I don’t know who can look at a picture of a landfill or a trash island in the ocean, and not want to do something to reduce how much they contribute to the problem. God blessed us with such a beautiful world, and it is heartbreaking to see what has come of it. But where to start?
Starting is the hardest thing to do in any situation, especially when you are not sure what will be the most effective switch, and there is also some financial investment involved. Let’s face it. In the short term, it is often cheaper to buy the disposable option, but the reusable one will save so much money in the long run. I will list the financial breakdown of items so you can easily see how many disposable items you need to go through to make up the cost of the reusable. But I would recommend starting where you have a need. Need more cotton swabs? Now is a great time to get a reusable one. Need to replace the old loofah? That might be the best place to start.
Something else worth noting is that there is a time and a place for everything. I will be highlighting the uses of disposable products as I go along as well.
Menstrual Products
Ladies, there are so many reusable products out there on the market these days. There is something for everyone, I guarantee it. But how do you know which one to pick? How much money is it going to take to find what works for you? These are valid questions. I personally am a menstrual cup gal. I love it and am actively dreading being post-partum and not being able to use it. Before buying, I watched a lot of YouTube videos, and eventually took an online quiz that recommended the one I purchased.
Though statistics vary, it is estimated that the average woman spends about $20 a month on period products, which puts you at about $18,000 in a lifetime. Unfortunately, prices are only going up on period products. Menstrual cups can range from about $20-$40. Reusable menstrual discs are about $30-40. Period underwear and reusable pads get a bit more complicated for cost analysis purposes because how many you need will greatly depend on your cycle and how much laundry you are willing to do. The initial investment does seem to be higher, anywhere from $40- $260.
All that said, if you purchase a $40 cup or disc and try it for two months to get used to it, and overcome the learning curve (there definitely is one, and I would highly recommend giving it more than one period to try out a product before you give up on it). You will have made up the cost difference and have the potential to save yourself thousands, even if it does take a couple of tries to find the right one for you.
Disposables have their place. I leave a couple in bags as well as in the car in case I or someone else is surprised by an early cycle. They are also very handy postpartum. I thought hard about getting reusable pads or underwear for after giving birth, but decided against it for the convenience and the bit of reduced stress that comes with disposables. In hindsight, I could have managed, but I didn’t know that ahead of time.
Loofah
Oh, the loofah. It’s a classic shower staple. But do you know that they are a breeding ground for bacteria and should be replaced every 1-2 months? If you did know that, do you do so? I certainly did not.
They are fairly cheap things to purchase, only $1-$3, but if you actually replace them as recommended, it can really add up over a lifetime. Not to mention the 100s of years it will take to break down in a landfill. You could purchase natural loofahs, but they are the same price, if not more expensive, than plastic. Not fixing the financial problem.
There are many loofah alternatives on the market that have the potential to last a lifetime. We have had honeycomb mitts for the last several years and enjoy them. I find that I still get a good lather and gentle exfoliation as I would with a loofah. They make up for their price in about a year, costing about $15-$20. Silicone body scrubbers are another alternative, and an even more economical choice at around $5.
I am not sure of any time that a disposable loofah would be more convenient than one of the alternatives mentioned. They take up less space and dry faster for traveling. If you know of a reason, please leave it in a comment below.
Cotton Swabs
Cotton swabs are pretty cheap things. You can get 500 for less than $3. They don’t even take that long to decompose if you get a paper or bamboo stem option. There is still waste from single-use products, and a reusable swab, about $10, will save money in the long term. As well as the convenience of a more compact item to store and travel with.
I wasn’t sure what I would prefer, so I got a pack of 4 with different tips to try out. Thankfully so, because while I enjoy the bumpy option, my husband prefers a smooth tip.
The downside of the reusable silicone tips is that they don’t absorb. A disposable might be necessary when you need to use a swab for something like nail polish or makeup remover.
I hope you found some new ways to save yourself some money and have a positive impact on our planet. If you know of other ways to save money and reduce your waste in the hygiene department, I would love to hear them in the comments below!
Did you know I sell soap?
Check out my homemade tallow soap on Etsy!