Gel wipe is a moisturizing gel applied to dry

toilet paper Toilet paper (sometimes called toilet tissue or bathroom tissue) is a tissue paper product primarily used to clean the anus and surrounding anal region of feces after defecation, and to clean the perineal area and external genitalia of ur ...

for cleaning purposes, like personal

hygiene Hygiene is a series of practices performed to preserve health. According to the World Health Organization (WHO), "Hygiene refers to conditions and practices that help to maintain health and prevent the spread of diseases." Personal hygiene refer ...

, or to reduce skin irritation from

diarrhea Diarrhea, also spelled diarrhoea, is the condition of having at least three loose, liquid, or watery bowel movements each day. It often lasts for a few days and can result in dehydration due to fluid loss. Signs of dehydration often begin w ...

. It was developed in the 21st century as an environmentally sensitive alternative to

wet wipe A wet wipe, also known as a wet towel or a moist towelette, disposable wipe, disinfecting wipe, or a baby wipe (in specific circumstances) is a small to medium-sized moistened piece of plastic or cloth that either comes folded and individually ...

History

Estonia Estonia, formally the Republic of Estonia, is a country by the Baltic Sea in Northern Europe. It is bordered to the north by the Gulf of Finland across from Finland, to the west by the sea across from Sweden, to the south by Latvia, a ...

n Siim Saat is seen as the inventor of gel wipe in 2011. In 2016, he was among seven entrepreneurs in the world nominated for an award by the Healthcare Startup Society in London at the Healthcare Startup Conference. Gel wipe is seen as the solution to wet wipe pollution.

Uses

Although marketed primarily for wiping bottoms, it is not uncommon to use it against skin rash, in the case of diarrhea or even as a substitute for water and soap on hiking trips. Gel wipes began to be marketed as complementary hygiene product for toilet paper by SATU laboratory, as a luxury option by St Joseph's Toiletries or hipster product by Zum Bum, and Zero Taboos that makes Wipegel. Many adults now use gel wipe with toilet paper as an alternative to wet wipes that cause environmental and sewer problems. All wet wipes sold as "flushable" in the UK have so far failed the

water industry The water industry provides drinking water and wastewater services (including sewage treatment) to residential, commercial, and industrial sectors of the economy. Typically public utilities operate water supply networks. The water industry doe ...

's disintegration tests, the BBC has found. A study by Ryerson University tested 23 wipes with the "flushable" label and found only two that partially disintegrated.

References

{{Paper products Personal hygiene products Paper products Toilets Babycare Disposable products

History

Uses

See also

References