GGTSSG

[Stringy]

ovenrack suggested bringing this thread back and I agree. So I am.

This is the Going Green to Save Some Green thread. What are you doing to help save the planet, and if lucky, save yourself some dough in the meantime.

Also - Earth Day is this month - any plans?

[Stringy]

Ok I have a few things. More questions than achievements, though.

I started using a menstrual cup. Its getting easier every day. I absolutely love the thought of never buying tampons again. I do keep forgetting to order some cloth pads - maybe I'll go add that to my TiT. Next I need to convert BM.

Questions:

1. Someone TTMA essential oils. I've seen some elsewhere mentioned about using as tick/bug repellent. Which are the ones that are NOT safe for kids - and where do I get them? (is this green? it feels crunchy and its not deet, so maybe?)

2. Anyone investigated solar panels for your roof before? I'm sure the tax breaks vary by state, but maybe there's something to learn anyway.

[TJ]

What can I use to clean my granite? My island is a black granite and absolutely everything leaves streaks and a residue. Even granite cleaner. I'm so annoyed... it always looks dirty, but isn't!

[piccyami]

I'm trying to bake more and use reusable containers instead of pre-packaged foods.

H's cousin is getting married on earth day (she's a paleoecologist, he's an ecologist). So we'll take the babies with the disposable diapers, pre-mixed formula, and food pouches.

[sarenu]

I need to get a better system for kitchen cloth.

Can anyone show me their set up for collecting dirty towels? For some reason I just can't figure out how to get it right and I end up with a pile on my counter. I'm almost tempted to look for a small bin to put under my sink for collecting them. I really don't have the space to hang a wet bag.

[piccyami]

sarenu, We just use a laundry basket with holes. All of the downstairs stuff goes in there, including dog towels and rags from wiping up after babies.

[sarenu]

Apr 11, 2017 11:05:24 GMT -5 piccyami said:

sarenu , We just use a laundry basket with holes. All of the downstairs stuff goes in there, including dog towels and rags from wiping up after babies.

That's kind of what i'm looking for, but small enough to fit under the sink.  Something similar in size to this:


www.amazon.com/dp/B00IF5SXX8?th=1

But I'm not sure if this would work without holes?

[piccyami]

Apr 11, 2017 11:09:55 GMT -5 sarenu said:

Apr 11, 2017 11:05:24 GMT -5 piccyami said:

sarenu , We just use a laundry basket with holes. All of the downstairs stuff goes in there, including dog towels and rags from wiping up after babies.

That's kind of what i'm looking for, but small enough to fit under the sink.  Something similar in size to this:


www.amazon.com/dp/B00IF5SXX8?th=1

But I'm not sure if this would work without holes?

We use these for all sorts of things.  Would you be willing to give up that much space?

[Stringy]

We just keep a hanging mesh bag in the broom closet that is right off the kitchen. Only b/c thats a bag we had around to use - we didn't get it for that. Any bag would probably do.

[rugger]

I bought some cloth pads from the BB&M sale. They only had the large available by the time I looked, so I've only tried them for ON, but I really liked them. I think I want to try some smalls soon. Once I sell some diapers.

Stringy talk to me about the menstrual cup. B/c I just keep thinking it would be so so messy to empty/change out in public. And can you do all the activities with it in?

[Stringy]

Apr 11, 2017 11:47:23 GMT -5 rugger said:

I bought some cloth pads from the BB&M sale. They only had the large available by the time I looked, so I've only tried them for ON, but I really liked them. I think I want to try some smalls soon. Once I sell some diapers.

Stringy talk to me about the menstrual cup. B/c I just keep thinking it would be so so messy to empty/change out in public. And can you do all the activities with it in?

I'm only on day 3. I did wear it to work today which I wasn't sure of on day 1 or 2.  So....someone else can better answer to activities. I did wear it for like 9 hours yesterday though and it was fine. Its just getting it in and out that's a little dicey right now. Actually I think I've gotten the hang of in. But I may need a longer one cuz getting it out is....well...not very fun.

[TJ]

Apr 11, 2017 9:50:29 GMT -5 TJ said:

What can I use to clean my granite? My island is a black granite and absolutely everything leaves streaks and a residue. Even granite cleaner. I'm so annoyed... it always looks dirty, but isn't!

