Cheeky Wipes Review: Eco-Friendly, Thrifty Baby Wipes!

Having a messy one-year-old means that I go through an awful lot of baby wipes. I was using over a packet a week, and with an average of 60 wipes per pack, that amounts to over 3000 wipes a year going into the bin, and ultimately into landfill sites. I had been feeling guilty about the number I was personally responsible for throwing away, and with another baby due, I was not prepared to double that number!

We all know...

...babies can be!

... how yucky...

I had never considered reusable wipes before, but the environmental benefits and money-saving benefits intrigued me. When Helen at Cheeky Wipes sent me an all-in-one kit to try and review, I was very keen to give it a go. 

The all-in-one kit

Kit contents, excluding boxes

First impressions...
My kit contained an instruction booklet, 25 white terry cloths, "mucky" and "fresh" essential oil blends, boxes for fresh and dirty wipes, bags for on-the-go use, and a mesh bag for putting in the washing machine. The whole kit looks really professional and sharp, even down to each terry cloth boasting a "Cheeky Wipes" label- and you know how big I am on branding!  

I was a little overwhelmed when I opened the box- having been used to just opening a pack of disposables and using one! However, once I took everything out and read the instructions, it was actually very easy. All you need to do is fill the "fresh" box with a couple of centimetres of water, add drops of the essential oil mix, then pop the cloth wipes in.  

My "fresh" wipes, ready for use!

The Cheeky Wipes label

Getting started... 
The clip on the "fresh" container means that the wipes stay moist and fresh for 3 days. When I need a baby wipe, I just open the box and take one out. They smell gorgeous, and in turn my baby's skin smells gorgeous! I have found that 25 wipes is about the ideal amount needed for 2-3 days, before I wash them. 

The larger box is for the cloths once they have been used. All you need to do is line it with the mesh bag, fill to the line with water and add the "mucky" essential oil blend. Once the cloth is dirty, I put it in the box until I am ready to put a load of washing in the machine. 

The two boxes: "fresh" and "mucky"

Out and about... 
I found that using these wipes while out and about was convenient and hassle-free too. The all-in-one kit includes two waterproof bags- one for a bundle of fresh wipes, and which keeps the dirty ones safe and separate in your changing bag until you get home. The bag for dirty cloths has a mesh lining, which is detachable when it comes to washing. The wipes were a real conversation-starter when out with other mums- they seemed impressed with how convenient they were to take out, use, and put away again. 

Holds about 15 wipes

With detachable mesh insert

Washing... 

The Cheeky Wipes are small, so don't take up much space in the washing machine. It is recommended that they are washed at 60 degrees, and with all my daughter's clothes, towels and bedding I tend to put a hot wash on every couple of days anyway. You don't need to wait for them to dry before putting them back in the "fresh" box and using again!

Unzip the mesh insert and pop it in the wash!

Can you even use them for...?
The wipes are suitable for cleaning up everything- including baby poop! It took me around a week to build up to using them for this purpose (yes, I was a little bit squeamish at the thought!) They did work very well at cleaning my baby's bottom (I must stress this fact!), and I put the cloth wipe into my "mucky" box without any problems. So far, so good. However, when it came to transferring the mesh bag from the box into my washing machine, the drips of water onto the floor were unavoidable. This does not normally bother me, but when the water had a "poopy" element to it, I was put off. Tipping the water out of the box to wash it wasn't the most pleasant task either on this occasion. 

Conclusion...
In conclusion, I am truly converted to Cheeky Wipes... for all uses, apart from dealing with dirty nappies! I decided that using a couple of disposable wipes a day- only if necessary, and only for dirty nappies- was a big improvement on using them all the time. My husband and I now use Cheeky Wipes for Heather's mucky face and hands, and for wet nappies. They do clean more thoroughly than disposables, smell nicer, cost less long-term and are much better for the environment. I would recommend switching to anyone (and have been doing so!) 

Cheeky Wipes put an end to this! 

There is actually a Cheeky Wipes kit especially designed for hands and faces, so when the time comes to replenish my kit, I have my eye on the pretty multicoloured wipes- you can buy all the elements separately. The all-in-one kit I have is currently on offer at £29.99 (normally £39.99) so I think most people with one child would see the financial benefits in a few months' time. People using the kits for more than one child, however, will benefit much quicker! 

Discount Code: Cheeky Wipes are offering £5 off orders over £40, using the discount code gmd123 at the checkout. Visit the website now! If you are thinking about making the switch, feel free to ask me any questions about my experience.