On the hunt for sanitary products? These are great alternatives if your usuals aren’t in stock

Your usual tampons and sanitary towels may not be readily available right now, but you want to know that you – and your daughters – still have the necessary for each month. Here are the options on offer.

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You could think about opting for washable sanitary towels to replace disposal versions. Eco Lily Reusable Sanitary Pads come as a kit with three heavy flow and three medium flow pieces. There’s embedded charcoal in the top layer to neutralise odours, and they’re designed to fit teens as well as adult women. They can be machine washed on a warm cycle.

Or try Rovtop Reusable Sanitary Towel Pads. The wings of these pads have button snaps to hold them in place and the kit includes a wet bag as well as the pads. Clean by hand or in the machine.

Also washable are Jobebe Charcoal Menstrual Pads. The set includes six 8 inch menstrual pad/panty liners and a wet bag for storage. 

Another alternative is the menstrual cup like Medihealth 1 The Vida Cup. It’s  suitable if you haven’t given birth, or did so by Caesarean. Inserted like a tampon, it collects blood, and can be worn for up to 12 consecutive hours. 

Or try OrganiCup Menstrual Cup. It’s made from medical-grade silicone, and again, can be used for 12 hours at a time.  Some 75 per cent of users give it a five-star rating.

Also highly rated by users are Saalt Cups. You get two cups in the pack, and they have different diameters and capacities. However, the manufacturers say that many users make use of both. These, too, are made from medical-grade silicone.

Like the idea of period pants instead of cups or washable pads? Be aware that designs such as  Bambody Leak Proof Hipster or Innersy Women Period Pants  are designed to be used with cups or pads rather than in place of them.

If you’re a tampon user who prefers to use applicators, you might want to have the choice of using different brands right now – or like the opportunity to cut down on waste. If so, check out the Dame Reusable Applicator, which works with all tampons.

Looking to save when you buy disposables? Always Ultra Night Sanitary Towels with Wings are almost half the recommended retail price currently.