Over the weekend Nutek Disposables, Inc. issued a voluntary recall of their disposable wipes due to concerns over bacterial contamination. These wipes are sold at Walgreens, Sam’s Club, Family Dollar, Fred’s, and diapers.com. I don’t think this is anything to panic over. But it does make me love my cloth wipes even more. (I already like them a lot anyway!)
CBS news reported that Nutek Disposables, Inc tested the wipes after receiving complaints about an unusual odor and discoloration. Also noted by CBS in the same report: “The company says some consumers have reported symptoms including rash, irritation, gastrointestinal and respiratory problems, but it has not been confirmed whether these health issues are related to the bacteria in the baby wipes.”
Here is a little more information about the bacteria found on the wipes. The U.S. Food and Drug Administration stated: “B. cepacia poses little medical risk to healthy people. However, people who have certain health problems like weakened immune systems or chronic lung diseases, particularly cystic fibrosis, may be more susceptible to infections with B. cepacia.”
Please visit he U.S. Food and Drug Administration to see the specific products involved in the recall. Click here for the link.
I use disposable wipes myself. I carry a case of Pampers Sensitive in my diaper bag and only use them for hands and face clean ups. The wipes usually dry out before I get a chance to use them all. Please understand that I’m not knocking anyone that does use disposable wipes on a regular basis. We all gotta do what we gotta do. But if you have been thinking about trying cloth wipes, I want to point out that you do have some great choices.
I bought my stash of Thirsties Fab Wipes before Sophia was even born and they are still going strong 26 months later. To help you decide if cloth wipes are for you…
Here are my Top Three Favorite Cloth Wipes Posts! (Click the title above each picture to go to article.)
Cloth Wipes? Yes… You Should! Side-by-Side Comparison of 4 Brands
Wipes Solution or no Wipes Solution…or maybe just use Water???
My Three Favorite Homemade Wipes Solution Recipes!
Did you always use cloth wipes or did you start with disposables? I’d love to hear your favorites!
Jenn is a long-time cloth diaper educator and a passionate small business advocate. She has worked in the reusable diaper industry for over a decade, helping millions of families via her websites All About Cloth Diapers, Thinking About Cloth Diapers and Cloth Diaper Geek as well as hundreds of small businesses during that time. Her goal always to provide simple, reliable information.
Mandy says
Hello!!
I started with disposable wipes but then went to cloth and was making my own solution. It was a mixture of water, EVOO, and Dr. Brauns soap (lavander scent). It was going great for awhile and then an odor started to develop. It was like we hadn’t given my son a bath in a week! When he had just had one a that day or the day before! I don’t know what I was doing wrong, I really liked using them in place of the disposables. Help!! Please!!
Jennifer Reinhardt says
If you add a few drops of tea tree oil, it should solve the smell. You need something to prevent bacteria from growing in the solution.
Ashley says
I make my own wipes. I have used old washcloths, holey socks, and random fabric. It’s cheap and easy.
Jenni Hallet says
This on the ending cusp of Sam’s Club recalling their Simply Right wipes a couple weeks ago. I really do need to cut up some receiving blankets and surge the edges for cloth wipes :-/ We use Pampers Sensitive and they haven’t been part of any recall yet however they are one of a very select, limited few who have not been recalled recently now.