How do you correctly wear and use period panties?

Step into them like regular underwear, make sure the absorbent gusset sits centred between your legs and lies flat, and change them every 4 to 6 hours depending on flow, which is PeeSafe’s guidance. Disposable pairs need no other underwear over them and go in the bin after use, never down the toilet. Reusable pairs get a cold rinse, a normal wash and air drying, without fabric softener.

Quick facts

• Wear like underwear: disposable pairs need no other underwear over them

• Centre the gusset so it covers front to back without bunching

• Change every 4 to 6 hours, or sooner on heavy days

• Disposables: wrap and bin, never flush

• Reusables: cold rinse first, wash, air dry, and skip fabric softener and the tumble dryer

Wearing a disposable pair

1. Take the pair out of its packaging and check the size marked on the pack.

2. Step in and pull it up like regular underwear.

3. Adjust so the gusset sits centred and lies flat, with no folds.

4. Wear it without other underwear over it, since it is designed to fit seamlessly.

5. Change it every 4 to 6 hours, depending on your flow.

6. To remove, tear or roll it off, wrap it in its packaging or tissue, and put it in a bin. Never flush it.

Wearing and washing a reusable pair

1. If the pack says so, wash a new pair once before the first wear.

2. Wear it like regular underwear with the gusset centred.

3. Change it every 4 to 6 hours, depending on your flow.

4. After wearing, rinse it in cold water until the water runs clear. Hot water can set the stain.

5. Wash it in a normal cycle or by hand with a mild detergent, without fabric softener.

6. Air dry it. A tumble dryer’s heat can damage the absorbent layers.

If you cannot wash a pair straight away, rinse it in cold water, wring it gently and keep it in a bag until laundry day. Not sure of your size? See what size period panty to buy.

Mistakes that cause leaks or wear

• Choosing a size that is too small, which pulls the gusset out of position

• Wearing one pair longer than the change interval allows

• Using hot water on blood stains, which can fix them in the fabric

• Using fabric softener, which coats the absorbent fibres

• Tumble drying reusable pairs

Disposal of used disposables follows the same rule as pads, explained in how to dispose of used sanitary pads. Shop disposable and reusable pairs in the period panty collection.

Related reading from the PeeSafe blog

• How to use disposable period panties: wear, change, dispose

• Period panties size chart and how to wear them

• My first-hand experience with PeeSafe disposable period panties