Females only, would you go this far for the environment?

Question

I met this girl the other day who was telling me how she uses washable, reusuable maxi pads. And I'll say that I'm glad I don't live in her dorm since she has to wash them in the laundry room. Her reason for using them is that she is trying to be as low-impact as possible. This is also one of the two girls who wanted to have the electricity shut off to their dorm room for the sake of lowering their impact on global warming.

And apparently there's a store somewhere in the bay that sells these reusable feminine items.

Answer 1

No, because that is, to me, unhygenic and not worth it. The environmental damage of using the water to wash the pad probably equals the environmental benefit saved in reusing the pad itself; so they would both offset each other and not really benefit the environment much.
Not that the environment is not worthy of a few sacrifices, but there are other things that we can do to lower our ecological footprint. For example, recycling and reusing materials, as well as switching to more energy-efficient devices and taking the public transit probably has the same effect. There are many other things we can do, and we don't have to resort to such extremes.

Answer 2

Their is a brand called "Glad Rags" www.gladrags.com that you can purchase these from on line and they aren't as inconvenient as all that. Disposable feminine products are fairly recent - only the last 60 years - so this is just one way to save money and reduce waste. There is even a reusable sponge tampon if you are uncomfortable with the pads. Some people may find this gross, weird or extreme but really it is no different than any other means someone may take to recycle - it is just something we aren't as comfortable discussing.

Answer 3

Sister, of course you should use washable pads!

Obviously, you've never had a baby. Have you ever thought about those of us who scrape baby **** off nappies? Mentrual blood is nothing to baby poo!

If we don't start changing our lifestyles soon, it will get worse than washable pads. Water shortages, people dying, weirds weather, wars...

I read a really interesting article in the magazine "Colours" once about living in a war zone (it was Sarajevo) and how people deal with going without little convenient necessities like tampons, condoms, electricity etc.

The people in the story were just like you, except that they have learned to get by with what they have, and a little menstrual blood doesn't freak them out because they live with the reality of war.

keep smiling

Answer 4

The reusable maxi-pads are probably very similar to cloth diapers. I have never used the reusable maxi-pads, but cloth diapers I have washed a lot of messy ones, so I don't think reusable maxi-pads would be much different.

Answer 5

I know it sounds yucky .... but it isn't. I haven't switched yet, but, two of my friends have, and I have been pestering them about it. (I am over coming the same attitude you express here)

What you do with them, is rinse them as soon as you take them off. (that is the part I don't like). But, I am slightly allergic to the chemicals in disposable pads. (Remember cloth is the way it has been, much longer than disposable ones ... unless you went into seclusion and then I think you still had cloth) Then you put them in the wash. I have been told it is very easy, and not messy - hard to believe-. And both women have said the cloth pad doesn't stink like the disposable ones. And both are mothers that have used cloth diapers, which is I know doesn't stink as much as the disposable ones.... because they don't sit in the house, you clean them quick. LOL

Anyway I am going to switch, and teach my daughter. I am hoping that they come out in bamboo fabric as bamboo fabric is stain resistant, antibacterial/fungal.

As to no electricity - we have one night a week, as a family, with no electricity. It is fun. Though every day?

I would suggest to them that they petition the school to go Solar, or any viable alternative power.

Answer 6

Jesus, just when you thought the Environmental lunatics could get any crazier or more politically correct...

As a man I'm glad I've never met or dated that girl.

Why don't you also consider using washable toilet paper? I'm sure some hippy-reject in California is making and marketing it.

Just remember, if she's washing them, she's still having to use energy, water, and creating waste water.

Answer 7

Well, if some people want to do that, that's fine. But I would never go that far. And to wash them in a public laundry room is disgusting.

Answer 8

This is what women did generations ago.....however, most pads now are constucted of material that breaks down easier than most other products that we use, so I think your friend is going a little over the top. I don't even think the Amish people do that!

Answer 9

You can pack an elephant up in there and it wont change GW. Humans cannot alter natural climate changes. Cold, cool, warm, hot, warm, cool, cold.....that's been the pattern for the life of our planet regardless of what the alarmists will do to convince the wide eyed masses that it's their fault. This is the most ridiculous nonsense I have ever witnessed, and it is truly disturbing to know that so many are so easily duped.

Answer 10

Acutally you can make your own. Newborn baby socks work great as tampons. You just treat them as you would washable diapers, or any garment that has been exposed to human biproducts. It is a bit much at first, and seems like a big step to take, but once you commit yourself to doing it, it's not as awful as it seems. And the money you will save will help any struggling college student. As for washing in the public laundry room, it is only blood and washing machines do not care if it's dog poop, baby poop, nose blood, menstrual blood, or car greese. It cleans it all the same.