Instead of tampons, try the DivaCup.
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| DivaCup (Image via Becoming Cruncy blog) |
I've used and loved The DivaCup for about seven years. My DivaCup changed my life—or at least my life for a few days every month. The DivaCup is a reusable, flexible silicone cup that collects all your menstrual fluids. It is very comfortable and since it works by catching fluids, it doesn’t do that crappy supersucking thing tampons are famous for if your flow is low. Besides, absorption isn’t really good for our bodies anyway. (Toxic Shock Syndrome anyone?)
In addition to being healthier than tampons, this dandy cup will also save you some cash and help you save the planet. It’s only $35 which is a bargain compared to even just a year's worth of disposables. Not using those tampons means you're keeping those tampons and their plastic wrappers and applicators and cardboard boxes out of landfills.
Perhaps the best thing about The DivaCup is owning one means never having to send your partner, kids, or (worst yet) your crampy self out to the bodega to pick up emergency tampons or pads. (Excerpted from my article in Satya magazine.)
Tip: Clean your DivaCup by boiling it for 5 minutes. More cleaning and care tips here.
Try a fabric pad.
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| Limited Edition Hipster LunaPanties (Image via LunaPads.com) |
I am not a huge fan of pads, but occasionally I need extra overnight protection so I use a washable cloth menstrual pad. It's basically a swatch of terry cloth that snaps onto my panties. Hot! Not really, but it is conserving resources and keeping lots of chemicals and waste out of the landfills, which is definitely hot.
LunaPads.com is a great source of washable cloth menstrual pads, including these menstrual panties, which actually seem kinda sexy! You can also make your own.
Try organic cotton tampons and pads.
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| NatraCare |
Why? I'll share the wise words of one drunk shopper overheard in an eco-friendly boutique: "You don't wanna be sticking chemicals in your chicken."
Conventional lady products are made of rayon (or a cotton-rayon blend) and treated with chlorine bleach and pesticides. Many also contain synthetic fragrance made from hormone disrupting chemicals. (Check out PracticallyGreen.com for more info.)
Whenever I know using a DivaCup won't be easy (no sink in ladies room), I use either NatraCare products or Maxim's organic tampons. I just noticed that Seventh Generation also makes a line of organic cotton tampons and natural pads made from a superabsorbent wheat-derived material. Choose no-applicator tampons and unwrapped pads whenever possible to reduce waste.
Remove blood stains naturally.
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| Image via Ruby's Red Wash |
Skip the chlorine bleach or Shout. Instead use Ruby's Red Wash, an all natural enzyme-based menstrual blood stain remover. I've used it once and it worked like a charm. According to user testimonials, it works on even dried-in stains.
If you don't have this product, try to treat the stain as soon as possible. Rinse it with cold water. If that doesn't take care of it, try your luck with lemon juice, hydrogen peroxide, salt, washing soda, or dish detergent. I'm still learning good laundry habits, but each of these have worked for me at least once. Whatever you do, don't use hot water or put a stained garment in the dryer, as the heat will set the stain.
Olivia Lane is a Blogger, Green Living Educator, and Health Coach trained at The Institute for Integrative Nutrition. She's also author of Baking Soda & Bliss: The Healthy & Happy Guide to Green Cleaning.
This is a great post! I am preparing a review myself for Maxim. I bought a Diva cup but did not master it and gave up :(
ReplyDeleteI wish I could figure it out because it would make life so much more easy!
Don't give up on the Diva Cup. There's a trouble shooting video here: http://youtu.be/qLPBZz3uJEg
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