A good washable underpads manufacturer can explain every layer in the pad, offer more than one absorbency level, make the pad in the size your beds need and tell you how it should be washed. For hospitals, care homes and distributors, those four points decide whether a reusable underpad stays in service or ends up replaced by disposables after a few months.
What is a washable underpad made of?
A reusable underpad is not one fabric but a layered construction. Each layer has a job:
- Top fabric: soft and skin-friendly, because it lies directly against the patient.
- Absorbent inner layer or layers: they take up the liquid and hold it away from the surface.
- Waterproof, breathable backing: it stops liquid reaching the mattress while letting moisture vapour escape.
- Non-slip base: it keeps the pad in place when the patient turns or is repositioned.
We make underpads in 4-layer and 5-layer versions. When you compare suppliers, ask for a sample and a description of each layer rather than a product name. Two pads that look alike on a photo can behave very differently on a bed.
How much absorbency do you need?
Absorbency depends on who will use the pad. A resident with light incontinence in a care home needs a different pad from a bedridden patient on a hospital ward. That is why we offer a choice of absorbency levels rather than one standard pad.
Tell the manufacturer who the pads are for, how long a pad typically stays on the bed between changes, and whether it will be used together with a mattress protector. If the mattress also needs to be sealed against liquids, an underpad is a second layer of protection, not a replacement for a cover. Our article on choosing a waterproof mattress protector manufacturer explains how the two products differ.
Why does a breathable backing matter?
A fully closed plastic backing keeps liquid out of the mattress but also traps heat and moisture under the patient. A waterproof but breathable layer lets water vapour pass while liquid stays on the pad. If a supplier quotes figures for waterproofness or vapour permeability, ask how they were measured. Our guide to hydrostatic head and breathability explains what these numbers mean and how to compare them.
What sizes can be made?
Beds, chairs and care settings differ, so one standard size rarely suits a whole facility. We produce underpads to the size you send us. When you ask for a quote, give the pad length and width, the quantity per size and where the pad will be used, for example on a hospital bed, a care home bed or a chair.
How should a reusable underpad be washed?
Washable underpads are made to be machine washed and reused, which is their main advantage over single-use pads: a care home buys and throws away far fewer disposables. How long a pad lasts depends on the construction and on the laundry routine, so the care label of the specific model is the reference.
Before you order in volume, ask the manufacturer:
- Which wash and drying conditions is the pad designed for?
- How do the absorbent layer and the waterproof backing hold up after repeated washing?
- Can I test a sample run in my own laundry before the programme starts?
We produce sample runs before a programme begins, so you evaluate the real construction in your own conditions rather than a swatch.
Questions to ask an underpad manufacturer
- How many layers does the pad have, and what is each layer made of?
- Which absorbency levels are available?
- Can you make the pad in my sizes?
- How should it be washed, and is there a care label for each model?
- Which quality system does the factory work under?
Libacce washable underpads
Libacce makes washable underpads in Istanbul: 4- or 5-layer pads with a soft top fabric, a waterproof and breathable backing, a non-slip base and a choice of absorbency levels, produced to the sizes you need. They are used in hospitals, elderly care homes and home care. Our production is certified to ISO 13485:2016 and ISO 9001:2015; the certificates are on our quality page.
We also produce under your own brand. Single pads for home use are sold in our online shop at libacce.com.tr. For institutional orders, send us the sizes, the absorbency you need and the quantities through the quote form, and we will propose the construction.