(Earth Friendly) Things That Make Me Go “Ew”

April 30, 2009 3:00 pm     Posted in HaHa  Candy -- NYU g+ page

poopouriI’m all for being green and helping to save the planet in our my own way. I always recycle empties and I even reuse old print-outs for taking notes in class. But there are some things out there that take things a bit too far. And by “too far,” I mean, “totally gross me out and make me want to vomit in my mouth a little.”


By Candy

Surely, the planet can be saved without going to these lengths:

1.  Recycled Animal Poo Products – One company collects elephant dung, washes it, and uses it to make pretty recycled-paper stationery.  Another makes “poopourri” in the same sort of way from sheep poo.  Interesting idea, but icky.  I don’t care if it’s washed and sanitized, I don’t want my apartment smellin’ like sheep poo.  Plus, what would someone think if you sent your birthday invites on poo paper?

2.  Reusable Toilet Wipes - Exactly what it sounds like.  Basically, they are cloth wipes that you use when you go to the bathroom… and then wash and reuse.  But where do you put them before you have a chance to get home to wash them? And how do you explain to house guests that you don’t have TP, but they can feel free to wipe themselves with that little napkin next to the toilet? And how would you TP your neighbor’s house for Halloween? So many questions, not to mention the gross-out factor of washing those things with your sheets and towels.

3.  Reusable Menstrual Products - There’s the menstrual cup, washable pads, and sea-sponge tampons, all of which you can use, wash, and reuse. And all of which pose the same icky problems for me as the reusable toilet wipes.  I know that paper/cotton tampons and pads aren’t eco-friendly at all, but none of these alternatives are appealing. Unless you consider shoving a Tupperware cup in your vajay and then fishing it out to empty it every few hours appealing.

4.  Condoms - I’m skeptical, but some people claim that animal-membrane condoms, like lambskin condoms, are washable and reusable as well.  I really, really hope this isn’t true… the last thing I want to be doing after sex is running to the bathroom to wash the condom out. Actually, the last thing I want is sheep’s membrane going anywhere near my happy place.  Plus, just an FYI for you guys, lambskin condoms are safe for preventing pregnancy, not STDs.

5.  Multiple-Use Toiletries - No, I don’t mean like the Shampoo/Conditioner combos; I’m talking about products like Dr. Bronner’s Liquid Soap that claim to have “18-in-1 Uses,” ranging from shampoo and body wash, to household cleaner or even toothpaste.  Ok, maybe this stuff is alright as a body wash or something – it is organic–but anything that can wash my hair AND clean my bathroom floor definitely doesn’t belong on my teeth.  Gross.

Do you guys know of any other strange “green” products?

28 Comments on "(Earth Friendly) Things That Make Me Go “Ew”"

  1. Jenna says:
    Thu, 30th Apr 200910:25 am 

    One easy way to be "greener" when it comes to tampons, without the super-gross reusable factor, is to use ones with cardboard applicators instead of plastic ones. They're at least biodegradable. But there's no way I'm going to re-use anything that goes inside my lady parts.

  2. Vivian - Undecided says:
    Thu, 30th Apr 200910:44 am 

    Why does a reusable condom sound like a really really terrible idea? I can only imagine the many ways you can screw up by not rising it thoroughly enough. And for cheapo creeps who like to cheat? Can you imagine if it were possible that the condom he's using has been in someone else too? So much for STD/pregnancy protection.

  3. sarah says:
    Thu, 30th Apr 20092:08 pm 

    You know, I'd advise giving the reusable menstrual products a try before dissing them. They are so much more comfortable than the disposable products, particularly pads. Disposable pads, being paper and plastic, are hot and itchy and cause rash in a lot of women (just like disposable diapers cause diaper rash in some babies). The reusable ones are sooo soft on your feminine parts and there's none of that hot itchiness.

  4. Morgan says:
    Thu, 30th Apr 20093:10 pm 

    This is slightly irrelevant… but there was a Law and Order episode revolving around a family that basically wrote the book on being Green. The wife was not so into it, and kept sneaking into the nearby hotel for toilet paper AND found someone to cheat on her husband with. So, according to Law and Order, if I am too Green, my men will cheat on me for toilet paper >.<

  5. Kris says:
    Thu, 30th Apr 20092:37 pm 

    I agree with Sarah. Reusable menstrual products are very hygienic if you take proper care of them. Washable pads are no more gross than underwear, you wash them and then they're clean. It's not like you're putting the same used pad in your underwear day after day. you clean them and they're far more comfortable than disposables. Also, the menstrual cups have absolutely no similarity to tupperware. They're made of soft, malleable silicon and you don't end up "fishing it out to empty it every few hours" because unlike tampons which dry out your va-jay-jay, cups don't cause tss so you can leave it in for up to 12 hours. Don't knock it till you try it. or at least do a little better research.

