...this post contains affiliate & referral links! What's a menstrual cup? A menstrual cup is a reusable silicone cup that can be used internally to collect your menstrual flow instead of a tampon or pad. You can read all about how to "green" your period on some of my older posts on menstrual cups and pads. I promise they aren't as weird as you may be thinking. How do you clean a menstrual cup? If you already use a cup or if you're thinking of trying one you may wonder how to clean your cup during and between menstrual cycles. During your cycle: To clean your cup during your cycle there isn't much to do. At a minimum you'll want to rinse the blood from the cup in the sink before you put the cup back in. Some people use a gentle, unscented water based soap (like Diva Wash, Woo Woo Wash, or Lunette Cup Cleanser) every time you empty the cup. There may be times when you aren't near a sink and simply wiping your cup clean may be your only option. Just be sure to rinse it clean ... [ Read More ]
8 Fun Things to Do at MommyCon Orlando
MommyCon is coming to Orlando on Saturday, May 23rd and I've been looking forward to this day for the entire year. You can view the entire agenda and schedule of events on the MommyCon Orlando website. If you've never been to a MommyCon before, be sure you wear comfy shoes because there is a lot to do and even more to see. Use coupon code ECOCHIC15 and save $5 off your General Admission Ticket! (Affiliate link) 1. Attend a few seminars. I'm planning on listening to the Cloth Diapering 101 seminar with Cotton Babies, Comedy Hour with the Honest Toddler's Bunmi Laditan, and Dear 25 Year Old Me with Jill Krause from Baby Rabies. Be sure to check the schedule and mark the seminars you want to attend, the day moves very quickly and you might not get to see everything if you're not organized. 2. Shop the marketplace! There are lots and lots and lots of vendors at MommyCon. If you're looking for cloth diapers you'll be happy to know that AppleCheeks, Thirsties, Smart Bottoms, ... [ Read More ]
Save a Tampon – Put A Cup In It
Join the #putacupinit movement and help save the tampons from the landfill. The idea behind put a cup in it came from a road trip that Kim and I took last month. While we were stopped at a rest area taking a pee break we both had very similar inspirations while in the public bathrooms. There was a sign above the toilet that asked patrons not to flush their feminine hygiene products. What if cup users all around the globe could help introduce menstrual cups to more people with a simple sticker? Imagine you're sitting there in the loo changing those annoying tampons or pads and you saw a sticker like the one above? Would you get online and look it up? Would you visit the website to see what a cup was? Would you be intrigued enough to do a quick search right there on your cell phone? When I first heard of menstrual cups over 5 years ago, I would have told you that you were crazy and that I will NEVER EVER get a cup....ewwww!!! Now, just like the thousands of other ... [ Read More ]
Menstrual Cup 101 – From Tampon to Menstrual Cup
This post is sponsored by Sckoon Menstrual Cups. Have you heard about menstrual cups before? I'm sure you're intrigued since you're reading this and wondering how they differ from tampons and sanitary pads. I promise, this is not a "hippie thing" and all women should at least consider making the switch from disposable tampons and pads to reusable menstrual cups. Everything you need to know about making the switch from tampons to menstrual cups. 1. Did you know that tampons actually dry out your vagina? Your body is always working and your vagina is always producing fluids to help maintain a perfect balance. Tampons are meant to absorb but they absorb everything, blood and natural fluids. Menstrual cups are made of medical grade silicone and do not absorb your natural body fluids, instead they collect the blood flow. 2. Did you know that tampons contain hazardous ingredients? Tampons contain dioxins, pesticide residuals, and other chemicals that can contribute to cancer, rashes, ... [ Read More ]
Green Your Vagina with Cloth Pads (and a giveaway)
Yes, you can "green" your vagina by using cloth pads. Late last week I shared my opinions on how to have a greener period (menstrual cycle) by using cloth pads, menstrual cups, or other more natural options. One of my favorite cloth pad companies is Pink Lemonade. The owner of Pink Lemonade is a work-at-home mom (Sue), who has 4 children. The Etsy Pink Lemonade shop has been open since 2007 and is incredibly popular and well known for their high quality fabrics, fun prints, and superior products. Sue herself is a self-proclaimed "fabric snob" and only uses the very best fabrics such as; hand dyed bamboo velour, luxurious soft minky, and designer cotton wovens. Pink Lemonade cloth menstrual pads are available in a wide variety of sizes to fit all women and flow; including postpartum pads. Sue has been kind enough to giveaway one $25 credit to her store to a lucky Eco Chic reader. To enter follow the steps in the Rafflecopter application. a Rafflecopter ... [ Read More ]
A Greener Period – Menstrual Cups, Mama Cloth, and More
I've covered several different options for greening your period in this post. It's very long but you can skim to the section you'd like to learn more about. To skip ahead: Intro, Cloth Pads, Menstrual Cups, SoftCup, and Sea Sponges. Have you ever considered how eco-friendly (or not) your menstrual cycle is? If you are like me, I imagine you started using either tampons or disposable pads at a young age and haven't given it much thought since. Each month you rush to the store to restock and at the end of your cycle, all of that waste is buried in your local landfill for eternity. Eternity? Yes, just like disposable diapers or anything else that goes inside of a plastic bag and buried under layers of dirty and garbage - tampons and pads will sit in your landfill for an eternity. But you flush your tampons? They don't end up in the landfill do they? Actually, many do! Once you flush that dirty little piece of cotton it gets filtered at the local water treatment ... [ Read More ]