Sanitation Towels: 5 Common Mistakes You’re Making
Sanitation towels and sanitary pads are undisputedly important to girls and women. While sanitary pads are most common, some women use sanitation towels for their monthly menstrual flow.
Sanitation towels work almost the same way as sanitary pads. They are reusable, chemical-free, biodegradable, and cost-effective. Most women have also reported that they are allergy-free. Using them, however, comes with some downsides, especially if you aren’t paying proper attention to your personal hygiene.
Here are the 5 common sanitation towel mistakes you’re making.
Not changing your sanitation towel regularly
Sanitation towels and menstrual pads work the same way. They collect your period blood and prevent you from staining your clothes. However, they should be changed every 3 to 4 hours to keep the lady parts area clean and healthy.
Leaving your sanitary pad or sanitation towel in place for longer allows bacteria to breed, especially because the period blood contains nutrients that encourage microorganisms’ growth.
For wholesome personal hygiene, ensure that your sanitation towels or sanitary pads are changed every three to four hours or, at most, six hours.
Disinfection and bleaching
Sanitation towels are chemical-free. This is perhaps one of the biggest reasons allergic women use them. It is important to keep them chemical-free by not bleaching or using heavy chemicals to wash them.
Once you’ve changed out your sanitation towel, ensure to wash it in cold or lukewarm water while steaming it to get rid of any microorganisms. You should also ensure that the sanitation towel is properly packed, folded, and stored away in a cool, dry place for next use.
Not drying sanitation towels properly
Being reusable, you must ensure that your sanitation towels are properly washed and dried before they are stored away for the next use. Not drying your sanitation towels can leave moisture in them, providing a suitable medium for microorganisms to grow.
A good way to dry your sanitation towel will be using a dryer or air drying. Please note that air-drying may take a longer time.
Not disposing of your sanitation towel properly
Sanitation towels should never be flushed down the toilet, regardless of their size. Flushing your sanitation towels down the toilet can cause drain clogs, leading to toilet or sewage backup. The problem can cost you a lot of money to fix.
For proper disposal, wrap your sanitation towel in a tissue or plastic bag before throwing it in a trash can.
Using aged or old sanitation towels
Using an old sanitation towel for your menstrual needs can expose you to many health dangers. Although sanitation towels have an average lifespan of 25 to 40 years, you shouldn’t use them for more than 6 months for period collection. This is to ensure proper personal hygiene and to prevent possible infectious diseases.
How To Care for Your Sanitation Towels
Caring for your sanitation towels is caring for your health and personal hygiene. Here are some tips on how to get the best out of your sanitation towel;
Change regularly
Your sanitation towel is chemical-free, meaning it doesn’t contain the same chemicals as a sanitary pad. You should change it regularly to prevent soaking through and to promote your personal health. Leaving it in place for longer encourages bacteria growth which may affect your kitty’s health.
Wash using appropriate detergents
You should avoid using heavy chemicals or detergents when washing your sanitation towels. You should also avoid using bleach as it could damage the sanitation towel’s fabric and leave chemical residues that may harm your skin.
Dry properly
Drying your sanitation towel is very important, especially before they are stored away for the next month’s use. Ensure they are properly dried using a dryer or by air drying. You could also apply heat by ironing both surfaces to kill germs and pathogens.
Store properly
Carefully fold your sanitation towels and store them in a cool, dry place against the next use. Ensure it is kept in areas free from moisture or dampness.
Are you also using sanitation towels for that special time of the month? Have you recently switched from sanitary pads to sanitation towels because of allergic reactions? What has the experience been?
