Wet Wipes Revolution: How They Went from Luxury to Daily Must-Have？

Wet wipes overview

Wet wipes are portable, single-use cleaning products made from high-strength, highly absorbent non-woven materials that are folded, moistened, and packaged. These versatile products offer cleaning and skin moisturizing functions, making them essential in daily life. Initially used primarily in commercial settings such as aviation, hotels, restaurants, and exhibitions, wet wipes have seen a surge in personal consumption with rising living standards. Thanks to the continuous innovation and efforts of wet wipes suppliers, they are now widely used in outdoor activities like travel and tourism, as well as in infant care at home. In recent years, wet wipes have diversified into various categories and applications, driven by the creativity and market insights of wet wipe manufacturers.

Development of Wet Wipes

Late 1980s (Enlightenment Stage):

Wet wipes were in their infancy in China, with very few manufacturers. For example, Shanghai Rilihang Hygiene Products Co., Ltd. launched the "Aiwei" brand, one of China's earliest wet wipe products. At the time, wipes were mainly used in commercial settings and were considered a luxury for personal use.

Mid-1990s (Initial Stage):

China began importing wet wipe production equipment, with companies like Beijing Saimiao and Harbin Jingqi Paper Industry entering the market. Production volume and quality gradually improved. Wet wipes were primarily used in airlines, high-end hotels, and travel, but their applications were limited to hand and face cleaning, with little product variety.

Early 2000s (Growth Stage):

The SARS outbreak in 2003 and the avian flu in 2004 heightened public awareness of personal hygiene, significantly expanding the use of disinfectant wipes. They became common in taxis, restaurants, and daily life. Consumers began carrying wipes for children and travel, driving rapid market growth.

Recent Years:

Wet wipe production has surged, with hundreds of brands in the domestic market and annual consumption reaching 500–600 tons. Over 50 formal manufacturers and nearly 100 small workshops operate in China, with mid-to-high-end products often exported. Many international brands also outsource production to China.

Classification of Wet Wipes

Based on their use, wet wipes can be categorized into general-purpose, baby care, commercial, and travel wipes, each with specific applications.

General-Purpose Wet Wipes

Designed for skin cleaning in situations where water is unavailable, these wipes are disposable. Lower-end products use thermal bonding or airlaid non-woven materials, while mid-to-high-end ones use dust-free paper or hydroentangled non-woven fabrics. The liquid content mainly consists of distilled or purified water, disinfectants, and fragrances. Mid-to-high-end products also include aloe vera, vitamin E, lecithin, glycerin, and malic acid for a combination of cleaning, moisturizing, and nourishing effects.

Disinfectant Wet Wipes

There are two types of disinfectant wet wipes:

For Cleaning and Disinfecting Minor Wounds: These wipes contain ingredients like benzalkonium chloride, offering both cleaning and antibacterial functions.

For Broad-Spectrum Disinfection: These wipes can clean and moisturize the skin, as well as disinfect and kill bacteria. They are also suitable for cleaning daily items and sanitary fixtures. The liquid components include purified water, natural antibacterial agents, aloe vera, lanolin, and propylene glycol, effectively killing bacteria like Staphylococcus aureus and Escherichia coli.

Feminine Care Disinfectant Wet Wipes

Designed specifically for women, these wipes contain purified water and cationic antibacterial agents. They effectively clean the skin, kill bacteria, and eliminate odors.

Feminine Makeup Removal Wet Wipes

These wipes contain a weakly acidic makeup remover solution that, combined with soft fiber construction, gently dissolves makeup residues deep in pores for thorough removal.

Baby Care Wet Wipes

Tailored for infants, these baby wipes are used to clean and care for babies' bottoms. The liquid components include distilled or purified water, disinfectants, and soothing ingredients like aloe vera, glycerin, natural plant oils, and baby-specific moisturizing lotion, ensuring gentleness and safety.

Multi-Purpose Cleaning Wet Wipes

These wipes are used to clean dust and grease from glass, furniture, bathrooms, kitchens, computers, and household appliances. They leave surfaces spotless, have antibacterial and deodorizing effects, and leave a light, natural fragrance or floral scent.

Composition of Wet Wipes: Substrate and Solution

Substrate: The substrate of wet wipes mainly falls into two categories: wet-strength paper and non-woven fabrics. Currently, most wet wipes on the market use non-woven fabrics, with hydroentangled non-woven fabrics being the most common.

Hydroentangled Non-Woven Fabrics: These fabrics are reinforced by high-pressure micro water jets sprayed onto one or more layers of fiber webs, causing the fibers to interlace and providing strength and good water-locking properties.

Solution: The solution is the core of wet wipe technology, and its formula must be designed according to the intended use. The main components generally include:

Water: The primary component of the solution, accounting for about 80%. The water content must be balanced to avoid overly dry or wet wipes. Special treated water like refined, pure, or RO water is used to prevent reactions with other ingredients.

