WHAT ARE VAGINAL WIPES AND WHAT ARE THEY USED FOR?

Vaginal, intimate or 'feminine' wipes, as they're commonly referred to interchangeably (more on this later), are little pre-moistened cloths or towelettes that are designed for refreshing your intimate areas when you feel like toilet paper isn't enough, or when you can't get to a shower (and feel you need to).

They're most commonly used during your period (they're great for unexpected spills), after the gym or anytime you feel like you need a lil' freshen up down below - external use only (read on).

ARE VAGINAL INTIMATE WIPES SAFE TO USE?

Generally speaking, yes. But there are some important things to note.

Despite the term 'vagina' or 'vaginal' often appearing in branded intimate wipe products, these kinds of wipes shouldn't actually be used internally on the vagina (the canal that connects your uterus to the vulva, with the vulva being the external parts like your labia and clitoris).

Your vagina is sensitive and is actually self-cleaning (clever!) and unless necessary for medical reasosns (like, you have a yeast infection and may require to use something topical to treat it), it's best you just let it do its thang.

Wipes are usually best suited for use on the vulva; the external parts like your labia and pubic area. Look for products that are made without fragrances, perfumes or parabens, are pH balanced, and made from natural fibres like organic cotton, which are less likely to cause irritation.

If you're prone to vaginal or vulval infections, check in with your Doc before using anything on your special parts.

(Read more about how to clean your vagina, here).

WHAT'S THE DIFFERENCE BETWEEN BABY WIPES AND 'FEMININE' WIPES?

Different brands will have different labels, ingredients and product functions - so it's important to look at the ingredients of the product you're considering, and the usage that it's recommended for. For example, some baby wipes are designed for sticky fingers, others for pooey bottoms - this means they will likely contain different ingredients and so a hand or face wipe may not be suited to intimate or sensitive areas.

If you're a person with a vagina and are looking for an intimate wipe (at Moxie, we reject the term 'feminine wipes' because it assumes that anyone with a vagina identifies as female), find one that is specificallly made for that area. We recommend something fragrance free (or with a hypoallergenic fragrance) and pH balancing, so as to reduce the likelihood of irritation. That said, it might be a case of trial and error to find the wipe that's best for you.

DO INTIMATE WIPES HELP WITH VAGINAL ODOUR?

Every vagina on the planet has a natural odour - this is totally normal, unless it smells a little off or fishy, in which case please see a Doc, stat. But otherwise, your vagina's odour is unique to you and a sign that your vagina is healthy (i.e. a pH balance of between 4 and 4.5). It's not something we should be trying to mask or get rid of.

Intimate wipes are best used for odours caused by sweat. 

NOT ALL WIPES ARE MADE EQUAL - WHAT'S OUT IS JUST AS IMPORTANT AS WHAT'S IN

Let’s talk ingredients for a sec, Moxettes. 

We recommend avoiding anything with parabens, formaldehyde or fragrances that are not deemed hypoallergenic (‘natural’ fragrance doesn’t necessarily mean it won’t cause irritation - be sure to check ingredients and labelling). Look for a product that's pH balanced, hypoallergenic and made from a natural fibre like organic cotton (rather than a synthetic fibre, which won't break-down easily in landfill).

ARE INTIMATE WIPES FLUSHABLE?

While some wipes will claim to be flushable, there is currently no Australian standard (that we’re aware of), that will back or certify this claim - nor is there any standard on how the word 'flushable' is used.

Our sewerage system in Australia simply isn’t geared up to cope with flushing anything other than toilet paper (this is also why we don't flush our tampons, right friends?). So whilst a product might say 'flushable', this may in fact be an internationally-made product, or, it may simply be misleading you to think that it's 'safe' to flush your wipe down the loo. Whilst your wipe is likely to 'flush', it can cause blockages in pipes and and even overflows on the banks of our waterways. It's not pretty for our planet.

Bin it, don't flush it

We always recommend disposing of your wipe (and your tamp) thoughtfully in a bin once you're done with it. This will of course vary from country to country, so check the one that you’re in for the local regulations on flushable products.

Moxie Organics intimate wipes are made from biodegradable organic cotton and will break-down in around 3 – 6 months (this will vary depending on the environmental conditions they end up in). Even though they are biodegradable, please bin them, don't flush them.