Wet wipes

When I was a child, my mum used to keep a damp flannel in a soap dish in her hand bag for mucky children.. I've reverted to that now, instead of wipes, for my eternally grubby DGS.

Polyester is basically plastic so avoid garments which contain it. Washing leads to micro plastics in the oceans and waterways. Includes fleece I’m sad to say. Buy fewer clothes anyway and when you have to, buy natural fibres.

Most wipes end up in landfill as not all LAs/countries have facilities to recycle those that are supposed to be. We never hear mention of the nappy situation nowadays but then I don't suppose they have recycle on them!

I’ve started using flannels for removing makeup, try not to use kitchen roll etc. and felt quite good about it until I realised how many tissues I go through in a day what with my eye draining and my tendency to get a very runny nose when I’m tired. Not sure I want to go back to boiling hankies though.

I try to use eco products or white vinegar and bicarbonate of soda for cleaning, old rags for cloths, we are lucky enough to have a refill shop locally so as well as selling dried products (flour, sugar, nuts, beans, lentils, spices etc ) they also do refills of laundry liquid and shampoo etc, every town should have one ?

I'm with Calendargirl.

Don’t the wipes (apart from ones used on your bottom) say do not flush??? Who on earth puts floor and furniture wipes down the toilet?

This information has been published many times in articles in newspapers and magazine and been on several TV programmes so I'm surprised that people are not aware. I found a substance called Wype that helped my husband when he had bowel problems and we didn't want to use toilet wet wipes.

travelsafar

So shocked to read the article about the above on BBC webpage this morning. I honestly did not realise they contained plastic. I use them in the form of floor wipes, and kitchen and bathroom surface wipes. Only yesterday as i was polishing using a spray can i thought i am going to get some of the furniture wipes once this can is empty. Now the ones i do have will go in the bin and i defo wont be buying anymore. The impact they have on our sewage works and rivers is dreadful. Listening to programmes on the radio and hearing the newcasts about climate change is starting to have me really thinking about what i use and what is happening in the world. Anyone else had a lightbulb moment about the enviroment and what you can do to help.?

Why bin them that's wasteful? Use them first then dispose of them properly and don't buy more.

A relation does a lot of walking and says the fells are covered in discarded wipes. We use them if we are out but bag them and bring them home or a litter bin at the car park.
We cannot even use quilted loo paper in case of blocking ancient drains.
This post really made me think I bring wipes home and bin them then they go to the landfill. We should use hand gel. Though will the bottle go in the recycling bin? So many plastic bottles and covers on food say currently not yet recyclable, the big firms should be made accountable for this as well as the public.

Huge programme on wins and that they were 98% plastic with Hugh Fearnley-Wittingstall fronting it, it was a couple of years ago. A lot of these wipes are now plant based and state they are 0% plastic (plastic free). Other ones don't! Steer clear of these!

I never buy wet wipes, but my Daughter told me something to start thinking about buying a packet to have in reserve, she uses them on STAINs, yes its true, and they do work, any stains old or new just wipe them with a wet wipe and hey presto no stains.I tried it on an old table cloth which had old stains on and ready to throw away and after a few minutes wiping they disappeared.I think I had better hide now! Just saying.

Reusable mops and cloths in our house too. I don't t even use makeup remover wipes, instead I make my own washable wipes from an old towel but I do make sure to wash them in a laundry bag other wise they slip between the drum and doorseal - just like the colour catchers do ?

Shinamae

I use the face wipes and always bin them, would never dream of flushing any sort of wipe..

They will all end up in landfill and one day will be up and about again.

TBH they should be banned NOW, same for those floor wipes, even worse!

i do use wet wipes probably two packs per week, i never flush them but put them into nappy bags, i wish i did not need them but due to having bowel cancer and only being left with half my bowel, causing me to have 3/4 day per week with diarrhea as anyone will know it gets to the point that it is very sore so i keep my wet wipes in the fridge, all other cleaning is done with cut up tea towels or old bath towels.

If I need to, I use 100% boidegradable unscented baby wipes, and bin them.

In the days before wet wipes, I clearly remember packing a small handtowel, or even two and a couple of face flannels.

These could be wrung in water from a tap and applied to whichever end of a person was in need of cleaning, then rinsed again, wrung out and returned to a sponge-bag.

I surely cannot be the only person to have done this.

Although I bath before attending hospital appointments or going to the doctor, I have always taken a flannel, towel and a pair of clean underpants with me and nipped into the hospital ladies' room to wash and change before presenting myself to my gynaecologist. I quite honestly thought most women did so.

I try to use eco products or white vinegar and bicarbonate of soda for cleaning, old rags for cloths, we are lucky enough to have a refill shop locally so as well as selling dried products (flour, sugar, nuts, beans, lentils, spices etc ) they also do refills of laundry liquid and shampoo etc, every town should have one ?

So sorry to hear Nexus, in which case they should be prescription only for extreme cases as yours.

Nexus. I have a similar problem to you regarding having had bowel and anal cancel. I wash my back end with a face cloth rather than a wipe then wash the cloths.
When I was a child in the 30s we managed with soda, tin of Vim, a bar of Sunlight soap and a scrubbing brush. Our house was always spotless.
I blame the manufacturers for producing all these new products such as the latest one advised on TV using disposal floor wipes.

For those who have bowel problems and need to use wipes.

I've mentioned this a few times on GN but may be worth repeating. I'm a nurse and still do a bit of work here and there, plus have worked with many middle eastern patients, from whom I learned a washing technique for the peri-anal area.

Have jug of warm soapy water to hand, sit well back on the loo with knickers off and legs apart, with one hand pour the water on the area, from the front, and with the other hand you guide the water and wash. It's very effective and all areas are very easy to reach from the front, no matter how large you are!

It's also a helpful technique if you have mobility problems are for whatever reason you can't get into the shower.

I loath wipes. Use them only in the car for our hands & then bin them. Never ever put down a loo.
There has been so much publicity about the harm they do before recent publicity.
As was said above what’s wrong with a good old cloth or duster? Laziness?

Riverwalk. Good method but space is restricted if you have a high seat toilet extension and also 98 years old, very wobbly with painful arthritis in both knees. I did have a portable bidet but it doesn’t fit on the toilet extension.

Surely throwing them away is the ultimate waste?

I have never bought wipes of any kind. Always use something I already have that is suitable for the job and washable. I never spend unnecessary money. Even with household cleaners, I make my own with advice from u tube. I have a couple of decent floor cloths that I put under the broom to wash my floors. Both washable and last a very long time.