All about wipes

Wet wipes are single-use disposable cleaning cloths. Wipes continue to grow in popularity as a very convenient, hygienic and effective way to clean – whether it be a baby's bottom, household surface or for a specific commercial/industrial application.
The global market for wipes is projected to grow by 30% between 2018 and 2023.[i] And in Australia the trend in baby wipes sales has been on the up, with almost twice the volume of sales in 2015 compared with 10 years prior.[ii]
Wipes on the up! ​Global wipes sales value [i]

What types of wipes​ are there?

Wipes can be divided into three categories, depending on where they are used.
Personal care wipes include baby, personal hygiene, hand sanitising, facial/makeup removal, body cleansing, feminine hygiene, medical (e.g. eye wipes and antiseptic swabs) and sunscreen wipes.

Household wipes include wipes for general purpose home care –​ cleaning or disinfecting, floor cleaning, kitchen cleaning, bathroom cleaning, toilet cleaning, stainless steel cleaning, glass cleaning, marble cleaning, car cleaning, lens cleaning, furniture conditioning and shoe polishing.

​Commercial/industrial wipes include general purpose, speciality, food service and healthcare wipes.
Global wipes sales value market share, 2018 [i]

Flushable - what does it mean?

More than ‘out of sight, out of mind’!

“Flushable” doesn’t just mean that the item can be successfully flushed from your toilet bowl.

It means that the item should not cause negative impacts in the wastewater system as a result of being flushed.

Effectively, flushable items need to:
• clear the toilet and drainline
• break down into small enough pieces (disintegrate) once cleared
​ 
Wipes can also be divided into non-flushable and flushable

What are non-flushable wipes?

Most wipes are not intended to be flushed! Because they need enough wet-strength for scrubbing a baby's bottom or kitchen bench without falling apart, non-flushable wipes do not disintegrate (break up into small enough pieces) in the same way as toilet paper.

Non-flushable wipes must be disposed of in the bin.

What are flushable wipes?

Some wipes have been designed for flushing down the toilet. They are designed with enough wet strength for their intended use, as well as the ability to disintegrate in the wastewater system. Flushable wipes are typically made of short fibres that have low wet strength after flushing.

It is essential that flushable wipes meet the requirements of an independent, credible technical standard for flushability – as well as any local legislative requirements. Ideally, such a standard should be internationally adopted and have the support of both the water/wastewater industries and wipes manufacturers.
​At present, there is no international flushability standard. However, voluntary test guidelines have been developed, including by EDANA/INDA[iii]  and the IWFSG[iv]. These guidelines were developed by the non-wovens industry in collaboration with the water treatment industry. They provide a framework for assessing flushability and thus for helping ensure that wipes labelled as “flushable” are compatible with wastewater infrastructure.
​
Standards Australia approved the development of a national flushability standard in May 2018. Currently being developed by expert representatives of the wastewater industry, wipes manufacturers and the cleaning products industry, this Standard is expected to take up to two years to finalise.
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​Why are wipes so popular?

​Wipes are a very effective, easy to use and highly convenient way to clean.

Think of all the reasons why you might use wipes
  • They can be used anywhere – no water needed
  • They are easily transported
  • They are effective
  • They are sturdy (baby bottom + hole in wipe = yuck!)
  • They are available for a wide range of uses and to suit different preferences
  • Other reasons?

​In some categories, wipes are considered almost indispensable. Take baby wipes, for example – more effective and hygienic on a sticky bottom than toilet paper, gentle enough to be used on sensitive young skin and so convenient to use on the go.
Australian baby wipes retail sales [ii]
In some situations, wipes may provide additional benefits. Hospital cleaning and disinfectant wipes, for example, are pre-soaked disposable wipes that are used instead of the traditional cloth and bucket method. Hospital wipes may help prevent cross-contamination and spread of microorganisms, reduce hospital-acquired infections and decrease the time taken to clean and disinfect.
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What are wipes made of?​

​Wipes are made from two parts: a non-woven fabric, and an infused cleaning solution.
Non-woven fabric
​
Non-woven fabric is made from fibres that are bonded together using chemical, mechanical or heat treatment. For example, a slurry of fibres, water and other ingredients may be rolled into flat sheets and then dried – this is mechanical treatment. An international definition of “nonwovens” can be found in ISO Standard 9092:2011. 

In contrast, woven fabric holds together by the interlacing or weaving of two or more continuous fibres, and knit fabric consists of one continuous yarn that is looped repeatedly around itself.
woven
knit
  non-woven
​Non-woven fabric is specifically engineered for the intended use of the wipe. Properties such as thickness, durability, absorbency, stretchability, texture, softness, biodegradability and cost can vary depending on the choice of:

- Fibre material, for example
  • natural materials such as cotton, wood pulp/rayon
  • synthetic materials such as polyester, polyethylene or polypropylene
  • a combination
- Fibre length, for example
  • baby and facial wipes have long fibres, making them tear-resistant
  • flushable wipes are made of short, biodegradable fibres to help disintegration after flushing
​- Bonding process, i.e. chemical, mechanical or heat
Infused solution
​
The infused solution is usually a mixture of ingredients formulated to give specific properties.

Water is usually the main ingredient, often at well over 90% of the content, although this varies depending on what the wipe will be used for.

​Then there is the cleansing agent or surfactant, with the exact ingredient/s depending on the use of the wipe. For example, baby wipes would contain mild surfactant whereas oven wipes would contain more powerful surfactant.
Other ingredients could include:
  • Humectants, which help prevent the wipes drying out
  • Skin moisturisers and emollients, which soften and sooth the skin, maintaining its pliability and appearance
  • Preservatives, which help prevent the growth of microorganisms in the product
  • Antibacterial and disinfectant ingredients, which kill microorganisms
  • Thickeners, which help maintain the solution at a suitable consistency
  • Emulsifiers, which assist in the formation and stabilisation of an oil/water solution
  • Buffers, which maintain the pH of the solution
  • Solvents, which dissolve other ingredients (water is the main solvent)
  • Fragrance


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References
[i] Smithers Pira, 2018, “The Future of Global Nonwoven Wipes to 2023” (summary accessed 9 August 2018)
[ii] Retail World Annual Reports 2005-2015.
[iii] EDANA and INDA are international associations for suppliers of nonwoven materials and products, primarily across Europe and North America, respectively.
Flushability has been an area of focus for EDANA in Europe and INDA in North America  since 2004. See Guidelines for Assessing the Flushability of Disposable Nonwoven Products 2018.
[iv] IWSRG: The International Water Sector Flushability Group. See Publicly Available Specification (PAS) on Flushability 2018.