What is an underpad?

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underpad

An underpad, also known as a bed pad (or in case of a disposable underpad they are sometimes referred to as a chux) serves both the purpose of protecting the skin of folks who are experiencing incontinence in addition to protecting the underlying mattress and bedding from damage. How an underpad protects the skin is by absorbing moisture and offering a quick-drying surface for the person who is sleeping or resting in bed. The same goes for how it protects furniture, linens and clothing. The absorbency of the underpad will prevent the liquids from coming into contact with underlying furniture, bedding and linens.
Typically, an underpad is a large rectangular shape. As mentioned above, an underpad is used for incontinence, but in addition to urine it is also useful for bowel voids, wound drainage or enteral or parenteral feeding.
One of the first decisions that needs to made when buying an underpad is whether to go with reusable/washable or a disposable.

A re-usableunderpad can be laundered over and over again, sometimes, depending on usage, can last years. A disposable underpad, on the other hand, is a single use underpad, in other words, use it once and then thrown away. This is why the disposables are sometimes referred to a chux (used one time and then ‘chucked’ into the trash).
A disposable underpad is made from materials such as vinyl or urethane and contains hundreds of polymers- tiny beads that absorb moisture. The number one advantage for this type is convenience. The underpad is used once and then after a void can be simply wadded up and thrown away.

Advantage summary of a disposable underpad:
Quick, easy and convenient clean up
Can be used for a few days provided that they remain clean and dry
Added absorbency in some instances
Since this type of underpad is convenient and compact, it is nice to use when traveling

In comparison, a reusable underpad is used over and over and the material is made of softer, cloth-like fabric. These will have a waterproof backing that prevents liquids from seeping through and damaging the bedding, linens and clothing. They are typically absorbent so as to pull the liquids into the fabric and help prevent skin irritation. This type of underpad is more about being cost effective and environmentally friendly.

Advantage summary of a re-usable underpad:
The materials tend to be soft and cloth like.
Environmentally friendly
Cost effective
Reduces risk of rashes and skin irritation
Holds more weight, making it easy to reposition the person using the underpad
Can be used over and over again

Either way, a disposableor washable, both typically feature an absorbent core and waterproof backing that prevents liquids from coming into contact with both bedding and skin. At the end of the day, the choice between the two comes down to personal preference; the situation and circumstances for usage in the first place.
For the rest of this article, we will focus on the reusable, or washable, underpad.

The reusable or washableis generally made by quilting a cloth top later to a soaker material that is sewn to a Vinyl back barrier.
The most common materials found on the top layer of a reusable/washable are as follows:
Birdseye – 100% Cotton – This is usually the most economical bed pad. The bed pads life expectancy is less since it is made of 100% cotton.
Ibex or Durablend – 80% Cotton/20% Polyester – This bed pad will last longer in the wash because of the blended materials.
Tricot – 100% Brushed Polyester – Polyester is a man made material. The reason this bed pad is popular because it has a very soft feel and is more comfortable to use if the pad is used directly on the skin.

Commonly asked questions:

What is a soakerunderpad?
An underpad is mainly designed to soak up urine. If you shop around you will see that an underpad will feature different soaker capacities. The most popular are 6 ounce, 8 ounce, or 10 ounce poly/rayon soaker (per square yard). The soaker cloth of an underpad is sewn under the top layer of the bed pad and wicks away the moisture from the person on the pad. The soaker ounce weight does not mean the underpad only absorbs 6, 8, or 10 ounces of liquid. These numbers actually describe the weight of the material being used per square yard. An underpad with a higher percent of rayon in the soaker will absorb more liquid.

How much liquid do they absorb?
The lighter the soaker weight the less urine will be absorbed. The heavier the soaker weight the more urine will be absorbed. A soaker that has a higher percentage of rayon in the poly/rayon blend will absorb more liquids.
How to choose the right underpad for you needs? There are several things to consider.
A heavier soaker will take longer to dry, therefore laundering costs will increase.
Determine the level of incontinence – heavy incontinence should use a heavier soaker
Determine how often you will change the pad. Once a night or several times a night.


How do you use an underpad/bedpad?
Just place the pad on whatever you’d like to protect from incontinence (chairs, beds, car seats, or anything else). Use them for tending wounds as well as incontinence and bowel voids.

What are the available sizes?

Underpads can come in a variety of sizes. This decision is one based on the size of the person using the pad, the size of the furniture being covered and personal preference. Some common sizes are 24 inches x 36 inches, 34 inches x 36 inches and 36 inches x 42 inches

Finally, for folks who experience urine or bowel incontinence, an underpad/bed pad is a crucial and dignifying tool in our toolbox. We all want to live an independent and dignified life. Using a bed pad makes this an easier goal to accomplish. Underpads protect against skin irritation, against damaging furniture, clothing and linens, and allow for easy clean up.