Smart Uses For Cheap Wipes (Asda Smartprice Baby Wipes)

Member Name: shroud

Product:	Asda Smartprice Baby Wipes
Date:	20/08/08 (336 review reads)
Rating:

Advantages: good for lots of different things

Disadvantages: not much use for its original bottom wiping purposes for babies

When my children were little, baby wipes were indispensable at nappy changing time. When my eldest was born nearly 18 years ago, all I knew about was branded wipes and had no idea I should be using just water on a newborn bottom, perhaps hindered by the fact that in the US, hospitals are stocked by Huggies or Pampers and Johnson's, so staff there use all their stuff as that is what they get handed to use. Between that and the advertising, you go home using all this stuff. It was only years later, when having a third child here in the UK, I discovered the truth, and so set myself free from brands "9 out of 10 dermatologists" recommend. I have to say I was VERY disappointed to learn that advertising rules to protect the consumer did not include the fact that these professionals could not be counted if they worked for the manufacturer, so these claims are as unbiased as the real nappy report the government fell for that was paid for by the disposable sanitary wear manufacturer's association ( I mean, who on earth still boil washes nappies and irons them?! Not to mention they failed to mention the 500 year breakdown things and hormones their plastic degrades into).

This is not to say I never again bought baby wipes. Au contraire, I buy them regularly, just not necessarily to use on a stinky baby bottom. You see, I have always known that baby wipes do so much more! Some of the tips I learned at my own mother's knee, some while in the Army, and some tips I picked up here and there from various sources. I don't bother with the more expensive brands for these uses, but stick with the likes of this particular brand because the I don't need the wipe to be super soft (it isn't), or to be larger than my hand for adequate wipe surface for big pooey bums (because the Smart price wipe isn't). I just need it to be covered in baby wipe detergent (which it adequately is), preferably cheap to buy (it is!), and convenient to use. Seeing that the uses I have in mind are not everyday type things, I also don't obsess over how airtight the package is, as I take them out of the wrap and place in an airtight Rubbermaid container placed in my cleaning cupboard. Cleaning cupboard? Yep, cleaning cupboard. Why? Well because I, and loads of other people, use them for:

1. Cleaning leather furniture. Leather is animal skin, so baby wipes not only remove dirt, debris, and sticky hand prints, but the conditioners in it leave the leather soft and supple.

2. Shining shoes. Shoes a bit dusty or dull and need a quick sparkle? Wipe them over with a baby wipe. This was a spit shine cheater for before formation I learned in the Army for my combat boots!

3. Cleaning the car. Wipes remove unseen grunge and filth from your steering wheel, shine up your dash board, and wiped over upholstery, removes stains, stray marks, and if leather, gives it a nice sheen, helping keep it supple.

4. Stain remover- spilled food and drink are often easily removed from clothes and carpets using a baby wipe. No need for expensive spot removers in most cases, and in the case of tomato or orange juice stains on clothes, a cold machine wash followed by some drying time in the sun will see the rest disappear like magic.

5. Crayon will come off of walls and furniture with a baby wipe, as will many children's markers.

6. Baby wipes will remove most lipstick brands from clothing.

7. Hate those white deodorant marks on your clothes, and in a hurry? Wipe them from your clothes with baby wipes. Presto!

8. Wipe over a shedding pet to remove stray hairs, and also great for wiping off muddy paws and mud splatter.

9. A spare box of this in the bathroom is great for using as a makeup remover. Much cheaper than products repackaged as such, and just as good.

10. Again, grabbing a wipe from a box of these kept in the bathroom will ease your cleaning routine. After using the shower or bath and discovering soapy scummy ring or an oily rime from a heavily moisturising product, just wipe it off. No spraying, no scrubbing, just wipe. Removes the grunge and leaves a sparkle behind, so also great for a quick all over swish and swipe before company arrives, and leaves a light scent that doesn't scream "I cleaned the bathroom because you ere coming".

11. These are fabulous for wiping over stampers, fingers and surfaces after scrap booking or doing a similar craft activity. Removes the ink and doesn't damage the surfaces.

12. Your kids or other half come in the door and scuff your hard floor? ARGH! Take a wipe and rub over the scuff. Marks all gone :)

13. Spilled soda or squash? In addition to blotting the stain from clothing and soft furnishings, it removes the sticky residue from everything that the mess landed on.

14. A couple of these in a Ziploc bag is indispensable for in the handbag to wipe fingers and faces of children or picnickers of all ages.

15. Cleaning white goods- these wipes are just right for wiping clean telephones, TVs, PC monitors, etc. They also gently clean and shine up the finish on my vintage sewing machine, and we have found them fabulous for cleaning nicotine stains from goods bought from eBay. My 760 came covered in ancient nicotine stains, but a handful of these wipes not only removed surface grime, but the old nicotine stains, without damaging the plastic or painted metal parts, leaving a shiny machine behind. Also fab for a quick swish and swipe over the non ceramic hobs, dishwasher fronts and seals, and the outside and inside of the refrigerator.

So while these wipes may be too thin and slightly too small to be much cop wiping a baby bottom's clean, they are nonetheless great value for a multitude of other uses. Just remember that the plastic bag they come in has a terrible seal on it, so cut the end of the bag off, remove from the packaging, and place in an airtight Rubbermaid type container to lock the moisture in, and all will be well. At 79 pence for 80, its a lot cheaper than most make up remover brands, and loads cheaper than the newer cleaning wipes they sell. Just one product, at a low price.

Summary: It's smart to use these around the house, but not on baby