Ultra Thin Regular Pads vs Chlorine Free Maxi Pads: which is safer?
Seventh Generation Chlorine Free Maxi Pads is the clear pick. Always Ultra Thin Regular Pads carries a failing PFAS grade, and we never recommend buying a failing product.
Always
Ultra Thin Regular Pads
PFAS grade
Overall grade
Verdict
Hazard flags
Material
Confidence
PossibleMicroplastic shedding from waterproof backing
PossibleTeflon-type coating (Teflon) fume risk from waterproof coating
ReportedSkin sensitization from undisclosed adhesives or coatings
Our pick
Seventh Generation
Chlorine Free Maxi Pads
PFAS grade
Overall grade
Verdict
Hazard flags
Material
Confidence
PossibleFragrance allergen content
Where these two actually differ
- We flag Microplastic shedding from waterproof backing, PTFE (Teflon) fume risk from waterproof coating, Skin sensitization from undisclosed adhesives or coatings and Formaldehyde-releasing resins in nonwoven bonding on the Always and not on the Seventh Generation.
- We flag Fragrance allergen content on the Seventh Generation and not on the Always.
- The Always is nonwoven cellulose/polyester blend with waterproof backing coating (unspecified) where the Seventh Generation is organic cotton, wood pulp, which is most of the difference in these two grades.
- The gap is 75 points, wide enough that this is not a close call, and the Seventh Generation is the one to buy.
- We are less certain about the Always grade, at 45% confidence against 78%, because it discloses less.
Both products run through the same public rubric, which covers materials, coatings, brand disclosure, lab findings, and recalls, plus a beyond-PFAS hazard analysis. Grades are model-based estimates, not lab tests. How grades work →
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