Your Guide to Reusable Wipes

Of all the eco-friendly switches you can make as a parent, choosing reusable wipes is probably the easiest. They're better for the planet, but they're also super affordable and so much gentler than their single-use equivalents. 

Disposable baby wipes are a seriously big problem for the planet, and our health. According to this excellent report by Zero Waste Europe, across Europe in 2017 over 68 billion wet wipes were consumed, which equates to around 511,000 tonnes of waste per year. Not only that, but they are still regularly flushed down the toilet (even though they are definitely not flushable!) leading to them being one of the most commonly found single-use plastic items in the ocean. They make up around 6.2% of waste collected on UK beaches. They also cause catastrophic problems with sewers, leading to contamination of water supplies and sewage problems in peoples’ homes.

But if you’ve never used a cloth wipe before, you might, understandably, be feeling a little overwhelmed! There’s a teeny tiny learning curve, but once you’re past the start, they quickly become very easy. And here’s the best part - no more wiping constantly at the same bit of stubborn poo. Cloth wipes almost always get it in one!

What can I use cloth wipes for?

Bottoms, faces, hands… literally anything! If you’re washing your wipes well at 60 degrees, you can use the same set for bottoms and faces, but most people have designated ‘top’ and ‘tail’ wipes, just in case. Buying wipes in two different colours is a good way to do this.

Which are the best reusable wipes? Which fabric is best?

As with many things, different people have different favourites. Most wipes are made of cotton, bamboo and/or polyester, and all three do the job well. I prefer cotton or bamboo because they’re slightly more sustainable than polyester. 

Wipes also come in different sizes. Smaller ones such as those made by Close are great for little bottoms, whilst bigger wipes like Baba and Boo are great for toddlers and family cloth.

You can also very easily make your own from old towels or t-shirts. Just cut squares in the size you like (usually 15-20cm square) and hem.

How many do I need?

If you’re washing them every other day, you’ll need 30-40 wipes per child just for bottoms. And a few more if you’re going to use them for faces too.

How do I use them?

You can store your clean wipes either wet or dry. Some people like to store them dry and wet them with a little bottle of water they keep on their changing table. Personally, I store them wet, mostly because they come out of the washing machine wet so why not keep them that way! I pop them all into a kilner jar and add about a cup of boiled water.

You don’t anything special to wet your wipes with - water works perfectly and is the most gentle on bottoms. If you add anything to your wipes, make sure it’s safe for babies. For example, many essential oils can be harmful if not diluted adequately in a carrier oil. If you do want to try something, Poppets Cloth Wipe Solution is lovely and gentle.

Used wipes go into a wet bag, along with dirty nappies, ready to be washed. If your wipes are very dirty and baby is post-weaning, you may need to drop any large solids into the toilet before they go in the wet bag.

Can I use cloth wipes out and about?

Yes! You can take your wipes out very easily. I like to take mine wet, in a silicone sandwich bag. Just remember not to leave any unused ones in your bag for too long! You can also take them out dry and wet them under the tap or with some water you’ve brought with you. Used ones can go in a little wet bag to be brought home with you.

How do I wash my reusable wipes?

You can wash reusable wipes just like reusable nappies, which I have a whole post on here. 

And, what is family cloth?

Family cloth is using reusable wipes in place of toilet paper for the whole family. It works exactly the same as for babies - use a wet cloth, then place it in a wet bag and wash. We’ve been using family cloth for a few months now, and we’re completely converted. Not only is it better for the environment, it’s cheaper and leaves you feeling wonderfully clean. It’s definitely worth a try!

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