When a washable pair starts to leak, the cause is often something small and fixable: the wrong size, a laundry habit, or a pair that has simply been worn too long. Start by noticing where the leak shows up, then work down this list from the easiest checks to the point where a pair is due for replacing. If the leaks are new, sudden or getting worse, that is a question for your doctor or nurse as well as a product question.
Start by finding where it leaks
| Where you see it | First thing to check |
|---|---|
| Along the legs or at the edge of the gusset | Size and cut |
| Through the middle of the gusset to your clothes | Capacity and how long the pair was worn |
| Liquid sits on the surface or runs off | Fabric softener or buildup |
| Backing looks cracked, bubbled or peeling | Heat damage |
| A pad is soaked but the gusset under it is dry | How the pad is worn |
Leaks at the leg openings: size and cut
Wetness along the thigh or at the sides, while the centre of the gusset is still dry, points to the fit. The legs may be gaping, particularly when you sit or bend. Re-measure your waist and hips with a soft tape and compare them with the maker's chart, since sizes differ between makers. A cut that sits too high or too low for your body can leave a gap even in the right size. If you are between sizes, read the page for notes on stretch, or ask us.
Leaks through the gusset: capacity and wear time
If the gusset is soaked through and the leak reaches your clothes, the pair is holding more than it was made for, or it stayed on too long between changes. Change sooner, and compare the maker's description of absorbency with what you actually leak. Pages describe absorbency in their own words, so the label on one maker's pair may not match another's.
Fabric softener and buildup that stop fabric absorbing
Fabric softener, some creams and detergent residue can leave a coating on fibres, which makes it harder for fabric to take in liquid. Many makers advise against softener, so check the care label. A sign of buildup is liquid sitting on the surface of the top fabric instead of soaking in.
Dryer sheets can leave a similar coating. A safe first step is to stop using softener and dryer sheets and wash the pair as its label directs. Do not improvise a strip-wash, the heavy-duty soak some people use on cloth diapers, with products the label does not mention. Ask the maker how to remove buildup from that fabric and, if you live in a hard water area, whether that changes the care they recommend.
Heat damage to the waterproof layer
Many makers warn that high heat can damage the leak-resistant backing, so check the label for the maximum wash temperature and the drying advice. If the backing looks bubbled, cracked or peeling, or feels sticky, it has probably been damaged and will not hold the way it did. A damaged backing does not repair itself, so the fix is a new pair and gentler laundry from there.
Wearing a pad the wrong way
A pad with a waterproof backing can sit between the liquid and the underwear's own absorbent layers, which means the gusset never gets to help. The giveaway is a pad that is soaked while the gusset beneath it is still dry. A pad wider than the gusset can also push the leg elastic off the skin and leave a gap. Our guide to booster pads and how they work explains how inserts differ from pads. If your pair did not leak before you started adding a pad, the quickest test is a day at home without the pad.
Signs a pair is worn out and due for replacing
- The elastic at the legs or waist has loosened and no longer holds against the skin.
- The top fabric has become thin, rough or pilled.
- Liquid stays on the surface even after a careful wash.
- Odour returns right after washing, even when the care label has been followed.
- Leaks have returned although size, wear time and laundry are all in order.
Rotating several pairs spreads the wear, so no single pair takes all of it.
When the answer is a different product type
If every check passes and the pair still cannot keep up, the problem may be that the leaks are bigger than a washable pair is built for. Disposable underwear and briefs have a wider range of absorbency for nights and heavier days. Examples in the store include Depend Night Defense Overnight Underwear for Men, Large, Grey, 14 Count and TENA Overnight Incontinence Underwear for Women, Large, 11 Count, and our guide to overnight protection in Canada compares the choices. You can also keep a washable pair for lighter days from the washable incontinence underwear collection.
Shop this guide
- Women's Washable Incontinence Underwear 4 Pack, Leakproof Ladies Panties High Waist, Incontinence Protective (ships via Amazon)
- Depend Fresh Protection Incontinence Underwear for Men, Maximum, Large, 72 Count (ships via Amazon)
- Leakproof Incontinence Underwear for Women Washable, 3 Pack 4XL (ships via Amazon)
- Poise Ultra Thin Incontinence Pads, Postpartum, 4 Drop, Moderate Absorbency, Long, 48 Count (ships via Amazon)
- See all: Washable Incontinence Underwear
- See all: Adult Incontinence
Prices are on each product page. Free shipping on orders of $100 or more within Canada.
Common questions
Should I rewash a pair that leaked?
Wash it the way the care label says, as you would any other pair. A single leak does not mean the pair is ruined.
Can I use vinegar or bleach to fix buildup?
Do not guess. Care labels often rule out bleach, and vinegar is not something to try unless the maker says it is safe for that fabric and the backing.
A new pair leaked the first time. Is it faulty?
Check the size first, then the care label, including whether it asks for a wash before the first wear, and make sure you did not add a waterproof-backed pad. If the pair still leaks, contact us.
Not sure which of these applies? Tell us where the leak shows up and what the care label says through our contact page and we will help you choose a fix or a different product. We reply within one business day.