# Washable vs Disposable Pee Pads (2026): Leak-Proof Picks for Puppies and Senior Dogs > Seven dog pee pads compared by layers, size, pack count and washing care, with ASPCA and AVMA guidance on house training and on accidents in older dogs. - Source: https://petprooflab.com/potty-cleaning/washable-and-disposable-pee-pads - Publisher: PetProofLab (https://petprooflab.com) - Published: 2026-09-28 - Category: potty-cleaning - Tags: pee pads, puppy pads, washable pee pads, house training, senior dogs, incontinence, potty training - Method: picks chosen from Amazon listings and brand specs; not hands-on tested; current Amazon prices are on the page; content checked 2026-09-28. - Quick answer: For a puppy, a disposable pad with a plastic border on all four sides, such as the Amazon Basics 22 x 22 in pad, is the simple start; for a large dog or a crate, step up to the 28 x 34 in size. Washable pads like the Pet Parents Pawtect cut the trash but need a spare in the wash. If an older dog that was house trained starts having accidents, see your vet first: the ASPCA calls ruling out a medical cause the first step. ## Key takeaways - Disposable pads trade trash for convenience; washable pads trade laundry for less waste. Buy two washables so one can be in the wash. - Size to the dog: the 22 x 22 in regular pad has a 19 x 19 in absorbent center, per Amazon Basics; the 28 x 34 in XL has 23.6 x 29.5 in. - "Attractant" and "pheromone" claims are the makers' own. No pad replaces taking a puppy to the right spot and praising it there. - The ASPCA says the goal can be pads indoors or going outside, and warns never to rub a dog's face in an accident. - New accidents in a house-trained older dog are a reason to call the vet: the AVMA lists house soiling among signs of cognitive dysfunction. ## Products (chosen from listings, not tested) 1. **Amazon Basics Leak-Proof Pee Pads, Regular 22 x 22 in, 100 Count** (details: https://petprooflab.com/potty-cleaning/washable-and-disposable-pee-pads#product-B00MW8G62E) — The plain, bulk disposable pad to start house training a small or medium puppy. - Pros: 5-layer pad with a core that turns liquid into gel, per the listing; Plastic border on all four sides; 19 x 19 in absorbent center; Built-in attractant; FSC-certified materials; sold by Amazon.com - Cons: Standard absorbency; small for a large dog 2. **Amazon Basics Heavy Duty Pee Pads, X-Large 28 x 34 in, 50 Count** (details: https://petprooflab.com/potty-cleaning/washable-and-disposable-pee-pads#product-B07CWHTQW8) — The size to buy for a large puppy, a crate floor or a senior dog's sleeping area. - Pros: 28 x 34 in with a 23.6 x 29.5 in absorbent center, per the listing; Heavy-duty absorbency, 5 layers, plastic border on all four sides; Sold by Amazon.com - Cons: Takes more floor space than a small dog needs 3. **Four Paws Wee-Wee Superior Performance Pads, 22 x 23 in, 30 Count** (details: https://petprooflab.com/potty-cleaning/washable-and-disposable-pee-pads#product-B0002ASIAC) — A quilted six-layer pad from a long-running brand, in a small pack to try first. - Pros: 6 layers with a leak-proof backing, per Four Paws; Oversized quilted top meant to cut wet-paw tracking; Unscented, with a built-in attractant; sold by Amazon.com - Cons: 30-count pack runs out quickly in the first weeks 4. **Glad for Pets Activated Carbon Training Pads, 23 x 23 in, 100 Count** (details: https://petprooflab.com/potty-cleaning/washable-and-disposable-pee-pads#product-B01LWS9514) — The disposable to pick if smell is the main complaint. - Pros: 6 layers including an activated-carbon core for odor, per the listing; Quilted, sealed edges on all four sides; Pheromone attractant, per Glad; sold by Amazon.com - Cons: Black carbon core makes it harder to see what the dog left 5. **Pet Parents Pawtect Washable Pee Pads, 24 x 36 in, 2-Pack** (details: https://petprooflab.com/potty-cleaning/washable-and-disposable-pee-pads#product-B07H2RHVK4) — A reusable pad in quiet colors, sold by the brand, with a spare for wash day. - Pros: Two pads, one tan and one grey, 24 x 36 in; Wicking top fabric, non-slip backing, triple-stitched binding, per Pet Parents; Sold by Pet Parents - Cons: The listing does not publish washing instructions; check the tag 6. **Amazon Basics Washable Puppy Pads, 2-Pack** (details: https://petprooflab.com/potty-cleaning/washable-and-disposable-pee-pads#product-B0DRXDP2K9) — The low-cost way to try washable pads in a crate or small pen. - Pros: Machine-washable, leak-proof, per the listing; Silicone base keeps the pad from sliding; Sold by Amazon.com - Cons: 23.8 x 18.1 in: the smallest pad here 7. **Eterish Reusable Washable Pee Pads, 36 x 41 in, 2-Pack** (details: https://petprooflab.com/potty-cleaning/washable-and-disposable-pee-pads#product-B0953H224N) — The largest pad here, for a big dog or a whole pen floor. - Pros: 36 x 41 in, holds up to 8 cups of liquid, per Eterish; Non-slip; low-heat dryer or air dry; Sold by Eterish - Cons: Eterish warns that claws and sharp objects can cause leaks