Basics Regular Maxi Pads with Wings vs Chlorine Free Maxi Pads: which is safer?
Seventh Generation Chlorine Free Maxi Pads is the clear pick. Modess Basics Regular Maxi Pads with Wings carries a failing PFAS grade, and we never recommend buying a failing product.
Modess
Basics Regular Maxi Pads with Wings
PFAS grade
Overall grade
Verdict
Hazard flags
Material
Confidence
Possible1,4-dioxane (residual solvent from rayon production)
PossibleFormaldehyde or formaldehyde-releasing resins (finishing/sizing agents)
PossibleChlorine residues (if bleached rayon)
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 1,4-dioxane (residual solvent from rayon production), Formaldehyde or formaldehyde-releasing resins (finishing/sizing agents), Chlorine residues (if bleached rayon) and Allergens or irritants from adhesives and synthetic polymers on the Modess and not on the Seventh Generation.
- We flag Fragrance allergen content on the Seventh Generation and not on the Modess.
- The Modess is rayon, polypropylene, polyethylene core where the Seventh Generation is organic cotton, wood pulp, which is most of the difference in these two grades.
- The gap is 40 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 Modess grade, at 42% confidence against 78%, because it discloses less.
Both products run through the same public rubric: 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 →
More period pads: see the full ranking