to ask if you use period products in other people's bathrooms?

[YayChristmas2019]

Just that, really.

I am torn about whether I should continue the long-lived tradition of having some tampons and pads visible and accessible in the bathroom so guests can grab one if needed or if I just shouldn't bother.

Last box was gifted away prior to us moving and I have not used disposable period products in ages, so no urgent need to buy any.

I know people do grab them occasionally but the last box lasted ~5 years and was still half full.

I wonder whether it would make a difference if I put it in a pretty box with a lid and a sign with something like "Period stuff, grab what you need :)" so it is less noticable for other guests if someone took something?

We are hosting people quite frequently, it makes a difference.

YANBU - Put a box of stuff in the bathroom again
YABU - Don't bother

(I know, I know, first world problems - mostly asking out of curiosity!)

I don't have guests often at all, but if I did I'd keep some Tampax and pads on view. I wouldn't feel the need to use 'a pretty box' though, and I can't help feeling that a sign saying 'Period stuff, grab what you need' wouldn't make it less noticeable...

Honestly, it seems excessive unless you have guests every single day or run a business from home. It's your bathroom so just have stuff in it that you need.

No, never even though of having a supply for visitors.

Any visitors would use dd's bathroom anyway and she keeps hers in the cupboard, so they are there if anyone needed one. I am pretty sure if a friend needed one they would just ask her, shout through the door or just help themselves by having a look in the cupboard. I have not a problem with any of those.

But a sign? Why would you do that?

I previously used to do what @FrowningFlamingo does but the new bathroom has zero cabinet space - it is either out in the open or "pretty box".

Honestly, with my own friends it is a non-issue but we also have a general understanding that we take what we need (within reason, of course). That is why having some tampons and pads out of the cabinet made sense.

We're geographically closer to more of DH's friends now and some of them are a little on the prudeish side of things. Including some women who I suspect would probably prefer to bleed to death before they ask me for a tampon or pad in front of someone male they are not dating. I can be difficult to catch on my own, not to mention, sometimes I am not even home when DH has people over. That is why I thought a sign could be useful but I guess I'll just pop some travel-size packs of tampons and pads out in the open and people can use them, just as I had before. Thanks everyone!

Just keep a pack in your bedroom.

Anyone that needs one can ask.

If men had periods there would be a tampon dispenser next to the toilet roll dispenser in every single home bathroom.

If people are prudish then they may not take from the box anyway (since it's a tacit "Hey, look at me, I'm having my period!"). I'd just keep things reasonably accessible and assume that anyone who needed something could open a cupboard and look for it.

Providing sanitary products to visitors in my home would never even occur to me. I keep mine in my en suite. The bathroom that guests would use is mostly used by Dh and Ds, so they'd be a long time looking for a tampon in there . I tend to be prepared if expecting my period so always have a supply in my handbag. If I was caught short I think I would ask for a pad as opposed to just opening boxes or presses in a hosts bathroom and helping myself.

Have been sitting there thinking about this, and in all my years of having home and visitors, I think I have been asked once if someone could have some sanpro as caught off guard.

And I am old so that is a long time.

Most woman are just usually prepared imo. Even dd, she is 16 and always has emergency sanpro with her in her bag.

Drum

Most people bring the things they need with them surely? I always have a couple of sanitary towels in my bag in case I am caught out and when I stay with anyone bring enough with me.
If I was to be caught out I'd just ask.
I've had people stay before and ask and it wasn't a problem and no-one was embarrassed in any way.

I suppose if you have guests, such as teenage grandchildren, then maybe it could be useful for them as they may not want to ask.

But I wouldn't go out and buy a load of products and a nice box to put them in if the majority of guests are adult women.
And for the love of God, if you do decide to go ahead with your idea, please buy unscented ones otherwise your home will stink to high heaven within 5 minutes and no one will want to use them anyway.

YABU to use the word 'grab'

sorry,have been on MN too many years and have started missing the point of the OPs

Yay, so just to ask.

If you go to your friends home whilst on your period, you don't take your own supply, you just use hers as you know she has them there?

I can't imagine doing this, and nearly every adult woman is more than able to manage their periods.

This is one of those why would you not? posts.....

Living as i do in an all , apart from me , female household the blinking things are all over the place found a few tampax in my en suite bathroom the other week no women have bene in there at my request and the housekeeper says that she hasnt left them there!!

In all my years I’ve never once considered using someone else’s sanpro when I’ve been a guest in their home. I’ve never needed to, but if I did, I’d ask my host if was stuck.

Never heard of this, nor seen it, in my life! It's a nice, considerate thought though.

I am really overthinking this....

If there is no space for visitors sanpro in the new bathroom, where do you keep the spare loo roll?

Cringe. Are you a hotel. I have never, ever seen this in anyones home. Just sounds like you are trying too hard. Do you have a train of strangers passing through? Surely anyone that comes to your home can ask you for one. If you have a dd then her friends can ask her for one.

And the pretty box and sign really is a bit bonkers. You'd think that you had a constant run on sanpro for guests the way you're going on.

What an odd question?!! Not going to give details of my own habits here, but no, I don't think a box with 'period stuff help yourself smile' is necessary.

So, in reply to your question which I realised I never answered...

No, I would not help myself to your period products.

But if you had a nice Jo Malone hand wash in there, I would so give that a whirl.

We have a box of different stuff out in both our bathrooms. We've found people do use them. I live in a student house and they're basically communal. We also host a lot and have loads of different people over so wanted to make sure that they're accessible and people would be able to use them if they needed. I've noticed a lot of other students do the same. I've also found that my male housemates and most of my male friends are completely fine picking pads/tampons up as part of a shop which was a nice surprise as I know a lot of guys who wouldn't.

I don’t get many visitors but in my salon we have a box filled with sanpro ☺️. It just says something like “Take what you need not for the greed, replace if you can that’s the good deed”