Buying guide for Best biodegradable wipes
Wet wipes are a modern convenience that most parents won’t leave home without. You can use them clean everything from kids’ bums to sticky hands, and they come in packaging that’s easy to stow in a diaper bag or the car. However, a lot of these wipes are made from some type of plastic that takes decades in the garbage dump to decompose. Enter biodegradable wipes. Made from natural materials like bamboo, wood pulp, and cotton, these wipes break down within a short period after use, sparing the environment.
What’s more, biodegradable wipes generally contain ingredients that are safe and gentle on sensitive skin. Some include soothing and nice-smelling botanical extracts and essential oils, while others are fragrance free with minimal additives.
Not all biodegradable wipes align on how clean their ingredients are — not all are organic — and some materials are more eco-friendly than others.
Considerations
How biodegradable wipes differ from the rest
Conventional wet wipes are small, folded sheets that come pre-moistened in individually wrapped packages or stacked in a pack. They are designed for cleaning purposes: personal hygiene, diaper changing, household use. They are made from plastic textiles like polyester or polypropylene that are saturated with a solution of a variety of cleansing agents, softeners, and fragrances.
Biodegradable wipes perform the same functions and have the same appearance, but they’re made of natural fibers that break down in a matter of weeks, so they won’t take up space in a landfill.
Expert tip
Use a wipe warmer to keep wipes from shocking babies with chilly wipes.
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Types of biodegradable wipes
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Baby wipes: Wet wipes, including biodegradable ones, are primarily marketed to clean up baby messes and to wipe baby bottoms during diaper changing. Baby wipes are formulated with solutions that are gentle on sensitive baby skin. Biodegradable wipes in particular tend to have fewer additives and chemical irritants.
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Household wipes: Another popular function of wipes is quick household cleaning. Biodegradable wipes fit in with “green” cleaning products that are marketed as more eco-friendly. They also generally have less toxic solutions than regular household wipes. They can be used to clean toilet seats, countertops, and spills on the floor and other surfaces in your home.
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Body/personal hygiene: For a rinse-free body wipe, whether you’re camping or on an airplane, cleansing wipes for body, face, and hands are highly convenient and compact. If you’re camping, biodegradable wipes can be used as toilet paper and buried. You can find scented and unscented wipes in this category.
- Feminine hygiene: Women who want to freshen up can purchase small packs of wipes formulated for their intimate parts. These are typically pH balanced and paraben free to be non-irritating, soothing, and safe for that sensitive area. They often carry a light scent and are small enough to fit in a purse or bag.
Biodegradable wipe materials
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Bamboo: Made from bamboo, these “tree-free” wipes are highly sustainable and, depending on their thickness, break down very fast — in less than a month.
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Cotton: Biodegradable wipes made from cotton offer a cloth-like thickness and feel. This material also takes the longest to break down, however. Opt for organic cotton options for toxin-free wiping.
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Wood pulp: This substance is sourced from trees. It is pulped and processed into a fiber-like material.
- Viscose rayon: This material is derived from wood pulp that is chemically converted to cellulose. Viscose makes for some pretty thick wipes that are highly absorbent while still being biodegradable.
Expert tip
Put your biodegradable wipes in a large ziplock in the diaper bag to avoid leaks.
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Features
Size and count
Biodegradable wipes range anywhere from 3 x 3 inches to 7 x 8 inches. They come in packs of 10 to 100 sheets. Lower counts are more convenient for travel; higher counts are better for household use and tend to be more economical.
Packaging
If you’re choosing biodegradable wipes over conventional ones, chances are you care about the environment. Choose packaging and a dispenser frame that’s free of plastic where possible. Some packaging can even be recycled if you’re striving for a low-waste lifestyle.
Scent
In lieu of chemical fragrances, many biodegradable wipes use essential oils and botanical extracts to add a refreshing, less irritating scent. Some of these ingredients, like aloe vera, also soothe skin. Wipes designed for the home or body may incorporate essential oils, like tea tree oil, for cleaning and disinfecting purposes.
Organic
Wipes themselves can be made from organic materials like cotton, but you may also want to pay attention to whether the botanical ingredients in the solution are organic. Organic ingredients don’t contain chemicals or pesticides used in agriculture and make for a less toxic product.
