Cost-Effective Feminine Necessities that Work in a SHTF World

My Fellow American Women

We have needs. Particular needs of a physiological nature that - no matter how many femi-nazis will say “we're all equal” - make us DIFFERENT from the rest of humanity (men), the most obvious of which happens in the restroom. How do we address those needs in a cost-effective, sustainable manner that will also be viable in a SHTF scenario? *cough*Sandy*cough, cough*

Let's start with toilet paper. Apparently we need it more than guys do, but toilet paper is a finite resource that will rapidly become scarce and worth more than gold. How do we conserve toilet paper, then?

Solution: wet rags.

This is the part where you go, “Hawkweed, wtf are you talking about? What's a 'wet rag' and why the hell would I want to use that?” Well, I'll tell you.

Assuming that you didn't just go number 2, in which case the need for toilet paper is non-negotiable, a wet rag is a regular wash rag, designated solely for the use of cleaning yourself up when you use the loo.

1. Take the rag, wet it and rinse it at the bathroom sink
2. Go do your business
3. Clean up with the wet rag
4. Take the rag back with you to the sink and rinse it thoroughly before hanging it up it the spot you have for it
5. Wash your hands and carry on with your day

If the power is out and the water is not running, a pre-collected bowl of rinse water will do, provided you're able to change it every several uses or so.

Now this is the part where I tell you the other benefits aside from saving toilet paper that all this has.

One benefit is that no “little white fuzzies” will be left behind by the wet rag. Another is that you will actually be left cleaner and fresher with the water from the wet rag than you would if you used the dry paper - like taking a shower (albeit without soap) versus trying to take a shower without even turning on the water or getting wet.

This is also a great solution for staying clean when you're on your period, and makes a huge cut down on mess.

Speaking of when you're on your period, ever consider a set of cloth menstrual pads? Cotton seems a lot more comfortable and less odorous than recycled paper and plastic, don'tchya think?

Consider this as a good starting place for shopping cloth pads: http://www.naturallycozy.com/naturally-cozy.html

Stocked with a good set, it should last you your whole period, be easily taken care of with a rinse and then a run through the laundry, and then put away until next month, all very cost-effective.

Your toilet paper and money are all saved for other important uses, while your highly important feminine needs are addressed in a sustainable way.

Unless you're a tampons kind of gal, in which case you are braver than me, but at the same time I do not envy you one bit.