Reduce: Cotton Tips
August 4, 2009 at 10:18 pm 15 comments
What can I do to reduce the number of cotton tips (q-tips) we go through? Although the ends are made of cotton (biodegradable), the stems are plastic, I think, so you couldn’t compost them.
I used to at least buy them in cardboard boxes, but these days I can only find them in plastic containers… and I don’t think it’s the right kind of plastic to recycle either. I tried keeping the containers to reuse, but I just don’t really have anything to use them for. Maybe I’ll try Freecycling them.
These are the cotton tips I bought most recently from Coles.
I can’t think of a replacement for the thing we use them for the most – nothing else cleans your ears quite the right way! Even Yankee Elv, who has the cleanest ears ever, uses them to itch the ear her hearing aid goes in.
Ideas? Anyone? Beuller?
EDIT: Jun, aka Beuller, commented below that in Asia people use reusable metal ‘ear diggers‘ (nice name) to clean their ears. Thanks Jun!
Entry filed under: Reduce. Tags: alternative usage, cotton, environmental benefits, plastic, pollution, recyclable materials, recycling, Reduce, Reuse.
1.
Jun | August 5, 2009 at 9:01 am
you get these in asia. lol.
2.
Aussie Elv | August 5, 2009 at 9:15 am
You can find everything weird and wonderful in Asia! Like tongue scrapers. This is interesting indeed…
3.
jlow | August 5, 2009 at 7:08 pm
yes…you should have just asked me. i’ve used one for years lol. only i lost my last a year ago..but i can always ask my friend to send me some lol……
4.
Aussie Elv | August 5, 2009 at 10:01 pm
So what do you use now, regular cotton tips? Were you ever worried about poking it in too far by accident?
5.
mike | August 6, 2009 at 5:26 am
I use the regular cotton tips also. But I make sure I don’t use no more than one of them.
6.
Aussie Elv | August 6, 2009 at 7:18 pm
Yeah, that’s what I’m doing too at the moment, but I’m looking for a better solution long term. Hmm…
7.
Jun | August 6, 2009 at 11:36 am
why am i called bueller?
and yeah..you’ve got to be careful wtih the ear diggers that you dont poke them too far and damage your ears lol. they’re good fun thoguh lol.
8.
Aussie Elv | August 6, 2009 at 7:17 pm
Gold digger! lol
9.
Wassup? « Eco Lesbo Vego | March 30, 2010 at 12:20 am
[...] buddy went to Singapore and all I got were these two metal ear diggers. I only got them on the proviso that I blogged about them! Yankee Elv and I have both tried them. [...]
10.
spiralgirl | November 17, 2010 at 9:11 pm
you can get eco friendly ones that are made of organic cotton and cardboard sticks. hey are alot more expensive, but that helps ensure you only use them when you have to!
Plaes like Flannerys and Wray sell them.
11.
Aussie Elv | November 18, 2010 at 12:13 am
You are full of information – thank you.
I’ll probably keep on using my ‘ear digger’ – I actually like it better because it keeps my ears clean without drying them skin out like the cotton tips did.
However, Yankee Elv and Mr Teeny-bop have not converted (to be fair, I haven’t tried Mr Teeny-bop cos I’m paranoid he’s going to poke himself), so the eco-friendly cotton tips will be great for them.
Do you know what brand they are?
12.
spiralgirl | November 18, 2010 at 12:16 am
I do what I can
here they are for your eco ear cleaning pleasure…and Oh look on sale, i should get some
http://www.organicbeautyworld.com.au/zensc/organic-cotton-buds-200-buds-p-1124.html
13.
spiralgirl | November 18, 2010 at 12:18 am
p.s its a bit suckful that they are packaged in plastic containers, but they are so damn handy to reuse….and recyclable if you dont have a million small things to keep contained like I do in my crazy house.
14.
spiralgirl | November 18, 2010 at 12:25 am
ok forget that, they have them at the green edge and its a similar price without postage ( if you go in to the store to buy…which i assume you do living in Brissie!)
And plus if you go into the Green Edge you can eat cupcakes and such…which you cant do online….obviously….ok i think i need sleep
15.
Aussie Elv | November 18, 2010 at 8:27 pm
I know what you mean about eating things at The Green Edge… I had a mint Tofutti Cutie last time I was there. It was divine. I’ve only gone there the once though, cos it’s on the other side of town to me. However, a trip every once in a while to pick up a bunch of things may be warranted… cotton tips may be acquired then. Thanks for the info!