Also, the stainless steel appliances.

[sarenu]

Apr 11, 2017 11:47:23 GMT -5 rugger said:

I bought some cloth pads from the BB&M sale. They only had the large available by the time I looked, so I've only tried them for ON, but I really liked them. I think I want to try some smalls soon. Once I sell some diapers.

Stringy talk to me about the menstrual cup. B/c I just keep thinking it would be so so messy to empty/change out in public. And can you do all the activities with it in?

I've jogged with mine in. No issue. You just need to place it right and I needed to trim mine down.

I don't have a super heavy flow, so I leave mine in at work without issue.

[rugger]

Apr 11, 2017 11:54:20 GMT -5 Stringy said:

Apr 11, 2017 11:47:23 GMT -5 rugger said:

I bought some cloth pads from the BB&M sale. They only had the large available by the time I looked, so I've only tried them for ON, but I really liked them. I think I want to try some smalls soon. Once I sell some diapers.

Stringy talk to me about the menstrual cup. B/c I just keep thinking it would be so so messy to empty/change out in public. And can you do all the activities with it in?

I'm only on day 3. I did wear it to work today which I wasn't sure of on day 1 or 2.  So....someone else can better answer to activities. I did wear it for like 9 hours yesterday though and it was fine. Its just getting it in and out that's a little dicey right now. Actually I think I've gotten the hang of in. But I may need a longer one cuz getting it out is....well...not very fun.

So do you just pull it out, dump the contents and then re-insert? No rinsing or anything?

[rugger]

Apr 11, 2017 11:57:03 GMT -5 sarenu said:

Apr 11, 2017 11:47:23 GMT -5 rugger said:

I bought some cloth pads from the BB&M sale. They only had the large available by the time I looked, so I've only tried them for ON, but I really liked them. I think I want to try some smalls soon. Once I sell some diapers.

Stringy talk to me about the menstrual cup. B/c I just keep thinking it would be so so messy to empty/change out in public. And can you do all the activities with it in?

I've jogged with mine in. No issue. You just need to place it right and I needed to trim mine down.

I don't have a super heavy flow, so I leave mine in at work without issue.

And you can leave it in undisturbed for 8 hrs with no concern of TSS? I usually end up rotating wearing tampons and pads to give myself a break, so to speak.

[TJ]

rugger Yes you can wear it for all activities. I don't wear it to the gym on day 1, but I do the other days. The lunette says you can wear it up to 12 hours, so I've never had to change it in public. I especially liked it when visiting the in-laws, because then there was no trash to worry about (their dog eats trash.)

[kona]

I've used a Diva cup for about 9 months now. There was definitely a learning curve. I don't change mine in public anymore but when I did I just wiped with toilet paper. It's still messy changing sometimes but I feel the benefits outweigh any downside.

[sarenu]

Apr 11, 2017 11:59:25 GMT -5 rugger said:

Apr 11, 2017 11:57:03 GMT -5 sarenu said:

I've jogged with mine in. No issue. You just need to place it right and I needed to trim mine down.

I don't have a super heavy flow, so I leave mine in at work without issue.

And you can leave it in undisturbed for 8 hrs with no concern of TSS? I usually end up rotating wearing tampons and pads to give myself a break, so to speak.

Lunette recommends keeping it in for less than 12 hours.  They have had one case of TSS reported with cup usage, due to an abrasion caused when the woman was inserting her cup.

[dramaphile]

I've been using a divacup for about 6 months, used Instead softcups before that for a few years. There is a learning curve with inserting and removing, but I found that a couple of cycles in, I was pretty good at not making too much of a mess. If you have trouble getting yours in, google cup folding methods, I recently discovered there are several different ways people fold their cup to insert. I find I need a pantiliner or a pair of underwear I don't care about stains for because I end up with a little blood residue from putting in and taking out that can leave light stains if I don't have any backup. I usually wear mine all day at work without emptying unless I am having a particularly heavy day. I haven't noticed any issues with activities, although I'm not a runner or anything. As long as you empty before anything strenuous, a well-fitting cup shouldn't move or leak.

