Saving TREES, go to CLOTH

Have you ever seen those toilet paper/paper towels made by Seventh Generation? They are great, and now Giant carries them, which I'm really glad for. Seventh Generation makes their paper towels and toilet paper out of recycled paper. But there is something even *better* that can be done.

ENTER: CLOTH

How many old towels do you have around that you're not sure what to do with? I don't know about you, but we usually have these towels around forever because we just don't get around to doing anything else with them, and then they end up with holes so I don't want to take them to the local charity. And we have so many towels that we can't fit them all in the cabinet.

A few years ago, I even looked into cloth sanitary napkins. I even bought some. And they are quite comfortable, very nice. But I lost many of them. (Kind of like how socks get eaten by the washer??). I was thinking about buying more, but then I remembered there are some patterns online. So I looked at those. And I've since come up with my own ideas of what I'm going to do to make these.

The truth is I don't use pads much anyway. I've always preferred tampons, so when I bought those pads, I also bought a "keeper". The Keeper, also known as a Diva Cup is made of rubber or silicone. It is used like a tampon but is easily washed and re-used. That may sound gross, but do you have any idea how many tons of sanitary products are thrown away? How gross are *those* landfills?? Its really ridiculous and completely unnecessary. And since this is a choice that affects only me, and not my husband, I figured it was something I could do without inconveniencing anyone else.

Of course, then my daughters got old enough that this affects them too. And the diva cup/Keeper is a bit difficult to learn how to use for someone their ages. So I kind of gave up on the whole thing. (I'm like one of those "all or nothing" kinds of people. Its hard for me to make baby steps and count them as being for real).

Just last week though we were out of supplies and one of my daughters asked me if I still had any of the cloth ones left. It just so happens I did, and she used it and all was well. And that got me to thinking that its time to get back to saving the trees, (and our feminine health as well). And as it turns out, I had gotten TONS of fabric from my computer repair guy. He gave me free service in exchange for taking all this fabric off his hands. So, eventually I'll make some pretty cloth items.

Well, we've taken it just one step further. Not only did I cut up towels a few weeks ago to substitue for paper towels, I found a website that discussed cloth TOILET PAPER!

http://walkslowlylivewildly.com/category/cloth-toilet-paper/

(Bear with me while I figure out how to insert links. Sometimes it works and other times it doesn't. For now, just copy and paste into your browser)

Now that seems just a bit gross, but I decided it was worth a try. So I took some of those "cloth instead of paper towels" and cut them smaller, to be used as wipes. They are sitting in a nice little basket on the back of the toilet. And there's a nice bag there to put them in once they are used. There were so many that I couldn't fit them all in the basket, so I've put a bowl in the kitchen and stacked some in there too, right where the paper towels usually sit.

I'm not quite ready to be washing poopy wipes though, so for now we are only using them for "number 1". Regular paper toilet paper will be for "number 2". Yes, yes, I know it does sound gross. But in my opinion, every little bit helps, and why not?

Ok, ok, if you are still too squeamish for using cloth, and you visit my house, don't worry. I will have conventional toilet paper easily available and accessible for you to use!