They are all marketed as fully flushable but many also advise that to maintain a healthy sewer system, it is best to only flush one or two wipes at a time. Why Have They Become So Popular? After all, moist environments (as wipes are) are a ripe environment for bacterial growth, and you definitely don’t want to use a bacteria covered wipe on a baby – it’s dangerous. A spokesperson for Coles, which produces a private label product, said their products were independently tested and had passed international standards. However, the spokesperson said Coles is constantly reviewing the range and is working on further improving the breakdown times of the product.

Their wipes seem like equally good news for the earth. They are 100% biodegradable, using a bamboo fibre base sheet, with ingredients that range between 1 and 5 on the EWG safety scale. My top choice is Healthy Nest, but beyond that, my top choices are those that are a bit earth friendlier, using biodegradable materials for the base sheet and well-rated ingredients for the formulation. Those include: While the new wipes did break apart under agitation much more readily and rapidly than the previous generation wipes, they broke apart much more slowly and to a much smaller degree than sample 2 (toilet paper). An international standard for products designed to be flushed down the toilet is expected to be completed by the end of 2016. The standard will outline the tests that can be used to define if a product is able to be flushed, as well as the appropriate labelling requirements. It's designed to replace the EDANA/INDA guidelines currently used by many in the industry. Pipette Baby wipes are made from 100% plant-based fibers. The water-based wipes cleanse baby’s bottom with plant-derived emollients to keep skin moisturized.It may be reasonable to say that the Kleenex CleanRipple Flushable Wipes are safer to flush than the previous version (Kleenex Cottonelle Flushable Cleansing Cloths), but if toilet paper is the standard of flushability a flushable wipe should conform to, Kleenex CleanRipple Flushable Wipes cannot be considered entirely safe to flush. The industry responds What manufacturers said In the past, baby wipes generally contained more chemicals of concern than they do these days. Manufacturers have wised up to some of the more egregious chemicals, but it’s worth being on the look out for some chemicals in particular. Chemicals With Contamination Concerns WaterWipes’ base sheet is made of 80% polyester (non biodegradable) and 20% viscose (biodegradable). All of the ingredients in Eco Pea’s baby wipes are rated either 1, 2, or 3 for safety on a scale of 1 to 10 in the EWG Skin Deep Database (1 is the best rating, 2 is the worst). When you take into account the eco-friendliness of these wipes, it’s an easy choice to put them near the top of my list! DMDM Hydantoin: Not contained in wipes I looked at, but still contained in some baby oil, baby lotion, and baby bubble bath.

Just because something is flushable doesn't mean it breaks down," says Sydney Water media and communications advisor Peter Hadfield, holding up his mobile phone. "Technically my phone is flushable, but that doesn't mean it should go down the toilet." In 2019, researchers tested 51 brands of baby wipes for formaldehyde release. The researchers noted none of the wipes had self-declared formaldehyde or formaldehyde-releasing preservatives on their ingredients list. And yet they found 12 of the wipes brands (24%) released formaldehyde. Unfortunately, some baby wipes are filled with chemical preservatives and other ingredients linked to skin irritation and other health concerns. The four products were tested simultaneously, each in a separate vessel, for 21 hours in the agitator device with the agitation speed set at 100rpm.Additionally, I always consider it a win when I can find eco friendly baby products. With that in mind, I have a bias towards the compostable baby wipes on this list, preferring them over those made of polyethylene plastic or polyester, neither of which biodegrade. DYPER baby wipes are made from 99% water and less than 1% of other ingredients and preservatives that help the wipes to clean and soften baby’s butt, and otherwise function. Look for wipes with as few ingredients as possible. Some contain natural extracts from fruits or aloe vera, which are kinder to sensitive skin than chemicals. ATTITUDE baby wipes are made from plant-based materials and use only natural ingredients. They are rated as EWG verified for their kindness to baby skin too.

The competition regulator isn't too impressed either. On 12 December it announced impending court action against flushable wipes makersKimberly-Clark Australia and Pental for making false or misleading claims by saying their products disintegrate as well as toilet paper.They're also great for beauty needs, like removing eye makeup, and they can clean up household stains or get rid of dust - they can even freshen you up after a music festival, or on the go.

These wipes are again marketed towards women but there is no reason that they could not be used by the entire family. They are infused with botanical extracts such as aloe, camellia sinensis leaf extracts, and grapefruit extract.

Whether you want the convenience of wet wipes or want to go down the completely plastic-free route of dry wipes, you can keep your baby clean, whilst helping the planet. Natracare baby wipes are free from harsh chemicals and parabens. They contain organic plant-based ingredients and are EWG verified. This study’s findings suggest grapefruit seed extract itself isn’t actually an antimicrobial agent. Rather, the additional preservative ingredients found in commercial grapefruit seed extract functions as the preservative (researchers found benzethonium chloride, triclosan and methyl parabene in their grapefruit seed extracts). In the US, a new start-up, Fohm Co, is leading the fight against fatbergs: it's a cleansing fluid you apply to your loo roll so it has the same effect as a wet wipe, minus the waste. Fragrances are typically made up of many different component ingredients, but manufacturers are only required to list “fragrance” as a blanket ingredient. Because of this, it’s actually impossible to know whether a certain ingredient or potentially toxic chemical is contained within.