The Unlikely Hygiene Product That DIYers Are Reaching For (& Whether It Works)

Nothing truly says "DIY" like repurposing common household items and utilizing them in ways that are outside of their original scope of purpose. All it takes is a little imagination and creativity to turn what could be considered a mundane item into a unique home decor tool. Whether you're finding ways to repurpose old clothing or trying to upcycle metal cans, plastic jugs, and containers to make your dream garden oasis, inventing new ways to use household items is a great method for decorating and sprucing up your living space without breaking the bank.

That is how TikTok user Jamie Lyn Beatty added flair to her bathroom wall using an unconventional (but seemingly effective?) item many have stored in their bathroom cabinets — a tampon. In her TikTok post, playfully titled "It's a period piece," Beatty shows users how she used the feminine hygiene product as a paintbrush to accent her white bathroom walls with black polka dots. Beatty wraps up her demonstrative video saying, "Don't buy wallpaper. Just use a tampon."

Is it worth it to ditch the expensive wallpaper and reach for a tampon instead? While there are pros and cons to this painting hack, it might be worth a try. Commenters on the viral TikTok post shared their thoughts on Beatty's method, most singing praises on the final result and claiming to see symbolism behind the project. While this method appeared to have worked for this specific project, you may want to consider all advantages and disadvantages before trying it.

One benefit is that these hygiene products are cheaper than paint brushes or wallpaper. According to Lowe's, the average price for one paint brush can range from $1 to $25 and up. Tampons, on the other hand, cost about $15 for a 52-count variety pack, averaging to around 29 cents per tampon, making them a cheaper alternative to paint brushes. A variety pack of tampons contains several sizes — regular, super, and super plus. For DIYers, the absorbency levels can translate to having different sizes of polka dot brushes for their project.

Absorbency levels also make tampons an efficient substitute for paint brushes. Beatty's full bathroom makeover only required one tampon and black paint, attesting to a one-tampon-does-all narrative. Since the products are made to contain a lot of fluid, they can hold quite a lot of paint. After an initial dip into paint, a single tampon can create quite a few consistent polka dots. As the paint supply dwindles, the remnant paint on the tampon can create a nice gradient look before reapplying fresh paint to its tip. However, tampons expand once they absorb fluid, making for inconsistent shapes as it gets fuller. Once it has reached its max capacity, the excess paint can leak out of the cotton, causing unwanted drippage. 

Nonetheless, DIYers who tested tampons in lieu of paintbrushes found surprising success when making their ordinary walls into accent walls. So overall, while it might be fun to try this method, you probably shouldn't bank too hard on it.