Did you know that makeup wipes, baby wipes and cleaning wipes all count as single-use plastic?
Single-use wipes can’t be recycled or flushed down the loo, which leads to 11 billion wipes being thrown away every year in the UK. Worse still, a large proportion of these are still being flushed down the toilet, making them responsible for over 90% of sewer blockages. The good news is that they can easily be replaced by reusable wipes, cloths or flannels.
There are many reusable wipes and cloths to choose from. Made using a number of materials from micro-fibre to cotton or bamboo, they can often make a messy job easier to clean and then simply thrown in the washing machine after you've used them.
Cloth wipes for children are a great alternative to single-use wet wipes. The natural materials are more absorbent and supersoft on your baby's skin or for wiping sticky fingers.
If you usually take a pack of wet wipes with you when you’re out and about, particularly if you’ve got young children, you can still make the switch to reusable! Simply dampen the cloth wipes and pop them in a small bag or container to keep them moist. They’ll then be ready to use whenever you need them.
If you’re looking to ditch the makeup remover wipes, why not opt for bamboo or reusable cotton pads? These are great for removing makeup when used alongside a cleanser, and they’re kinder to your skin than single-use wipes.
Jenny from Braintree wanted to reduce the amount of wipes she was throwing away after just one use. “I was paying £1.85 for 50 single-use cotton make-up wipes. I was using two a day, so they would last me less than a month. So I bought a pack of 12 washable bamboo cloths for £9, which could be popped in the wash after each use. That way I would never run out and by using my favourite detergent, they smell great every time I use them. I have even persuaded a few of my friends to do the same.”
Finally, if you want to make the switch from single-use cleaning wipes around the house, why not try a cleaning cloth? They perform better than a standard wet wipe as they are usually much more absorbent. An old t-shirt or other item of unwanted clothing can also make a great replacement for single-use wipes.
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