Settle an argument please

[Isittimeformynapyet]

Between the Mothership and I.....
Are menstrual products "sanitaryWARE" or "sanitaryWEAR"?

Mum went to the loo in a national trust place and saw a sign saying not to flush "sanitaryware", and thought it was an error. I'm not sure. Google hasn't helped.

Any thoughts?

It's sanitaryware. Wares means goods, as in sanitary goods/products.

Sanitaryware = bathroom fittings. Sanitary wear = menstrual products.

I hope she didn't flush the toilet, then! After being asked not to.

Sanitarywear, just like sportswear.

There is absolutely nothing ambiguous about this. The sign was 100% incorrect.
Sanitary ware includes things like toilets, basins etc.
The things that you purchase for personal use is sanitary wear.

@Isittimeformynapyet

Between the Mothership and I..... Are menstrual products "sanitaryWARE" or "sanitaryWEAR"?

Mum went to the loo in a national trust place and saw a sign saying not to flush "sanitaryware", and thought it was an error. I'm not sure. Google hasn't helped.

Any thoughts?

Your Google must be broken. When I type sanitary wear I get advert's for sanitary towels.

When I type sanitary ware Definition of sanitary ware: ceramic plumbing fixtures (such as sinks, lavatories, or toilet bowls)

@T00Ts

Sanitaryware is, I think, correct. It refers to the gubbins involved. Like hardware, Tupperware….other ‘wares’ I can’t think of right now.

Yes, this is correct. Think of a merchant's wares. Surprised Google didn't know 🤣

Wear because you 'wear' them

@Isittimeformynapyet

Between the Mothership and I..... Are menstrual products "sanitaryWARE" or "sanitaryWEAR"?

Mum went to the loo in a national trust place and saw a sign saying not to flush "sanitaryware", and thought it was an error. I'm not sure. Google hasn't helped.

Any thoughts?

Wear

Ware = toilets, basins, cisterns, etc.
Wear = towels, tampons, etc.

Sports wear - items worn for sports
Night wear - items used for night time
Incontinence wear - items used for incontinence

So I'd say wear, and sanitary ware would be toilets, sanitary bins etc.

And now I've typed wear too many times and it looks weird 🤣

What @SweetFelicityArkright says

Thanks everyone. We're going with "wear" here now.

I’ve heard of sanityware (toilets, basins etc) before but ‘sanitywear’ doesn’t seem to be a word. Very very few results for it in google.

I don't think it's either. Sanitaryware is basins/toilets etc. Sanitary products are towels/tampons.

I think it’s two separate words ‘sanitary wear’ as opposed to sanitarywear.

There is no such term sanitary wear, but I get what this would mean - tampons, pads etc.

Whoever put the post up has made an error. Sanitaryware is def the toilet/urinal etc.

Menswear
Womenswear
Childrenswear

Why is everyone swearing?

The sign should have said 'Do not flush your sanitary wear down the sanitary ware'.

[Pages Pedants' corner for support]

@PastMyBestBeforeDate

Sanitaryware is the toilet and basin Sanitarywear is the feminine hygiene products.

Agree. If you google sanitary ware you get bathroom supplies. If you google sanitary wear you get nappies and menstrual products.

I'm a proofreader. Sanitary ware (two words) is the porcelain toilet etc.

There is no similar phrase in English to describe femine hygiene products. Those are called feminine hygiene products or "sanitary products"

On an unrelated note, it's Ukraine, not THE Ukraine

Oh marvellous. The proofreader misspelled "feminine". I blame autocorrect

Ok, way off topic but thread related. I saw someone use the word gubbins above and thought it was a typo. But I've just learned my surname is an actual word. Will have to throw it into some emails and cause confusion LOL

@FluffyMcFluffFace

Sanitary wear. Sanitary ware is the actual toilet/basin etc.

This

I agree that you shouldn't flush sanitary wear down the sanitary ware.