Large Wipes For Incontinence

A regular adult wet wipe is commonly 18 × 20 cm (about 360 cm²). Large incontinence wipes in the market are typically 20 × 30 cm (600 cm²) or 30 × 33 cm (990 cm²), with custom sizes up to 40 × 60 cm available on request. The size difference is intended to change the sheet count per change: a 20 × 30 cm wipe can often complete a urine-dominant per-change clean in one or two sheets, while a 30 × 33 cm sheet is specified for faecal or mixed incontinence where a larger surface and higher wet strength are needed to avoid repeated pulls.

For a 20 × 30 cm wipe used for urine-dominant per-change cleansing, 65–70 gsm with wet tensile at ≥10 N/25 mm machine direction is a common working specification. For a 30 × 33 cm wipe used for faecal or mixed incontinence, 75–80 gsm is more appropriate, because the larger span and the higher soil load place more lateral force on the sheet. The wet tensile should be tested on the finished saturated sheet, not the dry substrate, because lotion pickup and soil contact change the behaviour. A 45 gsm substrate that performs at 18 × 20 cm is not automatically suitable at 30 × 33 cm without a wet-strength review.

Clinical guidance for incontinence-associated dermatitis generally recommends a cleanser pH close to skin's natural acidity, with working ranges cited between 4.0 and 6.8, and specifically avoids alcohol-based cleansers. Incontinence-specific wipes commonly specify a pH in the 5.5–6.5 band, which counteracts the alkaline load from urine and faecal enzymes while remaining mild enough for frequent daily use. The more important question than the headline number is whether the lotion is buffered to hold its pH when it meets an alkaline load on the skin. We formulate to a target within 5.5–6.5 and confirm pH at batch release and on stability.

Standard pack formats include a 25-count or 50-count institutional pack or canister for nursing-home per-change routines, and a 48–80 count soft pack with a resealable label for home care and assisted living. MOQ for standard institutional formats is typically from 10,000 packs per SKU. Custom film or a custom formula raises the MOQ, with the printed film often being the binding constraint. The pack count should match the number of changes in a caregiver round rather than a full facility day, because a pack that is too large creates partial packs and waste.

Flushability and high wet strength pull in opposite directions on substrate design. A 30 × 33 cm incontinence wipe specified for faecal cleansing needs to hold together under load, which is the opposite of the rapid dispersion a flushable claim requires. Large incontinence wipes should be disposed of in general waste unless the pack carries a specific flushable claim with test documentation. A biodegradable plant-based substrate is available as an option, but the compostability claim should be confirmed against the finished saturated wipe, not only the raw fibre, before the pack artwork is approved.

Often yes, with the pack count adjusted rather than the wipe reformulated. A 20 × 30 cm, 65–70 gsm wipe at a pH-buffered, fragrance-free lotion can be packed in a 48–50 count soft pack for home care and a 25-count institutional pack for a nursing home, provided the wet tensile and the moisture distribution are confirmed for each pack format. The 30 × 33 cm format is more commonly an institutional specification because the larger sheet and higher GSM suit a faecal-heavy routine. Carrying one substrate family and one lotion across both channels reduces artwork and specification overhead, but the pack-specific seal and lid performance still has to be tested.