Humectants: Such as glycerin and propylene glycol, which act as both solvents and humectants. They help dissolve active ingredients, prevent water evaporation, and have antimicrobial and preservative properties. Almost all wet wipes contain humectants.

Preservatives: Like phenoxyethanol, methylparaben, and nipagin. A small amount is added to maintain the activity of active ingredients due to the high water content. These preservatives are safe in low doses.

Antimicrobial and Disinfectant Agents: Including chemically synthesized and natural antimicrobial agents designed to kill or inhibit bacterial growth.

Surfactants: Such as polyethers, cationic surfactants, and alkyl polyglucosides (APG), which are mild and non-irritating. They are used to clean dirt and grease. The choice of surfactant depends on the wet wipe's purpose. For example, general-purpose wipes need stronger cleaning power, while baby wipes require mild, eco-friendly surfactants.

Other Additives: Such as eucalyptus leaf extract (a natural antimicrobial agent), chamomile oil (for soothing and anti-inflammatory effects), aloe vera extract (for moisturizing and nourishing), vitamins, and other plant extracts, added according to functional needs.

Wet Wipe Production Process

The production process includes the following steps: Non-woven fabric cutting → Fabric folding → Disinfectant solution preparation → Immersion of fabric towels → Squeezing water→ Bagging → Sealing → Boxing → Warehousing.

Wet Wipe Product Testing

Testing is conducted based on GB/T 20808—2006 "Tissue Paper (Including Wet Wipes)" and GB 15979—2002 "Hygiene Standards for Single-Use Sanitary Products," focusing on intrinsic quality indicators and other key items.

GB/T 20808—2006 "Tissue Paper (Including Wet Wipes)

GB 15979—2002 "Hygiene Standards for Single-Use Sanitary Products

Testing Items:

Liquor Content: According to GB/T 20808—2006 (Physical Indicator)

Wet Tensile Strength in the Machine Direction: According to GB/T 20808—2006 (Physical Indicator)

Dust Content: According to GB/T 20808—2006 (Physical Indicator)

Initial Contamination: According to GB 15979—2002 (Hygiene Indicator)

Total Bacterial Count: According to GB 15979—2002 (Hygiene Indicator)

Coliforms: According to GB 15979—2002 (Hygiene Indicator)

Pathogenic Pyogenic Bacteria: According to GB 15979—2002 (Hygiene Indicator)

Total Fungal Count: According to GB 15979—2002 (Hygiene Indicator)

Technical Indicator Requirements:

pH Value: The pH of the disinfectant solution should be within the range of 6 to 8.

Humidity: The moisture content of the wet wipes should be four times that of the dry towel.

Sensory Indicator: The appearance and texture of the wet wipes should be uniform, without holes.

Hygiene Indicator:

Total bacteria count ≤ 20 cfu/g;

Coliform count ≤ 30 cfu/100g;

Pathogenic bacteria such as Staphylococcus aureus and Pseudomonas aeruginosa should meet hygiene requirements.

Wet Wipe Usage Precautions

Storage Environment: Wet wipes should be stored in a cool, dry place, avoiding direct sunlight to ensure the stability and effectiveness of the solution.

Usage Period: As single-use items, wet wipes

Future Trends of Wet Wipes:

With the increasing consumer demand for health and convenience, the wet wipe market is showing the following development trends:

Environmental friendliness: Consumers are increasingly concerned about environmental issues. Wet wipes made from biodegradable materials are gradually gaining favor to reduce environmental pollution.

Diversification of functions: Wet wipes are developing towards multiple functions, such as antibacterial, moisturizing, whitening, and sun protection, to meet the needs of different scenarios and groups.

Personalized customization: Brands are beginning to offer customized wet wipes for specific groups or scenarios, such as wet wipes for sensitive skin or pet-specific wet wipes, to meet the needs of niche markets.

Intelligent packaging: Future wet wipe packaging may introduce intelligent designs, such as humidity monitoring devices built into the wipe box to ensure that the wet wipes remain in optimal condition.

International development: With the improvement of domestic brand technology and quality, the competitiveness of Chinese wet wipe products in the international market is continuously increasing, and exports are expected to grow steadily.

In summary, as a portable and practical cleaning item, wet wipes have become an essential part of people's daily lives. With the advancement of technology and the changing consumer demands, the wet wipe industry will continue to develop towards more environmentally friendly, diversified, and high-quality directions, providing more convenience and protection for people's lives.

Related Articles:

Sywipe seizes every opportunity to use high-quality resources, including peer-reviewed research, to support the facts in our article. Learn more about our factory and how to keep the content accurate, reliable, and trustworthy.

• What Exactly Are Wet Wipes?

• Who Manufactures Wet Wipes?

• What You Need to Know About Wet Wipe Materials?

• How to Choose the Right OEM Partner for Wet Wipes?