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3 public sanitary rules for when you’re on your period

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Recently, I’ve been noticing a rather ugly habit that’s been occurring frequently in women’s bathrooms. It's an issue that I've particularly seen cropping up at the bathrooms of malls and restaurants.

And I really hate to say it, but when it comes to period issues, women can be surprisingly messy and uncaring about hygiene practices. I mean if you ask most women where tampons and pads belong, the answer they should give you is in the bin (after you’ve wrapped it in toilet paper).  I wrap mine in newspaper after which I use a paper bag and only then do I throw it in the bin - don't worry, I make sure it's those brown paper bags that you can recycle.

And yet despite the knowledge of where it should be, I’ve seen everything from period blood on the floor, to tampons and pads lying open and discarded on the floor (apparently wrapping it up and throwing it in bin takes up too much time and energy).

It’s unacceptable that grown women do this. Who must clean up after you? If you aren’t this unhygienic at home, then what makes it okay for you to use public places to leave everything in a literal bloody mess?

Here are 3 important things you need to know when you’re removing your sanitary towel or tampon:

1. Don’t throw it away without wrapping it in something.

Simply discarding your pad or tampon might be the easiest thing for you to do, but blood gets everywhere.

Wrapping it in toilet paper and a paper bag is a good way to contain the amount of blood on your tampon and pad, and prevents it from getting on everything else.

2.  Avoid throwing your tampon or pad in the toilet

Even though it seems like the easiest way to get rid of your products, it can clog up the toilets – not something you want as it could be an expensive affair to have your or anyone else’s toilet fixed.

According to Jezebel, even though some tampon packages might claim that they’re flushable, you should still rather avoid doing so because the tampon material doesn’t break down the way that toilet paper does.

And let’s face it, clogged up toilets are the worst, but they’re actual nightmares when you don’t have any other choice but to go to a public toilet.

READ MORE: Tampon versus pad: why more women still choose the latter to manage periods

3.  Unless you really, really can’t help it, please don’t expect the cleaners at your work/public spaces to clean up your disposable products.

I have this theory that people who can’t be bothered to clean up after themselves in public spaces, often have this “that’s what the cleaners are there for” mentality. That is not how it works.

Not only is this attitude dismissive of the importance of their jobs, but to me if you have this kind of attitude, it shows that you don’t have any respect for cleaners in their work capacity or as humans.

Look, we’re not unsympathetic when accidents happen - and after you’ve tried cleaning up yourself and you’re still having trouble getting the blood out, there’s no harm in asking for assistance. But to do so when you have no valid reason? No man! Surely you were taught better than that?

Am I alone in this, or is this something you’ve encountered as well? Share your horror stories here.

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