A disposable pee pad is the easy start for a puppy, and a washable pad makes sense once you know you will use pads for months, for example for a senior dog. For most puppies, buy a disposable with a plastic border on all four sides, such as the Amazon Basics 22 x 22 in; for a large dog or a crate, the 28 x 34 in XL; for less trash, two Pet Parents Pawtect washable pads so one is always clean. **How we chose:** we did not test these pads; layers, sizes and claims come from each maker's listing, and every pick was sold by Amazon.com or the brand and in stock in September 2026. This page covers what the layers and "attractant" claims mean, how washable pads compare, and what the [ASPCA](https://www.aspca.org/news/house-training-your-dog-or-puppy) and the [AVMA](https://www.avma.org/resources/pet-owners/petcare/senior-pet-care-faq) say about house training and accidents in older dogs. ## Seven pee pads compared | Pad | Type | Size | Layers (per maker) | Per pack | Attractant | Amazon price | |---|---|---|---|---|---|---| | [Amazon Basics Regular](https://petprooflab.com/potty-cleaning/washable-and-disposable-pee-pads#product-B00MW8G62E) | Disposable | 22 x 22 in | 5 | 100 | Yes | see the current Amazon price on the page | | [Amazon Basics XL Heavy Duty](https://petprooflab.com/potty-cleaning/washable-and-disposable-pee-pads#product-B07CWHTQW8) | Disposable | 28 x 34 in | 5 | 50 | Yes | see the current Amazon price on the page | | [Four Paws Wee-Wee](https://petprooflab.com/potty-cleaning/washable-and-disposable-pee-pads#product-B0002ASIAC) | Disposable | 22 x 23 in | 6 | 30 | Yes, unscented | see the current Amazon price on the page | | [Glad for Pets Activated Carbon](https://petprooflab.com/potty-cleaning/washable-and-disposable-pee-pads#product-B01LWS9514) | Disposable | 23 x 23 in | 6, carbon core | 100 | Pheromone, per Glad | see the current Amazon price on the page | | [Pet Parents Pawtect](https://petprooflab.com/potty-cleaning/washable-and-disposable-pee-pads#product-B07H2RHVK4) | Washable | 24 x 36 in | Not stated | 2 | No | see the current Amazon price on the page | | [Amazon Basics Washable](https://petprooflab.com/potty-cleaning/washable-and-disposable-pee-pads#product-B0DRXDP2K9) | Washable | 23.8 x 18.1 in | Not stated | 2 | No | see the current Amazon price on the page | | [Eterish Reusable](https://petprooflab.com/potty-cleaning/washable-and-disposable-pee-pads#product-B0953H224N) | Washable | 36 x 41 in | Not stated | 2 | No | see the current Amazon price on the page | ## Disposable or washable? **Disposable pads** are a stack of layers: a quick-dry top sheet, an absorbent core that turns liquid into gel, and a plastic backing. You lift the whole pad, fold it and throw it away. That suits the first weeks of house training, when a puppy may use several a day and you want nothing to wash. **Washable pads** are fabric on top of a waterproof layer. You shake or rinse the mess off, wash the pad and put down the spare. You buy them once and keep washing them, so there is less trash. They also make sense under a senior dog's bed, where you want something that lies flat and stays put. The catch with washables is care. Only two of the three listings here say how to wash them: - **Amazon Basics Washable:** machine-washable, per the listing; a set of two so you can switch while one is in the wash. - **Eterish:** survives "many washes" in the machine, per Eterish, with a lower dryer temperature or air drying. Eterish also says to trim your dog's nails, because claws can puncture the waterproof layer. - **Pet Parents Pawtect:** the listing covers the fabric and the StickyPaw backing but not washing. Follow the care tag. ## What the layers and borders mean Every disposable here claims five or six layers. The number matters less than two details you can check on the listing: the size of the absorbent center and the edge. - **Absorbent center:** Amazon Basics is unusually specific. Its 22 x 22 in pad has a 19 x 19 in center and a 1.65 in border; the XL has a 23.6 x 29.5 in center. - **Edges:** Amazon Basics puts a plastic border on all four sides; Glad seals and quilts all four edges; Four Paws quilts the top to cut wet-paw tracking. - **Odor:** only the Glad pad lists an activated-carbon core, which Glad says traps urine odor instead of masking it. For a large dog, size decides more than layers. A dog that squats over the edge of a 22 in pad will wet the floor whatever the pad absorbs, so the 28 x 34 in XL or the 36 x 41 in Eterish is the safer buy. ## Do attractant pads work? Three disposables here list an attractant: Amazon Basics and Four Paws call it built-in, and Glad calls its version a pheromone scent. These are the makers' claims; none publishes a test we could check. What the [ASPCA's house-training advice](https://www.aspca.org/news/house-training-your-dog-or-puppy) stresses is you, not the pad. "Whether your goal is for your dog to eliminate on pee pads indoors or to do it outside, you have to really throw a party for her when she succeeds," it