I actually really like using the Keeper, which is mentioned on the page you linked to about menstrual pads. For me, it is so much more convenient since I tend not to carry a purse or bag around in which I can keep hygiene stuff, so it is worth it for me since I can avoid the whole hassle of having to run home or find a vending machine in some store bathroom. It doesn't work perfectly and doesn't plug you up entirely like a tampon does, but even if you use one or two pads with it on the first few days of your period, the reduction of the number of disposables used is still significant (as is the monetary savings).
Extreme Thrift: Going Green on a Shoestring
Photo: Angela7Dreams
Feeling the financial pinch of your planetary eco-commitment? Right there with you. Following is a list of ideas to go there on the super cheap.
I’ve written an article or two in the past on saving money while going green. And while I stand by the suggestions I made in those articles, I’m talking here about items that are either less “incidental” than some of the other ideas, or are so super cheap that when I thought of or was told about them, I had one of those slap my forehead, I could have had a V-8 moments.
Pumice sticks.
An Arizona friend of mine turned me on to this. Slightly more crumbly than the kind you buy for a DIY shower pedicure, these are the ones that pool cleaners use to clean the build up that develops as the water meets the pool walls. Apparently, this is a trick that property flipping people and home renovators have been using for a while. And it’s also apparently what many of them use when all of the harsher chemicals fail. Great for build up under toilet rims, bathroom sinks, and shower tiles. Pool cleaning and supply stores should have them. If you happen to live near one of those 99 cent only grocery and home item stores, I used to get mine there. Doesn’t get much cheaper than that.
Skip the soap pads.
Plain steel wool or stainless steel / copper scrubbers will do the job without the non eco-friendly soap built in. If the fact that these products have fewer coupons to purchase with is of financial concern, there are strategies to increase the life of them that are relatively painless.
Pump dispensers.
My fondness for these as a cash saving strategy is well documented. But even if you aren’t as concerned as I am with squeezing a nickel until cries, you may find you need to be more precise with your consumption rate when it comes to some of the pricier green products. Saving pennies here is something even my more financially independent friends have expressed concern about. Think laundry detergent, liquid eco-shampoo, and more.
Re-useable fabric softener sheet.
Yes, it’s possible. It involves a scrap of toweling and a spray dispenser bottle for liquid softener, but it can be done.
Bar soap.
I’m as guilty as the next person of wanting to avoid wiping up the goop that can occur from having one of these by the sink. But really, with the bulk purchase deals out there, I’ve found it way cheaper than liquid pump – action hand soap. Extra bonus? Way less plastic packaging. Simple. Cheap. Green.
DIY Maxi Pads.
No. I’m not kidding. And while it’s not my idea of a good time either, if you are up against the wall financially, it’s definitely empowering to know you can avoid paying for these if you have to.
Grab a free composting crock.
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Who knew? A close friend who babysat our dogs on a recent trip turned me on to this little trick while we were spending the night there. Want a homemade compost crock that doesn’t attract fruit flies? Rather than cut a section out of an empty gallon milk jug or vinegar jug (which is what I used to do), she saves those large plastic coffee containers from the grocery store. You know, those ones with the snap on lid and the nice large grip handle? Just remove the label and you can have one in red, green, blue or whatever other color you can find one in. Definitely one of those slap my forehead, why didn’t I think of that ideas.
Precision product purchases.
Figure out where you need to buy a premade product and where you don’t. For example, I have no idea how to make eco friendly dish soap on my own, so I buy it. However, I am perfectly capable of mixing some orange oil or grapefruit seed extract with a little white vinegar and water in my own handy-dandy spray bottle. So when I need a spray cleaner while watching a tight budget, that’s what I do. Power shopping on the green side.
Explore your kitchen pantry.
Many regular household items can be used for cleaning purposes. My top three picks are salt, baking soda and vinegar. I’m sure you all have other suggestions, which I encourage you to share below.
Do a bit of research.
Here are a few other posts from Wise Bread.
- Nora’s coffee cup revolution piece, and of course her piece on saving money and the environment at the same time.
- Repurposing the humble coffee mug.
- Linsey’s happening pieces on chopstick re-use and cheap building supplies.
- The plastic bag dilemma.
- Philip Brewer’s posts on sharing for budget and planet, and energy saving pressure cookers.
Got any other ideas for going green for pennies? Sound off. We’re all ears!
Best of Wise Bread
A word of caution on the pumice sticks ... I used to know someone who used pumice to clean the interior of his toilet bowl (granted, you only said under the rim). Over a period of time, he abraded the bowl enough that it would stain worse than ever.
The Keeper - I like mine too, although as you said it often needs to be supplemented. It's the cloth pad thing that I only use in emergencies, and am struggling to like. They DO feel a bit more comfortable though, I will admit.
