AIBU to start a campaign to ban wipes?

[annandale]

Wipes are an environmental disaster, a key component of fatbergs and sold as a flushable essential when they should be treated like morphine - controlled except for specific medical needs. Anyone with me?

[KonekoBasu]

The 'flushable' ones don't actually biodegrade fast enough.

If you put one in a bottle of water and shake it, it's doesn't disintegrate for ages.

Will have to check this with whatever ones we have. They seem to start breaking up as I pull them from the packet, so can't believe they don't disintegrate quickly.

[pearlypick]

I hate them, 'orrible stinky things too. People seem to float around with them all the time now. ugh!

[Ollivander84]

@Richardson35 we use wipes because they deal with adult size poo more easily. 100% of the people I care for use wipes, it can often take 20-30 to clean up as people don't want us using flannels or have no washing machine

[Sockwomble]

It's not about preparation. It's about getting through something with as little mess, distress and injury as possible.

[Bloodybridget]

I know they're not great environmentally, but I couldn't get by without loo wipes. I never flush them, of course. I wonder if people who have bidets use them every time they have a poo?

[Ollivander84]

Its time as well for care stuff

20 mins to
Get into house
Check they're ok
Help change into pjs, fold clothes
Remove dirty pad, clean up, put cream on, new pad
Rubbish outside
Administer meds and eye drops
Sign for meds
Cook a meal
Make a cup of tea
Wash up and put pots away
Check everything is safe and secure
Fill in what I've done
Lock and secure house

Running warm water, rinsing flannels etc...

[Richardson35]

Wow 20 mins to complete all those tasks! You must be Mary Poppins !
If I was given that amount of time to do all that I would tell the employers where to stick it ! I don’t think much care is involved or anything can be done correctly in that short time . The poor person must be dizzy by the time you’ve finished with them . I hope they’re not force fed too before you have to leave them .
Keep using the wet wipes , we wouldn’t want to take the time to run some warm water and make the person feel more comfortable would we .
I would always care for someone the way I would wish to be cared for myself and if that means running some warm water instead of a cold wet wipe then that’s what it takes . A job in care means caring I thought.
We all see things differently so if that works for you then carry on . I’ve given my opinion on wet wipes and we’re all not going to agree .

[Ollivander84]

Oh I care a lot. I'm the person that puts lotion on and talc and perfume or helps someone do their makeup
But that's the allotted time. If it's a call that involves hoisting then there are two of us which helps
I make people as comfortable as I can with the limits I have but a cotton wool ball is doing nothing for an adult size poo explosion. Some people are washed with warm water and flannels after the wipes

Don't ever insinuate I don't care just because I have limited time that's the time they are allocated and that I have, it's fairly standard. Of course we don't force feed people I make food so it is hot as I leave so they can enjoy their meal

[Richardson35]

I couldn’t get myself ready in that time shower, dressed ,teeth-cleaned , makeup, hair, food , drink. Sorry but I would refuse to care for a person in that amount of time .
I didn’t mean you weren’t a caring person, I believe vulnerable people need more time and to do all of those tasks in 20 mins is a bit much to ask from you and it’s not fair on the person you’re caring for.
I agree a wipe would work better for a looser bowel movement but I would still soak it in a bowl of warm water before wiping the skin and then use a sponge or flannel like you said afterwards.
The problem is time and you should not be expected to care for someone in that short time . It’s not safe and it’s not practical and it’s not fair on anyone . Another debate there though I guess.

[ambereeree]

People clush them and cause blockages in sewers. I'm with you OP

[ambereeree]

Flush

[lambdroid]

Most baby wipes aren’t biodegradable unless they specifically state ‘eco’ or similar.

Wipes that are biodegradable include Sainsbury’s Little Ones Eco, Naty, Huggies Natural and Kit + Kin among others!

[No2palmoil]

Google wellness mama she has homemade wipes they are brilliant I love them and my babies bums are far less irritated for it

[arranbubonicplague]

I've been using these ones //www.jacksonreece.com/ that claim to be biodegradable and compostable

Thank you for mentioning these because the claims are impressive:

That’s because we make our baby wipes from natural wood pulp instead of the synthetic polyester other companies use, so they decompose after just 12 weeks in landfill. They also dissolve in water after just 10 days

I note however that they also say this (tl;dr - wipes, including their own, should be binned not flushed):

Simply put - wipes should always be binned. Our Jackson Reece baby wipes are one-of-a-kind wipes which actually break up in the sewage system and are biodegradable and compostable, so if they accidentally end up in waterways, they won’t cause damage. However – it’s not where they’re supposed to be, so always take care to put them in the bin once you’ve used them.

jacksonreece.com/environmental

I'm going to email and ask if they are home compostable or like those compostable food waste bags that need special high temperatures to degrade them in particular facilities.