says. It also says not to rub a dog's face in an accident: it makes the dog fear you, and the dog cannot connect the punishment to where it went. If the plan is to move a puppy outdoors later, keep the pad in one spot near the door so the routine is easy to shift. **Pro tip:** clean accidents that miss the pad with an enzymatic cleaner, not an ammonia-based one. In its [advice on urine marking in cats](https://www.aspca.org/pet-care/cat-care/common-cat-behavior-issues/urine-marking-cats), the ASPCA says urine contains ammonia, so cleaning with ammonia can attract a cat back to the same spot to urinate again; the same logic applies to a puppy. Our [enzyme cleaner guide](https://petprooflab.com/potty-cleaning/enzyme-cleaners-pet-stains-odors) compares six. ## Pads for a senior dog Pads are also a tool for older dogs, but the order matters. When a house-trained older dog starts having accidents, the [ASPCA's page on older dogs](https://www.aspca.org/pet-care/dog-care/common-dog-behavior-issues/behavior-problems-older-dogs) says the "first step is to take him to his veterinarian to determine whether there is a specific medical cause." It lists sensory decline, conditions that affect mobility, cognitive dysfunction and endocrine disorders among the medical problems that can contribute to house soiling. The [AVMA lists house soiling](https://www.avma.org/resources/pet-owners/petcare/senior-pet-care-faq) among the common signs of cognitive dysfunction in senior pets, and says senior pets should see a veterinarian twice a year or more. Once your vet has looked at the cause, the ASPCA suggests a dog walker or an indoor spot such as newspapers, a dog litter box or potty pads if you cannot get the dog out often enough. For that use: - **Under a bed or in a crate:** a large washable pad such as the Eterish 36 x 41 in lies flat and has a non-slip back. - **For odor between changes:** the Glad carbon-core pad. - **For a big senior dog:** the Amazon Basics 28 x 34 in XL in heavy-duty absorbency. An older dog that struggles to get up may also need a better bed; see our [orthopedic dog bed guide](https://petprooflab.com/home-beds/orthopedic-dog-beds). This page is not veterinary advice ([why](https://petprooflab.com/about#veterinary)); ask your vet about new accidents or incontinence. **Bottom line:** start a puppy on the Amazon Basics regular pad, move a large dog to the XL, and switch to two washable pads once pads are a long-term part of your routine. Check any pad brand against our [pet product recall list](https://petprooflab.com/recalls) before you stock up; none of these brands appears on it as of September 2026. ## Frequently Asked Questions ### Are washable pee pads better than disposable ones? For long-term use, they cut trash, but you take on the laundry and need a spare so one can be in the wash. For the first messy weeks of house training, disposables are simpler; compare today's prices in the table. ### What size pee pad does my dog need? Big enough that the dog can squat with all four feet on it. The regular 22 x 22 in size has a 19 x 19 in absorbent center, per Amazon Basics; for a large breed or a crate floor, the 28 x 34 in XL or a 36 x 41 in washable pad. ### How do I stop my dog from tearing up pee pads? Put the pad in a holder or use a washable pad with a non-slip back, such as the Amazon Basics Washable with its silicone base. Supervise a puppy that chews pads, and ask your vet if a dog swallows pieces. ### Why did my older dog start peeing in the house? It can have a medical cause. The ASPCA names sensory decline, mobility problems, cognitive dysfunction and endocrine disorders, and says the first step is a veterinary exam before retraining or using pads. --- *PetProofLab is a participant in the Amazon Services LLC Associates Program, an affiliate advertising program designed to provide a means for sites to earn advertising fees by advertising and linking to Amazon.com. We did not test these pads; specifications are the makers' own. This guide is for general information and is not veterinary advice.* ## Sources - ASPCA: [ASPCA's house-training advice](https://www.aspca.org/news/house-training-your-dog-or-puppy) - American Veterinary Medical Association: [AVMA](https://www.avma.org/resources/pet-owners/petcare/senior-pet-care-faq) - ASPCA: [Urine marking cats](https://www.aspca.org/pet-care/cat-care/common-cat-behavior-issues/urine-marking-cats) - ASPCA: [ASPCA's page on older dogs](https://www.aspca.org/pet-care/dog-care/common-dog-behavior-issues/behavior-problems-older-dogs) --- Last updated: 2026-09-28 Canonical URL: https://petprooflab.com/potty-cleaning/washable-and-disposable-pee-pads How to cite: "Washable vs Disposable Pee Pads (2026): Leak-Proof Picks for Puppies and Senior Dogs", PetProofLab, https://petprooflab.com/potty-cleaning/washable-and-disposable-pee-pads (checked 2026-09-28). Disclosure: as an Amazon Associate PetProofLab earns from qualifying purchases. Safety information summarizes public guidance and is not medical advice.