  6. Winnie says:
    Thu, 30th Apr 20093:34 pm 

    I think the pads, poo paper, and the multiple use toiletries are totally awesome. Well the poo paper just seems fun to use FOR invites lol.

    But really, you do seem to be a stuck up girly girl about these green things. Try them, you might grow to love em :P

  7. NewPaltzgal says:
    Thu, 30th Apr 20099:33 pm 

    anyone who reuses any kind of condom should be punched in the face. I’ve heard good things about the menstrual cup but refuse to try it because i can not get with the notion of reusing something that has come into contact with my menstrual blood lol

    However Dr Bronner’s soap is the best thing ever. I love it because it’s natural castille soap and can be used for so much and comes in refreshing scents

  8. Brittany says:
    Thu, 30th Apr 20099:34 pm 

    I agree with Sarah and Kris. The cups are not bad at all. I wish I would have switched sooner. They are not gross, and if you're grossed out by your own body, grow up! They are so much healthier than tampons. I haven't tried the reusable pads though because I can't stand pads in general.

    Like Sarah said, don't diss it before you try it!

  9. Lisa says:
    Fri, 1st May 200912:16 am 

    I agree with most of these. While in my head i know reusable menstrual products are probably not icky, etc, buuuut i dunno, periods in general gross me out (yeah i’ve been having them for like 7 or 8 ish years and i’m a girl and they shouldn’t…but they do) so those products are just too much of a stretch for me.

  10. Elizabeth says:
    Fri, 1st May 20096:56 am 

    I've been using a menstrual cup for over 2 years and it is one of the best investments I've ever made. It is really comfortable and there isn't a risk of TSS as there is with tampons. If you think it is gross, you really need to be more comfortable with your body. I don't like pads but I am comtemplating getting some reusable ones for light days.

  11. Gemma - NYU says:
    Fri, 1st May 200910:25 am 

    I have to say, the biggest concession I was going to make to the whole eco-friendly period movement was going applicator-less for tampons. That's been no problem at all, and as a bonus, they are so tiny to carry around! No awkward fishing for a huge tampon to try and discreetly carry to the bathroom. After reading some of these comments though, I am getting curious about the cup. I'm sick of buying tampons. Might be worth a try…

  12. Danyell says:
    Sun, 3rd May 20094:24 pm 

    not only does the menstrual cup have a 7 year warranty, its easy to clean, its much healthier for you and the earth, it doesn't absorb your natural vaginal mucus, and it isn't as gross as a bloody cotton wad you apply and remove from your vagina.

    http://www.mooncup.co.uk

  13. Katie says:
    Mon, 4th May 20097:00 am 

    Menstrual cups with change your life! They definitely require being super comfortable with your body (but ideally, everyone is) but they are better for you, save money and save the environment. There really isn't a downside to them.

  14. Emma says:
    Mon, 4th May 20095:57 pm 

    For those of you grossed out by the reusable stuff, you can still try the cup. There's a disposable version called the softcup. It has all the other upsides of the cup, and you can have sex with it in (use a condom though; it's not birth control). It's fantastic.

  15. Jenna says:
    Mon, 4th May 20097:12 pm 

    The only caveat I can see to the mooncup:

    "You will need to empty, rinse or wipe and reinsert your Mooncup every four to eight hours depending on your flow."

    I can't imagine the looks would get trying to wash that baby out in the dorm bathrooms.

  16. criolle johnny says:
    Tue, 5th May 20091:52 pm 

    Someone HAS to say it … Recycled condoms are for "cheap fuckers"!

    Another thing to make you go "EW"!

  17. Kris says:
    Tue, 5th May 20093:13 pm 

    @ Jenna,

    You can empty it out in the shower when there's no one else in there, or in the bathroom when it's empty. The nice thing about cups is that you have more of a time window for emptying it than you do with changing pads or tampons.

