running to the wheelie bin outside. FIL will inevitably shout (he's hard of hearing) "Where was she off to?", "Why did you just go outside?"

Incidentally, those little plastic bags you get free for loose fruit and veg in the supermarket are exactly the right size for lining one of the small sized bathroom bins.
You’re welcome.

Of course, it’s still better just to wash out the inner liner.

I found out you shouldn't flush towels or tampons when I first started having periods. Roughly 25 years ago. Do people really still it is ok to flush them??? I use a mooncup now but before that would wrap in tissue and put in the bathroom bin. Would have no issue with putting them in the kitchen bin as that stinks and gets full in a day or two therefore emptied regularly.

I use loo roll bags for tiny bathroom bin liner. But, I now have a recycling bin in the bathroom, too, and most waste goes in there.

As for sanpro - I use reusable/washable pads now, so there's not much waste, but when I do use disposables I just wrap them in their own wrappers or tissue and bin them in the bathroom. I'd keep a bathroom bin with liner for guests, too.

I used to use those lavender scented nappy sacks and then pop them in the bin. I use little paper bags these days to try be a bit kinder to the environment!

Can honestly say my bathroom bin has never stunk the bathroom out from having a wrapped 3 day old tampon in it

My parents had a system.

My dad would go up to the loo before bed, taking the newspaper, he would be in there ages, and leave the newspaper at the side of the loo.

Obviously we took a daily broadsheet.

My mum then wrapped her sanitary ware in a piece of newspaper and popped it in the bin which was an old lidded nappy bucket lined with a bin bag. Bin was emptied weekly and the remaining newspapers at the side of the loo brought down for recycling.

No idea how they came up with this system as they never speak to each other. But newspaper (probably the free ones like Metro now!) could be an option for those saying there is too much blood for just wrapping in loo roll?

Those of you that flush have you ever seen the size of the pipe that takes the sewage away from your house?
It is absolutely tiny. The bigger ones are the main sewers. I wish blockages upon you and embarrassment.

I don't understand why tampons need to go in a bag in the first place

Cringing at those who are actually saying "are they not biodegradable?" and those freely admitting to flushing them. We have a long, long way to go.

Wrap them and put them in the bathroom bin. It is only blood.
I am sure you do not feel the same about tissues used for a bleeding nose or grazed knee.

I used to flush them. Didn’t realise you weren’t supposed to not flush them until last year. I used to flush the pads as well until maybe 7-8 years ago. I’m in my 50’s and it wasn’t a concern when I was younger. I never thought about it tbh 🙁

Amazed that so many people think wrapping tampons in loo roll is going to prevent them stinking out a bin.

Hilarious. More likely that people don't want the blood transferred to the lid or rim of the bin if it accidentally touches it as it goes in. Or, so that inquisitive younger children can't see what it is & try to get it out? Or, if they put it in the kitchen bin, so that they can actually carry it to the kitchen cleanly? But, feel free to continue to poke fun at people for not using a plastic bag.

FWIW, if postnatal pads don't "stink out a bin", there doesn't seem any reason to suppose that a few tampons will, either.

Amazed that so many people think wrapping tampons in loo roll is going to prevent them stinking out a bin.

You might want to see a doctor.

Surely any fluid that comes out of our bodies is going to start to smell if left for a few hours??

Is it really only me that assumes that it will?

Wrap in toilet paper and throw in kitchen bin. No more disgusting than shitty nappies, cat vomit, chicken guts and all the other shit that goes in there. Don't see why it's such an issue.
Never flushed either, but I'm not from the UK and it seems to be an UK thing.

No tampons don't stink the bathroom out in a few hours. Maybe if your bathroom is actually in a sauna it will?