Is washable incontinence underwear worth the cost? Do the math

Is washable incontinence underwear worth the cost? Do the math

Whether washable underwear saves you money depends on numbers only you have: what you spend on disposables now, what a full set of pairs costs, and what laundry adds. This guide gives you a short worksheet to fill in with the prices on today's product pages, so you find your own break-even point instead of relying on someone else's average. Prices change, so keep the product pages open while you work.

Why there is no single answer on savings

The result swings with how often you change, what you use now (a pad, protective underwear or briefs), how many pairs you need, how long they last and what your laundry costs. Anyone who quotes a flat saving is guessing about your situation. Your own arithmetic is the only reliable version.

It also helps to separate two kinds of cost: the upfront cost of building a set, and the running cost of laundry, replacements and backups. Break-even is the point where the monthly saving has paid back the upfront cost.

Step one: what you spend on disposables in a month

  1. Count the disposable products you use in a typical day, whether pads, protective underwear or briefs.
  2. Find the price per piece: the pack price on the product page divided by the count in the pack. Pack counts appear in the title, for example 104 Count on the Abena Slip Briefs, Level 1 Moderate, Medium, 104 Count.
  3. Multiply: products per day x 30 x price per piece. That is your monthly disposable spend.

Include shipping if you pay it, and use the product you actually buy rather than an average. The Incontinence Products collection is where to look up a different pack if you want to compare.

Step two: what a full set of washable pairs costs

  1. Work out how many pairs you need. A rule of thumb is changes per day x days between washes, plus pairs for drying and one spare.
  2. Find the price per pair. Divide the pack price by the pairs in the pack. For a listing sold as a 2 Pack, such as the LFDAVP Reusable Adult Diaper Cover Pants, White/Black, Large, 2 Pack, that means halving the pack price. Check on the product page that a listing does the job you are costing before it goes into the worksheet.
  3. Multiply: number of pairs x price per pair. That is the upfront cost of your set.

Step three: laundry, replacements and backup supplies

These costs are easy to forget, and they can decide whether washable comes out ahead.

  • Laundry. Extra loads use water, power and detergent. If you use a laundromat, count the fee per load. Estimate the extra loads per month and what each costs.
  • Replacements. Pairs wear out, so plan to replace some. Decide how many you expect to replace in a year, multiply by the price per pair and divide by 12 for a monthly figure.
  • Backup disposables. Many routines keep some disposables for travel, nights or weeks when laundry falls behind. Estimate how many you will use per month and price them as in step one.
  • Bed protection. If you add washable underpads, include them as a separate line.

Finding your break-even point

  1. Washable running cost per month = laundry + replacements + backup disposables.
  2. Monthly saving = monthly disposable spend (step one) minus washable running cost.
  3. Break-even in months = upfront cost of your set (step two) divided by monthly saving.

Here is an example with placeholder numbers, not real prices. If the set costs 120 units and the monthly saving is 20 units, break-even is 120 divided by 20, which is 6 months. If the monthly saving is zero or less, there is no break-even, and washable does not save you money on its own terms.

When washable does not come out ahead

  • Your leaks are infrequent, so your disposable spend is already low
  • You still need disposables for much of the day or night, so washable replaces very little
  • Laundry is costly or inconvenient, for example a shared machine or a laundromat
  • You would need a large set quickly because laundry days are far apart

Cost is not the only reason people choose washable, and some choose it for comfort or to reduce waste even when the numbers are close. If skin comfort is part of your thinking, ask a pharmacist or nurse. Underwear choice does not replace advice about skin that is red, sore or broken.

Ways to lower the upfront cost

  • Buy one pair first and add more only after it has proved itself through a few washes
  • Compare the price per pair across pack sizes on the product pages
  • Use washable for the hours it handles well and keep disposables for the rest, which keeps the set small
  • Combine items into one order, and check the shipping details at checkout for the free-shipping threshold
  • Wash pairs as the care label says, since that is one thing within your control for how long they last

The washable incontinence underwear collection is where to compare pairs and pack sizes.

Shop this guide

Prices are on each product page. Free shipping on orders of $100 or more within Canada.

Common questions

Do I count the cost of my washing machine?

Only the extra running cost of the additional loads, unless you are buying a machine because of this decision, in which case it belongs in the upfront line.

Is washable always cheaper after a year?

We cannot say, because it depends on every number above. The worksheet will tell you for your own use, with current prices from the product pages.

How do I handle pads if I use them now?

Treat them like any disposable in step one: price per piece x pieces per day x 30. If washable pairs would replace some of those pads but not all, keep the remaining pads as backup in step three.

If you cannot find a pack count or a pair count for one of the worksheet lines, send us a message on the contact page and we will help you fill it in and choose. We reply within one business day.