And just like that it’s August. With Plastic Free July behind us, it’s time to refocus on our regular monthly goals in the Year of monthly waste reduction goals challenge. This month’s goal is to eliminate cotton balls, pads and swabs.

This post was originally published in August 2020 and updated in January 2023.

These disposable cotton products are on the list of 40 things I no longer buy (and don’t really need). They are a big part of the daily care routine for many people. But are they really necessary?

In comparison to other changes I’ve made in the interest of waste reduction, these have been among the easiest swaps to make.

In this post, I’ll talk about the problem with cotton and some of the concerns with these products. I’ll also offer some waste-free alternatives that will do the job and save you money.

But cotton is natural, right?

According to the World Wildlife Fund, cotton is the most profitable non-food crop in the world. Cotton production employs about 7% of all labour in developing countries so it’s definitely an important crop.

Cotton is a natural product but that doesn’t mean it’s sustainable. Cotton production takes huge amounts of water. It takes 20,000 litres of water to produce 1 kilogram of cotton, enough to make one t-shirt and pair of jeans.

It is also the crop that is the most heavily sprayed with pesticides. Organic cotton avoids the use of pesticides but it still uses a lot of water.

Considering how resource-intensive cotton production is, is it really something you want to use and throw away? And, do you want to put something that’s treated with pesticides on your skin? I know I don’t!

Your “cotton” balls may not really be cotton

But did you know that many “cotton” balls, swabs and pads actually aren’t made from cotton.

They are made from cheaper, bleached synthetic fibres like polyester. Unlike cotton, synthetic fibres don’t break down when disposed of, so that single-use item may spend a long time in the landfill.

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Let’s talk about cotton swabs

Okay, so environmental concerns aside, let’s take a closer look at cotton swabs.

The most common use for these swabs is cleaning your ears. This is in spite of the warnings from manufacturers saying say not to put the swab in your ear canal. I remember a teacher in school telling us you should never put anything smaller than your elbow in your ears.

If you search “cleaning your ears”, you’ll find all sorts of information from credible sources. All agree that, in addition to the risk of damaging your eardrum, using a swab to clean your ears actually pushes the ear wax deeper into the ear. Experts will also tell you that earwax serves a purpose. It acts as a moisturizer, traps dust and dirt, and prevents bacteria from entering the ear. So we really should leave it alone.

I stopped using swabs in my ears a long time ago. I can still hear and haven’t suffered any ill effects from “dirty” ears.

The second problem with cotton swabs is many of them have plastic sticks. Even if you find products with paper or bamboo sticks, they are still a disposable product that ends up in landfill…or worse.

Another common use for cotton swabs is applying makeup. I never liked doing that because I found they didn’t glide very smoothly and the cotton often sticks to the makeup.

Some waste-free alternatives

Still not convinced that you don’t need cotton swabs, here are some waste-free alternatives to consider.

If you really want to clean your ears, the Mayo Clinic suggests softening the wax with a few drops of mineral oil from a dropper, then squirting warm water using a rubber-bulbed syringe a couple of days later.

For applying makeup, makeup brushes are a great solution. They are specifically designed for that purpose, are washable, and last a long time. I’ve been using the same ones for years.

The one thing I do find swabs useful for is reducing the risk of contamination when applying ointments. With that in mind, I recently bought this reusable swab made from silicone. It works great and can be washed and reused over and over.

What about cotton balls and pads?

In addition to the environmental concerns, most cotton balls and pads come packaged in plastic bags. But, even if you find products packaged in paper, they are still a single-use item.

The most common uses for cotton balls and pads are applying skin care products and removing makeup.

For skin care, washable and reusable cotton pads are a great alternative. As for removing makeup, I find a soft washcloth does the trick. You can read more about this in Easy low-cost and low-waste skin care routine.

Even after switching to other products, I continued to use cotton pads to remove nail polish. Personally, I have stopped using nail polish in the interest of reducing my exposure to chemicals. It’s pretty messy and doesn’t wash out so I don’t have any reusable suggestions on that front. If anyone has any ideas, please pass them along..

Plan to give up these products in August

Challenge yourself this August to do without these products and try some of the alternatives. Let me know how you make out.

Do you have other alternatives to cotton balls, swabs and pads? Tell us about them below.