[ovenrack]

I wear my cup for 12 hours pretty much every day except the first, when I change it once.

But since M was born I feel weird pressure with mine on day 1, so I usually wear cloth pads on day 1 anyway. It's part of the anger my reproductive system seems to have gained since my second birth.

I rinse and reinsert and fully clean at the end of my cycle before I put it away.

I do lots and lots of strenuous things in it. Like splitting wood and running and eating ice cream. Sometimes all at once.

[freezorburn]

Apr 11, 2017 10:58:38 GMT -5 sarenu said:

I need to get a better system for kitchen cloth.

Can anyone show me their set up for collecting dirty towels? For some reason I just can't figure out how to get it right and I end up with a pile on my counter. I'm almost tempted to look for a small bin to put under my sink for collecting them. I really don't have the space to hang a wet bag.

I just have a couple of small wastebaskets. It's nice to have 2, since I can just leave one in the laundry room if for some reason I can't wash them right away. Some times I wait until they are both full before I wash a load.

[critter015]

Apr 11, 2017 11:37:50 GMT -5 @milano said:

sarenu I have a small hanging wet bag on my oven. It doesn't hold many towels but it holds all the washcloth that I use for tiny hands and faces. I go through a ton of kitchen towels though because I use them for everything so I feel like I always have an excessive amount of wet / dirty ones. My laundry room is right off the kitchen so I toss the towels in there when they're too wet to be used anymore.

This. Except my wet bag is a large Planetwise, so it is probably larger than I need. I go through a ton of fsts and washcloths though.

[CurlieWhirlie]

I've been using a Diva cup for almost eight years, I used a Mooncup for about a year before I got pregnant with E, and I've been using cloth pads for that whole time, too.

I love telling people I haven't bought pads or tampons in almost ten years. :-)

[piccyami]

My sister tried to pawn her pp stash of pads off on me before Z and W were born. I was happy to say that I didn't need any because I had my own stash of cloth pads. Until recently, I had a box of pads in my bathroom with a coupon that expired 2 years ago. I think I bought them before we bought our house.

[dramaphile]

Apr 12, 2017 10:52:19 GMT -5 piccyami said:

My sister tried to pawn her pp stash of pads off on me before Z and W were born. I was happy to say that I didn't need any because I had my own stash of cloth pads. Until recently, I had a box of pads in my bathroom with a coupon that expired 2 years ago. I think I bought them before we bought our house.

I am totally stashing up on cloth pads next time I give birth, regular pads are so irritating, especially when they have the stay dry layer on top.  I ended up having to switch brands because they did not feel good.  

[piccyami]

Apr 12, 2017 12:40:40 GMT -5 dramaphile said:

Apr 12, 2017 10:52:19 GMT -5 piccyami said:

My sister tried to pawn her pp stash of pads off on me before Z and W were born. I was happy to say that I didn't need any because I had my own stash of cloth pads. Until recently, I had a box of pads in my bathroom with a coupon that expired 2 years ago. I think I bought them before we bought our house.

I am totally stashing up on cloth pads next time I give birth, regular pads are so irritating, especially when they have the stay dry layer on top.  I ended up having to switch brands because they did not feel good.  

I used the ones the hospital provided until I got home, but as soon as I was home, I switched to the cloth. It was so worth it.

[sarenu]

How many pads did everyone have for PP? I'm thinking I want to go this route this time. I didn't remember going through so many pads with E, but I know I had to use a lot for C.

I have the PIMP liners and I like those. What brands does everyone use?

[piccyami]

I bought pink daisy. I have 5 overnight, 6 medium, 9 small. They make pp ones, but I didn't buy any and didn't really need them.

[nadynn]

Apr 11, 2017 9:50:29 GMT -5 TJ said:

What can I use to clean my granite? My island is a black granite and absolutely everything leaves streaks and a residue. Even granite cleaner. I'm so annoyed... it always looks dirty, but isn't!

It's so strange. Actually black granite is stronger and more stain-resistant than lighter granite.
I also have a dark granite countertops, and I've never done anything but clean it with whatever is at hand. Have you resealed your granite countertops? If you are one of those who believe that granite does't need to be resealed, read this: graniteprotect.com/