  18. Fang, the Barkeep says:
    Tue, 5th May 20093:48 pm 

    Animal skin condoms used to be popular before AIDS came on the scene. In addition to allowing some sperm to get through the pores in the membranes, viruses like HIV can pass through too. Even back in the 80's, churches were bringing sex ed people in to tell us that if we had to be sinful, latex was the only way to go. In addition to the pores animal skins are far less resilient than latex. About the only thing they have going for them are psychological factors.

  19. Britt says:
    Wed, 6th May 20099:22 am 

    I think these are all great ideas. Once people get off their high horses and realize that (although this kind of stuff doesn't seem as hygienic as what we have been using) it is sanitary, and it's not gross at all. This stuff will help reduce our carbon footprints. If every girl used a menstrual cup instead of tampons, it would make an enormous difference!

  20. Lauren says:
    Wed, 6th May 200912:37 pm 

    I have been using the cup for almost a year. It was a great investment and its compfortable. Now the thought of going back to tampons grosses me out.

  21. Sara says:
    Thu, 14th May 20092:02 am 

    Actually I want to thank you for mentioning these things.
    The elephant poo paper that you mentioned is completely hygenic and in addition to not killing trees, part of the proceeds are donated to conservation efforts. My roommate recieved some a while back and it’s nice paper and has no smell. If I hadn’t seen the product name I wouldn’t even know.

    The idea of reuseable toilet wipes and condoms bothers me. The only reason peopel should use lambskin condoms is if they’re allergic to latex, imo. But the menstrual stuff doesn’t sound like a bad idea to me. Especially considering how annoying it is when I have to get more pads/tampons. There are OB tampons that don’t have an applicator but I have issues with those. I don’t think the cup sounds like a bad idea after reading the site but I wonder if it’s available in the US or just the UK.

  22. cjoneski says:
    Tue, 7th Jul 200910:10 am 

    @Sara: Yes, the Keeper and another version of the MoonCup are available in the US. I ordered my LadyCup off eBay from Czech Rep. – only cost $26 US including shipping. Really pretty cheap!

    I really wish I had learned about menstrual cups sooner. It's great not having to tote around a bunch of tampons, not having a stinky trashcan, and not feeling so dry and irritated. I dunno if anyone else has a problem with disposables liners/pads getting stuck to your HAIR, but it can kinda hurt. The cloth pantyliners are much more comfortable and they do wash very easily. I have two and just swap out if I have a leak, wash in the sink, and dry. No stains, no smell, no worries ya'll!

  23. Sara Garska says:
    Sun, 17th Jan 20101:39 pm 

    I use Dr. Bronner's soap all the time and it works really well. It's better than petroleum-based detergents that most people slather all over their heads to clean their hair. I wouldn't want to put the same stuff that I put in a car on my head. According to Wikipedia, Castile soap (the kind that Dr. Bronner's is) is made of Olives… just because some people put deadly cleaners on their floors doesn't mean that other (and imho) better products won't be able to clean the floor AND not kill you when you use it to brush your teeth. I don't like the taste, but works really well for everything else I've tried…

  24. not my name says:
    Thu, 1st Apr 201010:04 am 

    Yea. I understand for a second about lambskin against your a happy place, but would you rather use Porkie? R R U 1 of those people that are 1st to say you can't feel using the toxic latex condom known for causing shock in women and a whole host of other allergic reactions. None are perfect. Obviously if one is really concerned about getting STD's, lambskin is not the way to go… My assumption is that many choose lambskin condoms as an alternative to latex toxicity. I for one didn't know until this article that there are NON LATEX condoms… Here's a link I just found for your viewers information.

  25. not my name says:
    Thu, 1st Apr 201010:07 am 

    Okay the link will not post. Maybe it appears to be advertising. Which I am not. Just trying to help out your readers that I know you are trying to inform. At any rate, simple put in

    allergic reactions from latex condoms and search for non latex condoms links…

  26. suzanne says:
    Thu, 30th Sep 20109:07 am 

    green options are not a matter of convenience or inconvenience. they are a question of whether we will survive as a species or not. For centuries disposable items were not available to us… it didn't kill us. your sensibilities are selfish, destructive and childish. in short you are part of the problem. the planet (that's all of us) would be better off without you.

  27. Klaartje says:
    Thu, 21st Oct 20104:29 am 

    I don't use a cup because it's green… I use one because it's clean, convenient (yay for capacity!), cheap and mostly because it's way comfortable.

    Not much of a sacrifice going on here. But still, the green aspect is a bonus.

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