What is the water in wet wipes? Is it tap water? Tell the truth about using water for wet wipes in one go
Many people have always had a question: what kind of water is inside wet wipes that feel damp to the touch? Is it simply bottled tap water?
If it's tap water, why doesn't it smell or mold after one or two years? Why can babies and sensitive skin also be directly rubbed on their skin?
As a professional wet wipe manufacturer in Henan, Yichen has been deeply involved in wet wipe production and OEM/ODM outsourcing for many years. Today, in a simple and understandable way, Yichen explains the water standards, water quality differences, and selection avoidance techniques for wet wipes in one go, and is no longer fooled by the words of merchants.
1、 First, let's give a conclusion: regular wet wipes definitely don't need tap water
The "water" listed on the qualified wet wipe ingredient list on the market is not tap water, mineral water, or purified water, but RO reverse osmosis purified water (high-end models are EDI ultrapure water).
The overall proportion of wet wipe solution is about 80%, of which over 90% is purified water, which is the most essential and important raw material for the entire pack of wet wipes.
Why not use tap water?
Tap water contains residual chlorine, minerals, impurities, microorganisms, and bacteria. If directly filled and stored in a sealed manner, it is prone to spoilage, sourness, and odor. Not only can the shelf life not be guaranteed, but it is also highly likely to irritate the skin and cause allergies and redness.
2、 What is RO purified water used for wet wipes?
Legitimate factories producing wet wipes are equipped with a complete water treatment system. The raw water undergoes multiple filters to obtain RO reverse osmosis purified water.
Complete water purification process: raw water → quartz sand filtration → activated carbon filtration → precision filtration → RO reverse osmosis purification → pure water storage for backup
After this process, heavy metals, impurities, bacteria, residual chlorine, calcium and magnesium ions in the water are basically removed, and the water quality is pure, stable, and not easy to breed bacteria, fully meeting the production standards for contact with human skin.
High end maternal and child wet wipes, as well as baby hand and mouth wet wipes on the market, will use EDI ultrapure water, which is higher in purity than ordinary RO pure water, with fewer impurities and better mildness, suitable for delicate skin and hand and mouth cleaning.
3、 Refutation: Why can't mineral water and purified water be used to make wet wipes?
Many people think that mineral water and drinking water are cleaner and better used to make wet wipes.
In fact, it's the opposite!
Mineral water and drinking water contain a large amount of mineral ions. In sealed wet wipes bags, minerals can become a source of nutrients for bacteria, accelerating their growth and causing the wipes to become sour, spoiled, and have a strange odor, making them impossible to store for a long time.
Wet wipes production must use low ion, ultra clean, and nutrient free purified water to ensure long-term storage without deterioration or bacterial growth.
4、 What other ingredients are in wet wipes besides pure water?
Pure water is just the base, in order to ensure the user experience and shelf life, regular wet wipes will add a small amount of safety accessories, all of which comply with national daily chemical production standards:
1. Glycerol (moisturizer): The most common mild ingredient that does not tighten or dry the skin after application, enhancing skin friendliness.
2. Food grade mild anti-corrosion system: Many people talk about preservatives, but in fact, the preservatives in wet wipes are used to inhibit the growth of bacteria inside the packaging bag, not to sterilize the skin. The compliant dosage is harmless to human safety and is the key to ensuring the shelf life of wet wipes.
3. PH regulator: regulates the acidity and alkalinity of liquids, is close to weakly acidic skin of the human body, and reduces irritation.
4. Functional ingredients (added as needed): Antibacterial ingredients are added to disinfectant wipes, plant extracts are added to skincare wipes, and the formula for regular cleaning wipes is minimalist, mainly consisting of pure water and glycerin.
5、 Different wet wipes have significant differences in water quality standards
When choosing wet wipes, don't just look at the price, but also consider the water quality grade:
1. Baby hand and mouth wipes: the highest water quality standard, priority RO/EDI pure water, minimal formula, no alcohol, no essence, no irritation, can wipe mouth, hands, and food accessories.
2. Adult daily cleaning wipes: mainly made of RO pure water, with a mild formula, suitable for wiping hands, face, furniture, and daily cleaning.
3. Disinfection and antibacterial wet wipes: The base is also pure water, but additional disinfectant ingredients are added. It is not recommended to wipe the mouth or delicate skin for a long time. They are only used for surface and hand disinfection of objects.
4. Industrial cleaning wipes: have the lowest water quality standards and are only suitable for wiping equipment and oil stains. It is strictly prohibited to come into contact with human skin and mouth and nose.
6、 Choosing to avoid pitfalls: What are the shortcomings of low-quality wet wipes?
The biggest problem with low-priced and low-quality wet wipes is not additives, but the water quality caused by cutting corners:
Small factories eliminate the need for multi-stage water purification processes and use simple filtered water. The water has many impurities and a large bacterial base, and can only rely on excessive preservatives to suppress odors. Long term use can easily lead to dryness, itching, redness, and allergies on the skin.
High quality wet wipes, with clean water quality, simplified formula, compliant anti-corrosion, gentle and safe, can be used with peace of mind for mothers, infants, and sensitive skin.
7、 Common User Questions and Answers
Q1: Wet wipes become smelly after being left for a long time, is it due to poor water quality?
Most of them are caused by improper sealing after opening, the entry of airborne bacteria, and the evaporation of moisture. It is recommended to use them up as soon as possible after opening and store them upside down in a locked water container for preservation.
Q2: Can the water in wet wipes come into contact with wounds and the face?
Regular pure water hand and mouth wipes can gently touch the skin of the face and hands; Disinfectant wipes should not come into contact with mucous membranes, wounds, and delicate facial skin.
Q3: Does adding no wet wipes mean there are no preservatives at all?
There is no completely zero anti-corrosion wet wipe, pure water has no antibacterial ability, and zero anti-corrosion wet wipes will breed a large number of bacteria within a few hours of opening. Regular trace anti-corrosion is truly safe.
