Wet wipes ban

[Eire12]

https://www.gov.uk/guidance/plastic-wet-wipes-ban

I've only heard about this now although it has a date of Dec 25. From May 2027, non- recyclable single-use wipes will be banned. It includes baby wipes & face wipes. It may be difficult for low income families as I'm sure there may be a shortage of recyclable ones which will push prices up. Good for the environment though. Although if people didn't flush them this wouldn't be an issue.

With the caveat that my experience is for babies only, a reusable wipe is a better product in my view because it is 1) thicker and 2) more grippy (due to the towelling surface) than a disposable wipe. This means that you can effectively clean up a lot of mess using fewer wipes and avoid getting mess on your hands. Whereas I find reusable wipes horribly thin and they have a tendency to just smear the mess about. Finally, because the reusable wipes are more efficient, you can do the job more quickly. This is obviously very useful with a wriggly / crying / exploring baby or toddler. Potentially also useful if dealing with an older person who can't keep still or who is embarrassed. Having said this, I do appreciate there are other considerations and even with a carer doing the washing, another load might push someone over the edge. I just think that it's crazy that parents with babies who are (in most cases) perfectly capable of dealing with reusable wipes use an absolutely shit (pun intended) product instead that costs money, constantly needs replenishing, and is terrible for the environment. It just makes no sense.

Im not that poster, but presumably because they wipe better.

They clean more so you use less. 1 wipe is usually enough. Maybe 2 for an adult but still less than disposables. They never rip. You never accidentally stick a finger through one and get poo on you. You can choose what size to use. You can customise to the users needs e.g. Just plain water for sensitive skin, baby oil added for dry skin, warm water for sensory discomfort etc.

As not especially waste conscious people (we used disposable nappies) we used cheeky wipes and they were SO much better than wipes.

You get much better grip on a dirty bottom with a reusable compared to a slippery wet wipe, so mucky bottoms were easier to clean.

It also meant we almost never suffered any nappy rash whatsoever as every nappy change was as good as sticking them in the bath - to me this is the biggest advantage. Wet wipes will never get a bottom as clean as a reusable.

Trust me two wipes is never enough. You won’t get poo on you anyway as you wear gloves
but imagine an adult size poo (or two) where someone has been lying in it or sitting. It’s not neat. I’ve had to use the best part of 20 wipes before plus then wash them

If you've never had a glove break on you, you've not been doing it long!

If you used the best part of 20 reusable wipes, you can multiple that by at least 5 for how many disposable wipes you'd need!

Its unlikely to be feasible with carers because of the rules and regs they'd have to have in place for washing and it just wouldn't be practical. But they do clean so much better.

People coped with out wet wipes for thousands of years they only became a thing in the last 15 (?) Years- so bad for the environment. I'm sure we'll cope without them.

A cloth is much cheaper than any wipes. For those on a low income.

I don’t think we can call the plastic straw ban a non event. Still to this day I curse that decision. There’s 1000% things we could have banned plastic in without any detriment to our lives and much bigger gains before we came for the plastic straw.

I know paper straws are shit (and still not great from an environmental aspect), metal straws can be dangerous, but for the relatively small number of people that actually need straws, are there any issues with silicone straws?

I agree metal straws dangerous. I don’t know about silicone straws. Surely someone has an answer to the straw issue so help me god!

Maybe others are just not as keen on iced coffee as I am. But this is a regular disappointment in my life

I use baby wipes. I put my dog in the sink and wipe his mouth, paws and arse with wet after he’s been out or done a poo. He’s lap dog and he comes in beds/sofas so he needs to be clean.

My dd got some reusable bamboo make up removing rounds. Supposed to replace disposable ones. When I went to wash them, they were very stained so I did it in bio liquid, possibly bold. I usually use very lightly scented Ecover as I can’t stand the small of laundry products. Anywya those bloody bamboo rounds have been soaking for several days as I can’t get the smell of the washing liquid out of them. Seems grim for her to have to wipe that into her face.

I don’t know if the wipes I use are plastic free. Thry are Huggies. I think that when you ban something, you need to make sure that the alternative is suitable. I find disposable wipes very good for wiping mess up. If anything drops on my kitchen floor I immediately get it up with baby wipes.

We were given pasta straws in France which were excellent, they stayed unsoggy for an
hour or so. Something like this

https://stroodles.co.uk/

You can also get sugarcane strews. The technology is there, it’s just that people selling drinks don’t care.

There will still be plastic free wipes.

I can remember back in the late 80's when baby wipes were a new idea that my Mum used baby lotion and cotton wool or just warm water and cotton wool on my baby brother.

I buy all my DGD's toiletries. Are 'waterwipes' OK?

I thought we were talking about disabilities which mean you need a straw to be able to consume any drink.

A capable adult can just take the lid of and drink like normal.

*Off.

The same way people did it for generations before wipes? Or with platic free single use wipes.

Yes, predictive text has a way of changing off to of if its mid-sentence 🤷‍♀️