Cloth wipes and disposable wipes do the same job in different ways: cloth is washed and reused, while disposable wipes are used once and thrown out. Neither is better in every home, because the right choice depends on your laundry set-up, how often you are out, and how you feel about handling used cloth. This guide sets them side by side and shows how you can mix the two.
How each type works
Cloth wipes are fabric squares. You wet them with water, use them, and wash them, often in the same load as your diapers.
Disposable wipes come in packs and go in the garbage after one use. Some are sold pre-moistened, and some are sold dry so you wet them yourself. The store lists dry cotton wipes such as Whoopsie Wipes dry cotton baby wipes, 600 count. Check each listing for whether the maker intends the wipes to be thrown away or washed and reused.
Convenience at home and on the go
At home, disposable wipes are quicker to set up: you grab one and go. Cloth needs a little preparation, such as a stack, a spray bottle or bowl, or a container of pre-moistened wipes. How much time that adds depends on your set-up. A refillable dispenser with a sealing lid, such as the Lijroavy Refillable Baby Wipes Dispenser with Sealing Lid, White, is one way to keep a stack by the change table. Check the listing for its size.
On the go, one pack of disposable wipes is the simpler option to carry. Cloth means dry wipes with a bottle of water, or a few pre-moistened wipes, and a wet bag for the used ones. If you already carry a wet bag for cloth diapers, used wipes share it, which makes it one less thing to manage.
Laundry and storage
Cloth wipes add a small item to your wash. They are light and join the diaper load, but used wipes need a place to wait, such as the wet bag or pail. Dry stacks need a drawer or caddy, and the wipes should be completely dry before they are stacked. If you use disposable diapers, cloth wipes still mean a wet bag and a regular wash, so that is a new routine to add. The cloth diaper accessories collection lists wet bags and similar items.
Disposable wipes need no laundry. They need shelf or cupboard space for packs, especially large multipacks, and a garbage bin. Baby wipes generally belong in the garbage. Flush only if the pack clearly says you may and your local rules agree.
Ongoing cost in general terms
Prices change, so compare the pattern of spending instead. Cloth wipes are mainly an up-front purchase of a stack, followed by the ongoing cost of laundry: water, detergent, energy and your time. Disposable wipes are bought again and again. Where the balance lands depends on how many wipes you use, what your laundry costs, and how long you use them.
To compare for your own home, note how many packs of disposables you use in a month, look up the current price on the product page, and compare it with the price of a starter stack plus your laundry costs.
Materials and what touches skin
With cloth, you choose the fabric and what goes in the water. Cotton, flannel and bamboo blends are all options, and the care label tells you how to wash them. With disposable wipes, the pack lists the materials and ingredients. Some listings say unscented or fragrance free in their titles, for example WaterWipes Sensitive+ Newborn & Baby Wipes, Unscented, 720 Count (12 Packs).
Whichever you choose, read the label. If your baby's skin looks red or irritated, ask your doctor, nurse or pharmacist what to use. Which wipe suits your baby's skin is not something a product page can tell you.
Using both: cloth at home, disposable when out
You do not have to choose one. One split is cloth wipes and a spray bottle at the change table, and a small pack of disposable wipes in the diaper bag for outings, so there are no damp wipes to bring home. You could also split by time of day, with disposable wipes in a dispenser by the bed for night changes and cloth during the day.
Keep the two kinds apart in the laundry. Used cloth wipes go in the wash with the diapers. Used disposable wipes go in the garbage and stay out of the machine.
Which fits your routine
| Question | Leans cloth | Leans disposable |
|---|---|---|
| Laundry | You already do a regular diaper wash, or are happy to add one | You would rather have no extra laundry |
| Out and about | You carry a wet bag and do not mind a water bottle | You want one pack and nothing else |
| Storage | You have room for a dry stack and somewhere to dry wipes | You have room for packs and a garbage bin |
| Spending | You prefer to buy up front, then pay laundry costs | You prefer to buy as you go |
| Materials | You want to choose the fabric | You want to follow the ingredient list on the pack |
If your answers lean both ways, the mixed approach above is a low-risk place to start. Browse the baby wipes collection to see what is currently listed.
Shop this guide
- WaterWipes Sensitive+ Baby Wipes, 99.9% Water, 240 Count (ships via Amazon)
- Bumkins Waterproof Wet/Dry Bag with Zipper, Black Check (ships via Amazon)
- Dr. Brown's Pacifier and Bottle Wipes, Unscented, 3 Pack (ships via Amazon)
- Esembly Diaper Wash Concentrate and Foamer Bottle Set (ships via Amazon)
- See all: Baby Wipes
- See all: Cloth Diaper Accessories
Prices are on each product page. Free shipping on orders of $100 or more within Canada.
Common questions
Can I use disposable wipes if I cloth diaper?
Yes. Wipes and diapers are separate choices. The one extra step is sorting at the change: the wipe goes in the garbage and the diaper goes in the wet bag.
Can I flush disposable wipes?
Check the pack and your municipality's rules. When in doubt, use the garbage.
How do I try cloth wipes without committing?
Buy a small set and use it at home for a week or two beside your usual wipes, then decide.
Which is gentler on skin?
That depends on the fabric or the product's ingredients, and on your baby, so there is no general answer. A pharmacist can go through a label with you.
If you are still deciding between wipes and want a second opinion, send us a message through the contact page.