Cloth wipes vs disposable wipes: which one wins at home?

Cloth wipes or disposables? It’s usually framed as all or nothing: the virtuous option versus the easy one. Real life doesn’t work like that, especially on four hours’ sleep. Most households end up with a mix, and that’s fine.

Here’s an honest look at both, plus a third option that sits neatly in the middle.

Disposable wet wipes: the case for

• Grab and go. No laundry, no wet bag, no planning.
• Daycare and travel friendly. Some daycares ask for them, and they’re easy in the car or on a plane.
• Ready to use. Already damp, no tap needed.

Disposable wet wipes: the catch

• You keep buying them. One use, then the bin, then another pack.
• The liquid needs keeping fresh. Pre-moistened wipes usually contain preservatives, and many contain fragrance.
• Not all are plastic-free. Some blend plant fibres with polyester or polypropylene. Check the material on the pack.
• They end up in pipes. Sydney Water says non-flushable wet wipes contribute to 75% of blockages in its network. Unless a wipe carries the AS/NZS 5328 flushable symbol, it goes in the bin.

Cloth wipes: the case for and against

Traditional cloth wipes, such as cut-up flannels or terry squares, get washed and reused. Fans like that there’s nothing to rebuy and nothing pre-soaked.

The trade-off is laundry. You need a stash big enough to last between washes, somewhere to keep the used ones, and the routine to wash them. They’re also bulkier to carry out of the house. For some families that’s no big deal. For others, it’s the reason cloth never sticks.

The middle ground: a reusable dry wipe

This is where ZERO Baby Wipes come in. They’re dry wipes made from timber viscose (wood pulp). Just add water.

• Light and packable like a disposable. A pack of dry wipes slips into the nappy bag.
• Reusable like cloth. They’re machine washable, so a wipe can do more than one change.
• Nothing added, just water. Because they’re dry, there are no preservatives or fragrance.
• OEKO-TEX® STANDARD 100 Class 1 certified. Tested for harmful substances, in the strictest class, which is the one for baby articles.

When a ZERO wipe has done its last job, it goes in the bin. Never the loo.

The same dry, reusable format comes in ZERO Makeup Wipes for your face and ZERO Cleaning Wipes for benches, highchairs and spills. Cleaning Wipes are for everyday wiping, dry or damp; they’re not disinfecting wipes. For the bigger messes, ZERO Reusable Cleaning Cloths are absorbent timber viscose cloths you wash and reuse.

Quick comparison

Making a reusable routine easy

1. Keep a small spray bottle of water at the change table, or wet the wipe under the tap.
2. Tip solids into the toilet first before the wipe goes anywhere.
3. Store used wipes in a lidded container or wet bag until wash day.
4. Wash them with your usual load. Skip fabric softener, which can coat fibres and reduce absorbency.
5. Line dry where you can. Free, and Australian sunshine is hard to beat.
6. Bin them when they’re worn out. A certified home compostable ZERO Nappy Waste Bag is handy for the change-table bin.

So which one wins?

The one you’ll actually use. If the change table is where most of the action happens, a reusable dry wipe there makes the biggest difference with the least fuss. Keep whatever works for daycare or long trips, and don’t sweat the exceptions.

Change doesn’t have to happen all at once.

FAQ

How many reusable wipes do I need?
Enough to get you from one wash to the next. Start with a pack or two and see how your laundry rhythm goes.

Can I flush cloth or ZERO wipes?
No. Wash and reuse them, then bin them.

Do ZERO Cleaning Wipes disinfect?
No. They’re for everyday cleaning, used dry or damp. Use a dedicated disinfectant where you need one.

More on wipes and pipes: flushable wipes myths. Building a full nappy-change kit? See nappy disposal without plastic.