There is no single right number of washable underpads, because it depends on how many changes happen in a day and how often you can wash and dry them. A short calculation gives you a working number for your own routine. This guide shows the math, then adds extras for chairs, the car and a disposable backup.
Start with how many changes happen in a day and a night
For about a week, note how many pads get wet or need changing in 24 hours, and where: the bed at night, a chair in the day, anywhere else. Write down the busiest day, not just the average, because the busy day is the one that runs you out of clean pads.
If the number of changes is climbing or has changed suddenly, mention it to a doctor or nurse. That is a health question, not a laundry one.
Factor in how often you can wash and dry
Your machine size, your schedule and where the laundry is all set the pace. Thick pads can take longer to dry than a normal load, and in a Canadian winter, when drying outdoors is not an option, indoor drying can add time. If you share a laundry room or use a coin laundry, wash days may be fixed for you.
Decide a realistic wash rhythm, such as every second day, and how long a load takes from wash to dry. Both numbers go into the formula.
A simple way to work out your own number
Use this formula:
- A = pads used per day
- B = days between wash loads
- D = days a load takes to wash and dry (use 1 if it is done the same day)
- Pads you need = A x (B + D)
The first part, A x B, is the pile of used pads waiting for the wash. The second part, A x D, is the clean set you use while that pile is in the machine.
| Situation | A | B | D | Pads in rotation |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| One bed pad a night, one chair pad in the day, washing every second day | 2 | 2 | 1 | 6 |
| One bed pad a night, washing every third day | 1 | 3 | 1 | 4 |
| Three changes a day, washing every second day, slow indoor drying | 3 | 2 | 2 | 12 |
Treat the result as a minimum. One more pad on top means a missed wash day does not leave you short. If your bed pads and chair pads are different sizes, run the formula once for each size, since one cannot stand in for the other.
Extra pads for chairs, the car and visits
Count pads by place as well as by day. Each chair that needs protection should have its own pad, ideally with a spare, and a pad kept in the car or in a day bag covers outings and appointments. One option for a chair is Medline Sofnit 300 Reusable Chair Underpad, 18 x 24 in, Pink.
If you travel or stay with family, add enough for the length of the trip, or plan to wash on the way.
Keeping a small pack of disposables as backup
A washable routine is only as reliable as the washer. A small stock of disposables covers a broken machine, a stretch of bad weather that stops drying, a busy week or a trip. One option is Purenexus Health Disposable Underpads, 23 x 36 in, 50 Count, and you can compare more in the disposable underpads collection.
Keep them in a spot where you can reach them in the dark, and add them to the shopping list when the pack is half used.
Starting small and adding to your rotation
You do not have to buy the full number at once. Start with one pack, run the routine for a couple of weeks, and see where you come up short: bed, chair, or the wash gap. A listing like Utopia Bedding Washable Incontinence Bed Pads, 34 x 36 in, Blue, 4 Pack shows how some packs are sold in small counts, while other listings are sold as a case of 24, which may be more than you need at the start. Check the pack count on the product page before you order.
Buying the same style each time makes it easier to rotate evenly and to know how the pads behave in your washer. Browse the full washable underpads and bed pads range to compare sizes and pack counts.
Shop this guide
- Washable Bed Pads, 34 in x 52 in, 2 Pack (ships via Amazon)
- Disposable Changing Pad, 100 Count (ships via Amazon)
- Positioning Bed Pad with Handles, 48 x 40 in, Large, Mist Gray (ships via Amazon)
- Attends Care Dri-Sorb Advanced Underpads, 30" x 36"
- See all: Washable Underpads & Bed Pads
- See all: Disposable Underpads
Prices are on each product page. Free shipping on orders of $100 or more within Canada.
Common questions
Can I get by with just two pads?
Only if you wash and dry one before you need it again, every time. A third pad gives you a buffer for a slow dryer or a missed laundry day.
Does the number change in winter?
It can. If indoor drying takes longer, D in the formula goes up, and so does the number of pads you need to keep in circulation.
Do I need disposables if I own enough washable pads?
It is optional, but a small backup is handy for travel, illness or a machine breakdown.
Should I rotate the pads evenly?
Yes. Using each pad in turn spreads out the wear. A simple way is to put clean pads at the bottom of the pile and take the next one from the top.
If you would like help working out a number for your home, send us your daily changes and wash schedule through our contact page and we will reply within one business day.