Why Reuseables Just Make Sense

People talk about ways to reduce waste and eliminate unnecessary chemicals from their lives. They do everything from recycling, to not using plastics and all the way to keeping their waste so low they can fit it in a jar. But there is one angle that most people forget about. The one thing that, in my opinion, produces a lot of waste and is actually pretty harmful: Menstruation products.

I know, I know, you hate talking about your period. It seems weird to say “I have a period” but don’t be ashamed. Stand up and shout it! Over half of the world gets a period. But have you ever stopped to look at how much waste is produced and a number of chemicals are in the products? We’ve been told since we were children that tampons can make you sick. Why do we still use them?

Worst of all, all that extra plastic just ends up in the dump and then in our oceans. Sea life will try to eat it and it can destroy ecosystems. Every bit of plastic made is still in existence somewhere in the world. It will never really go away. It just becomes smaller bits of plastic. Yuck!

There is an alternative! Reusable products like cotton pads and menstrual cups are here to rescue you. Most people when I mention products like this are really weirded out or even flat out tell me I am disgusting for using them. They are wrong. Let me tell you why.

Did you know there is no federal law that requires companies to disclose the ingredients in their pads and tampons? That means they can use pretty much any chemicals or plastics they want and get away with it! By switching to cotton pads or cups you get to control what you use. No harsh chemicals here!

One of the questions I get asked the most is “how do I clean the pads and cup?” This is a very easy answer. You throw the pads in a separate load of laundry or I do mine with towels. You can get enzyme cleaner, like Biokleen Bac-Out Stain & Odor Remover, which will help get the blood stains and odor out of your pads. You can also get cup wipes for on the go cleaning. Remember to boil your cup between cycles for safety!

Here’s the thing, an average user can use between 12,000 to 16,000 disposables in their lifetime. At $5 a box you are looking at spending around $3,000 on harmful chemicals and trash. Cotton pads or cups can last you up to 20 years if properly taken care of. Cups are around $35. The savings are significant! So the next time you are in your local store staring at the tampons remember you could shell out for sticks you throw away or spend a little more and get peace of mind.

You can use the code GRA1714 at gladrags.com to get $5 off your order and free shipping. You can also get kits with everything you need to get started. If you have a store in your area that you want to carry GladRags or any other reusable products, let them know! Stores stock things that are recommended. They may not realize people want reusables unless you speak up!