Choosing the Right Wipe

Wipes . . . In the last 3 years there has been an explosion in the number and types of wipes available to the consumer. From baby wipes and facial wipes to disinfecting wipes for your countertop and a slew of automotive wipes to keep your 4-wheel "baby" shiny and supple. In a fast paced world, these wipes are designed for convenience, whether that is for your own personal use or to deal with all those thankless jobs around the house and garage.

This information will tell you about Wiper Products and give helpful hints in their use.

Different Types of Wipes

The first wet wipes were created around 1980 with the initial target market being mothers who had the unenviable chore of changing diapers and needing a convenient way to gently cleanse and care for their babies. That monumental development has triggered, and most in the last couple of years, almost 30 categories of wet wipes and that number continues to expand. The general categories are:

The Right Wipes for the Right Job

In the beginning, baby wipes were the dominant wipe in the consumer market. Consumers became quite creative in expanding the uses of baby wipes to include other things, such as cleaning surfaces, cleansing hands and other personal care uses.

With the explosion of new wipes available to the consumer, there is no longer a need to use one wipe for many applications. Baby wipes just won't clean stains and surfaces as effectively as a wipe made and designed specifically for that purpose. (What makes wipes so unique and specialized is the fact that the product has a successful "marriage" of some form of specific active ingredient or treatment integrated with a towel-like structure to perform a specified job.)

Wipes are not interchangeable. Today's wipes are designed for a specific application.

• Wipes are safely and effectively electrostatically charged acting like a magnet to pick up dust and lint more efficiently than an ordinary wiping rag
• Floor wipes are designed to replace a bucket and mop. They are premoistened or come as part of an assembly with a liquid cleaner in order to clean floors of all types
• Personal care wipes are specifically designed to carry cleansing cremes for your face with specific ingredients to help remove makeup
• Surface wipes can carry products to disinfect countertops in the kitchen and bathroom, or waxes to help polish furniture, or cleaners for a car's interior and windows

Think about what you want in a wipe . . . do you want to clean your cabinets? Windows? Hands? Tables? Bathroom counter? There is a wipe on the shelf at your local store that will do the job.

Disposability

With the increase of wipes' products on the retailers' shelves, consumers may have questions about disposability and the potential impact on the environment. There may also be questions about what can be flushed down the toilet and ensuring the safety of your septic system.

While all wipes can be safely disposed of in the trash, some wipes may also be safely disposed of in the toilet. It will be clearly stated on the product's package if it can be flushed down the toilet.

There may also be other guidance provided on the package like safe for septic systems or not recommended for septic systems.

In all cases, carefully read and follow the package instructions for the product. If you still have questions with regard to the specific product you have in your home, please call the consumer hot line using the telephone number provided on the package.

Antibacterial versus Disinfecting

More and more each day, people are concerned about the threat of germs and bacteria. Most of the cleaning and cleansing wipes have been designed with this in mind.

So how do you know which wipe to use when? Anti-bacterial or disinfecting?

Both anti-bacterial and disinfecting are defined as agents that destroy or stop the growth of bacteria.

Anti-bacterial is commonly used when talking about wipes that kill bacteria on the body. The term anti-bacterial is regulated by the FDA (Food and Drug Administration), since its purpose is to protect public health.

Disinfecting is commonly used when talking about wipes that kill bacteria on household surfaces. The term disinfecting is regulated by the EPA (Environmental Protection Agency), since its purpose is to protect public health by safeguarding the environment.

These wipes should be disposed of according to the manufacturer's recommendation on the package.

Summary

The world is definitely a better place with the advent of wipes. Quickly and effectively you can do many tedious chores, allowing you time for your favorite activities. Convenience wrapped up in a canister, a tub, a travel pack. Simple, easy, effective and handy…what more could you want?

If you haven't gotten on the Wipes Bandwagon . . . treat yourself to a product that will simplify your life. Do it the easy way!