Disposable washcloths and wipes are important in maintaining a healthy incontinence routine. They provide a convenient way of sanitizing and protecting the skin from excessive moisture or dryness. There are several types of wipes available for those dealing with incontinence. Body wipes for adults are a great solution for cleansing in a specific area or full-body cleansing when actual baths or showers are too rough on delicate skin.
You can also find flushable wipes that are great for gentle cleanup after using the bathroom or diaper changes. Many caregivers also use dry wipes for applying creams, ointments and other skin care treatments with minimal mess and cleanup.
Choosing The Adult Wipes
Adult wipes are a skin care convenience perfect for a variety of personal needs. While an effective part of incontinence care and cleansing adult wipes are also handy alternatives to washcloths&mdashthink of them as disposable washcloths&mdashfor use virtually anywhere on the body. They&rsquore the perfect solution for personal hygiene when a bath or shower just isn&rsquot possible.
Adult wipes have become so popular that there are dozens of types to choose from in terms of everything from ingredients to the style of packaging.
Here are the most important points to consider:
Flushable or disposable wipes. Depending on your sewer or septic system you may be able to choose the added convenience of wipes that can be flushed down the toilet.
Scented unscented or fragrance free. This choice depends first on whether you have any allergies that involve fragrance and if not whether you prefer a scent or not. Keep in mind that unscented does not mean fragrance free but rather that the wipe doesn&rsquot have a noticeable smell. If allergies are a concern or if your skin tends to feel irritated by products with fragrances you need to choose fragrance-free.
Aloe or other emollient ingredients. Incontinence can cause skin irritation wipes will emollients can protect delicate skin as they cleanse. These ingredients are less crucial if you use a barrier cream or lotion to protect skin. Dimethicone is an ingredient in many wipes it&rsquos a silicon that acts as a skin protectant and eases cleansing. Keep in mind that alcohol is a drying agent and may irritate skin.
Size. Adult wipes are obviously sized for adult use however there are still many sizes to choose from anywhere from 5&rdquo or 6&rdquo squares to 9&rdquo or 10&rdquo by 13&rdquo rectangles. Larger sizes allow for quick and easy clean-ups with fewer wipes these might be a better choice when using wipes for full-body cleansing or fecal incontinence.
Packaging. Styles vary as much as the adult wipes themselves. Soft packaging takes up less room while pop-up containers often can be accessed with just one hand. A secure lid might provide a better barrier to keep adult wipes moist than a re-closeable seal unless you&rsquore very careful to seal it completely.
Price. Most disposable washcloths and other adult wipes are cheaper by the case. Cases may have anywhere from 6 to 12 packs or tubs making them the economical choice. When you compare be sure to consider how many wipes are in each package and how many packages there are to the case so that you can correctly compare the total number of wipes you&rsquore getting to the price.
