Congratulations on choosing reusable incontinence underwear instead of single-use pads and guards. If you’re new to washable absorbent underwear you may have a few questions about how to look after them. We’re here to help...

Yes. It’s important that you wash your underwear to activate our multi-layered absorbent textile ready for use. Please remove the hygiene sticker and wash your new undies according to the care instructions

Our leakproof absorbent products can be hand or machine washed just like your ordinary laundry, offering a discreet, convenient and eco-friendly alternative to single-use pads and shields. Just turn them inside out and pop them in the washing machine on delicate cycle below 40°C/105°F, or you can hand wash them if you prefer. Use your ordinary washing powder or liquid. Do not bleach them, use fabric conditioner or antibacterial sprays or dry clean them.

Here are the little symbols that tell you what to do (and what not to do):

There are different versions for different countries (which is why we have two rows of slightly different symbols), but here's a translation:

It interferes with the absorbency of the textile and means they won’t be so absorbent next time you wear them.

Yes! Just turn them inside out, give them a quick rinse then toss them in the washing machine with the rest of your laundry.

Yes, you can hand wash them in a bucket of water that’s no warmer than 40°C/105°F.

If your underwear go through the wash bundled up in a little ball with the waterproof, leakproof layer on the outside, the water won’t get a chance to rinse through them thoroughly. That’s why we don’t recommend putting them in a delicates bag either.

If you don’t have time to wash your underwear straight away you can just rinse them in cool water, then squeeze or wring out most of the water and set them aside until washing day. Some users tell us they just rinse them while they’re in the shower.

Yes! Unlike most other brands of absorbent underwear, you can dry our underwear in the tumble dryer. If you don't have the time or inclination to hang them on the washing line you can safely pop them in the tumble dryer instead – without affecting their leakproof performance.

Not a lot of people know this, but most reusable incontinence underwear contains a layer of polyurethane plastic as waterproofing to prevent the urine from leaking right through. But the plastic tends to warp and shrink when it’s subjected to heat, so if you accidentally put them through the dryer the chances are the plastic will distort, leading to leaks. And even if you manage to rescue them from the washing pile before it goes in the dryer, repeated washing will eventually break down the plastic, also reducing its ability to prevent leaks.

Because they’re designed specifically to absorb and hold liquid, incontinence underwear will take longer than ordinary underwear to dry – about the same amount of time as a pair of thick sports socks. That’s why it’s so handy that ours can be thrown in the dryer on low heat so you can wear them again sooner – meaning you need fewer pairs. Of course, you can also hang them on the washing line outside – just keep them away from direct sunlight. They can also be dried in an airing closet or on an indoor drying rack or heated towel rail. Because the outer layer is designed to retain liquid, they’ll dry faster if you turn them inside out.

Our absorbent underwear has been lab tested and verified odour-resistant by independent standards laboratory UL. Others won't be able to smell urine while you’re wearing them, but some customers do report a slightly stale smell developing after they have been washed a few times, especially if they are left in the washing machine too long after washing, or not completely dried through each time. This is common to many high-performance sportswear textiles. To refresh them, we recommend periodically submerging them in a solution of three parts water to one part white vinegar, then allowing them to soak for about 30 minutes before transferring them to the washing machine and washing as normal. Ensure they are completely dried before reuse – you can safely pop them in the tumble dryer on low heat to make sure.

Because our underwear is so high performing, you may not need to change as often as other brands, which may mean you need to buy fewer pairs. Many customers with only light bladder leakage tell us they can comfortably wear the same pair for 24 hours. If your flow is heavier you may wish to change them twice a day – maybe after the gym or before going out. Unlike most brands of absorbent underwear, our products can safely be tumble dried, which allows for quick turnaround between wear – another reason you may need fewer pairs than other brands recommend.

We suggest buying one pair (or one pair of each absorbency) first to check how they work for you, then building up to at least five pairs, which should see you through a week with one load of washing in the middle.

Luckily our leakproof underwear are built to last. We know this because independent standards laboratory UL washed and dried them over and over again, then tested them to see if they were still doing the job they were designed to do. After more than 52 wash and dry cycles, they couldn’t find any deterioration in their absorbency or leakproof performance. That means every pair you buy will prevent at least 52 single-use products from reaching landfill – or many more if you usually use more than one pad, guard or shield in a day.

Shop Confitex leakproof underwear now