Pumice - Good tip. I'd only used it for tough stuff. But I can see how what you are mentioning would happen if people didn't make efforts to keep down the build up afterward.
Thanks for stopping by you two!
into the plastic box that our bulk kitty litter came in. It sits next to the garbage can in the foyer and I've had no problems with it so long as it's emptied once a week or so.
I have a Diva Cup, and I haven't had any problems with leaking. I love, love, LOVE it, and would never go back to tampons or pads unless it was an emergency.
For those who have to 'supplement' their keeper/diva cup, are you sure you have the right size? Do you twist it around after inserting, to make sure it's fully open? If you're using it properly, there shouldn't be any leaks.
The thing I love so much about it is how comfortable it is. It's not absorbent like a tampon, so it is easy to remove and insert. And I barely even notice it's there, unlike a pad. The reuse factor just makes me love it even more, I never have to worry about having more supplies with me. Great for traveling, too.
You know, I'm in the middle of a "Green for Girls" post, and will be covering the keeper and diva cup products in more detail. I'm glad to know there are so many other people using them successfully. It was really great to have one on the road and really saved on backpack space.
I don't have problems with Keeper-leakage, either. There was a learning curve for the first month or two, but now, everything is well-contained.
Some of my friends were laughing at the idea of them this weekend, until I told them that I had one, and hadn't bought tampons in 8 years. That shut them up pretty quickly. The Keeper, it is awesome.
from what i've heard, fabric softener (either liquid or dryer sheets) are terrible for the environment being full of dangerous chemicals. also a fire hazard. but you can naturally soften your clothes by adding a cup or so of vinegar to the rinse cycle.
We use vinegar exclusively as our fabric softener and not nearly as much as a cup. I'd say, in our front loader, we only use a quarter of a cup or so and it works wonderfully.
Don't forget to check here if you buy telephones, small appliances or computer equipment. I really wanted an energy efficient cordless phone, and had a tough time finding one until I checked out this site. I wound up with a better (and more expensive) model, but I'm sure it will earn back the difference shortly. Especially with the new electric rate increase we had :(
You know, I didn't know they had a reference site for things other than larger appliances. Thanks for the tip.
I had to dig deep for mobile phones. If I remember correctly, I found out that my Motorola Razr was already compliant by checking in the Power Adaptor section.
Interestingly enough, we are in the market for a new cordless house phone. Ours is on its last legs . . .
Hi,
You all have great ideas and was wondering if you know anyone who fits this description...
I'm looking for someone to bring on a major daytime talk show who...
To save money, is an EXTREME bulk grocery buyer. I mean they refuse to step foot in a regular grocery store because they swear by bulk shopping.
If you want to nominate yourself or someone that's just perfect please e-mail-
Thanks so much and happy shopping!
There is no need to use commercial "eco" cleaning supplies when you have more money. They are still harsher on the environment and don't work as well. You can make products that smell much better than the expensive ones at Whole Foods. I never believed in aromatherapy until I tried making my own cleaning products with real essential oils.
Go to a dollar store to get pretty spray bottles for $1 each, or Home Depot stores stock a package of three industrial sized spray bottles for something like $6 the last time I bought them. If you get the pretty bottles either color-code them (blue for glass cleaner, green for gentle cleaner, red for stronger cleaner), or use a label maker. Also either recycle a Parmesan cheese shaker (be careful NOT to put in the dishwasher, as the plastic will shrink). If you hate plastic, then you can pick up a glass shaker in a kitchen supply section of a discount store. One advantage of the plastic is that it snaps shut.
Then go to your local health food store (if you don't have one nearby, I sometimes order from herbalremedies.com) and buy the essential oils that smell good- I like peppermint, lavender, and grapefruit. You can also get tea tree oil in a pharmacy (in the first aid section) that kills germs naturally. Beware that tea tree oil is toxic to cats and some people think the slightly medicinal smell is reminiscent of rotten potatoes.
At the grocery store pick up club soda, distilled white vinegar, baking soda, and food coloring. Open the soda and let it go flat. Pour it into the bottle for window cleaner along with a drop or two of blue food coloring and about 10 drops of lavender oil. Pour a few inches of baking soda in the shaker, put in about 3 drops of peppermint oil, follow with more baking soda and oil, and repeat until the shaker is filled. In the remaining two spray bottles, mix one with about half vinegar and water and 10-20 drops of peppermint oil and a few drops of red food coloring. In the last bottle mix about 1/5 vinegar with the rest water, 10-15 drops of grapefruit or orange oil, and a drop or two of green food coloring. The peppermint is what I use in the kitchen and bathroom as a general surface cleaner. The grapefruit I use in the rest of the house, mostly for spot cleaning floors. If I need to mop I pour about a cup of the mix in a bucket full of hot water. It works great and makes the whole house smell wonderful.