Hypoallergenic
To avoid irritation to sensitive skin, select biodegradable wipes labeled as hypoallergenic. Baby skin is much more fragile than adult skin; it’s prone to eczema and rashes, which is why many baby care wipes are hypoallergenic. It’s advisable to opt for alcohol-free solutions if your skin is sensitive. Some hypoallergenic wipes are also fragrance free.
Chemical-free
Most biodegradable wipes for babies are free of paraben, a preservative used in many personal care products that can disrupt hormone function. Many brands go a step further and offer wipes free of other common chemicals like chlorine, optical brighteners, formaldehyde, phthalates, and petrochemicals.
Expert tip
Pull out a few wipes before you start changing the diaper as they often stick together and are hard to pull out with one hand.
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Accessories
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Wipe warmer: To keep your baby fuss-free during changing time, warm up your baby wipes using one of these compact gadgets that heats wipes to a comfortable, soothing temperature for your baby’s bum.
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Diaper rash cream: After you clean your little one with a wipe, follow up with a diaper cream to soothe any irritation or diaper rash.
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Diaper pail: Dispose of diapers and wipes in a pail designated for hygienic disposal and odor control.
- Diaper bags: For on-the-go parents, a diaper bag is a must-have to lug around all your baby’s accoutrements in an organized fashioned. Diaper bags have organized compartments and pockets so you can stash your travel wipes in an easy-to-find place.
Did you know?
90% of wipes on the market are made from polyester or polypropylene, both of which are plastics that can take years to decompose in a landfill.
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Price
Biodegradable wipes for baby care and personal hygiene range in price from $0.04 to $0.37 per wipe. Wipes designed for the body or intimate areas are on the higher end of that price range and typically come in smaller counts. They may be individually wrapped.
Biodegradable wipes for household use range in price from $0.04 to $0.11 per wipe. These typically come in large containers that contain upwards of a 100 sheets.
Tips
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To go totally green, opt for washable wipes made from textured fleece, bamboo, or cotton that can be pre-moistened with water and laundered after use. This method is effective for wiping babies and creates zero waste. However, it is less convenient than disposable wipes and not a convenient solution for travel.
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To save money, buy biodegradable baby wipes in bulk. Often, manufacturers offer multi- packs that slash your costs.
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Biodegradable wipes with resealable packaging are often slimmer for travel, but sometimes, the sticker top loses its sticking power by the end of the pack, resulting in dried-out wipes. Wipes with plastic flip-top dispensers stay closed better, and wipes are more likely to stay moist.
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If your baby is prone to diaper rash, opt for biodegradable water wipes with a solution of over 99% water and little else.
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Opt for an unscented wipe when using a wipe on your baby for the first time. Some babies can’t handle fragrance in their intimate areas, and you wouldn’t want to buy a bulk of scented wipes only to have your baby react adversely to them. Always buy a smaller pack when trying a new brand to make sure your baby can tolerate it.
FAQ
Q. Can biodegradable wipes be flushed down the toilet?
A. While it seems like the answer should be yes, it’s not a good idea to flush biodegradable wipes, even if they are advertised as “flushable.” It’s a matter of debate whether they are safe for septic tanks. Despite many manufacturers' claims that a product can be flushed, there’s a risk of clogged pipes. Why? Although they are biodegradable, the wipes don’t necessarily break down fast enough in water waste systems. This could also result in damage to marine life. It’s best to dispose of wipes in the trash, or better yet, the compost bin. If you must flush, only flush one sheet at a time.
Expert tip
Use a new wipe with each swipe to get baby good and clean.
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Q. Other there any other important factors to consider when purchasing biodegradable baby wipes?
A. Most new parents will attest that thickness matters when it comes to baby wipes. A baby wipe is the only barrier between you and your baby’s feces, so if it breaks or doesn’t absorb all the mess it needs to, you’ll be using a lot more wipes. While thicker wipes may cost more, you’ll probably need to use fewer of them for each mess.
Q. Are wipes labeled “flushable” also biodegradable?
A. Not always. The fact that a wipe is labeled by a manufacturer as flushable doesn’t mean it’ll disintegrate in a timely matter. Only wipes labeled biodegradable are green products that won’t contribute to landfill waste. Look for ones also labeled “compostable” before tossing them into your compost.
