We used it at home and at Penn Station in NYC. Plus, in our lab, we tested the company’s claim that it strengthens ordinary toilet paper.
The UnWipe is a unique portable device that moistens and texturizes toilet paper. We tested its claims and tried it at home and in a germy public restroom to see if it’s worth it.
By Lisa Fogarty
When I travel, I don’t expect to find the softest toilet paper in the airport restroom, or for a luxury bidet to magically appear in every hotel bathroom. And, for many of us, installing a bidet attachment in our bathroom at home isn’t something we can or want to do, either. But it’s hard to deny that cleaning ourselves with some form of moisture—whether that means using a bidet or flushable wipe—is more effective and comfortable than wiping with dry toilet paper.
And if you experience digestive issues—including the 25 to 45 million Americans living with irritable bowel syndrome—finding a wiping method that’s gentler on your skin may be an even higher priority.
Unfortunately, plumbers and environmental experts agree that flushing so-called flushable wipes can lead to clogged pipes and water pollution. That leaves another option we don’t love the sound of: running toilet paper under sink water, which only makes paper soggy and more likely to fall apart in our hands. No thanks.
The UnWipe Company came up with a unique compact device called The UnWipe, which it claims can strengthen your regular toilet paper and turn it into a flushable wipe you can actually flush down the toilet. The design is simple, it fits in your luggage, backpack, or purse, and it solves a common problem without fuss. But, how well does it work—and does it actually improve your toilet paper’s strength?
CR put The UnWipe to the test to find out whether it’s worth your time and money.
How Does The UnWipe Work?
The UnWipe is a soft silicone device that features a sponge inside, a textured piece with ridges and holes placed over the sponge, and a cover to keep everything contained when you’re not using it. The company doesn’t provide dimensions for this product, so I measured it myself: 4.0×3.25×1.0 inches (length by width by depth)—I was easily able to slip this into my purse, and depending on how generous your pockets are, it could fit there, too.
This silicone device is small enough to fit in your luggage or purse, and its secure cover is great for travel.
Photo: Consumer Reports
It’s simple to use: Remove the attached cover, which remains tethered, and add a small amount of water to the reservoir beneath it. A sponge below absorbs the water, but be careful not to overfill it, or the excess will spill over. The final step is to press toilet paper down onto the textured component of The UnWipe—just enough to moisten the paper, but not soak it. This creates bumps and ridges on the toilet paper—the bumps are supposed to help lift residue, and the ridged grooves “capture” but don’t “smear” when you wipe yourself.
The UnWipe creates a whimsical textured pattern on toilet paper that helps make wiping more efficient.
Photo: Michael Einreinhof/Consumer Reports
When you’re finished using the device, hold it upside down over a sink to drain it of water and place the cover over it for portability if you’re on the go. If you’re at home, it’s better to leave the cover off and let it dry between uses.
Did The UnWipe Strengthen Toilet Paper in Our Lab Tests?
The most interesting claim this company makes is that The UnWipe “gives your own toilet paper the strength, subtle wetness, and cleansing grip that dry paper alone does not have.” We put that claim to the test in our labs using a force gauge to measure the strength of three materials: dry Caboo Toilet Paper (one of the poorest performers in our toilet paper tests), Caboo Toilet Paper moistened with The Unwipe, and Kirkland Signature Flushable Wipes. The company doesn’t claim that The Unwipe makes toilet paper as strong as a flushable wipe, but because it’s designed to transform toilet paper into a disposable wet wipe, we thought the comparison was worthwhile.
Since Caboo is a 2-ply toilet paper, we followed The UnWipe’s recommendation and used 5 sheets each time we tested its strength, dry or wet.
We found that moistened toilet paper in The Unwipe required an average of 0.79 newtons of force to tear, and dry toilet paper required 3.99 newtons of force, making the dry paper 3.2 newtons stronger. Flushable wipes also proved to be stronger, requiring 1.67 newtons more force to tear than toilet paper moistened with The UnWipe.
Bottom line: The UnWipe won’t strengthen your toilet paper. It will actually make it more vulnerable to tearing, since you are wetting the paper.
How did it fare in real-life testing at home and while out and about?
Is The UnWipe Worth It?
I led with our testing data for a reason: When it comes to actually using The UnWipe in your everyday life, none of it is likely to matter. In other words, you can set aside everything I just said about the product falling short of its claim, because in daily use, those shortcomings are unlikely to affect your experience.
I used this device each day for one week and tested it with two different toilet paper types: the aforementioned Caboo and Kirkland Signature Bath Tissue (which is also 2-ply). My paper didn’t shred or fall apart after dipping it in The UnWipe—not once.
On the contrary, The UnWipe created a textured version of toilet paper that I found even more effective at cleaning everything it needed to clean, if you know what I mean. What impressed me the most was that it delivered the perfect level of moisture to TP. The paper wasn’t sopping wet, nor was it too dry. It felt like cleaning with a flushable wipe, but better. I find many wipes too wet and a little goopy, but The UnWipe added the ideal amount of moisture and texture to the paper. I kept the device on my sink the entire time, and it was simple to access and use.
The real test was how it handled a field trip. I tucked The UnWipe into my crossbody purse (it was a little bulky in a thinner purse, but it fit) and brought it to Penn Station in New York City—talk about a setting that can really challenge a product’s merits. If you aren’t familiar with the station’s restrooms, they feature a line of sinks and traditional bathroom stalls behind them. I felt a little self-conscious filling my UnWipe with water at the sink, but of course, no one in NYC was paying me any mind.
Germphobe that I am, I placed a thick wad of toilet paper on the little shelf in the stall and positioned The UnWipe on top of it so the device wouldn’t make contact with any surface in the restroom. I was able to use it with Penn Station’s sandpaper-like toilet paper, and—success!—it helped make my public toilet experience much more comfortable.
When I was finished, I drained some of the water into the sink, secured the cover, and tossed it back into my bag. Easy peasy.
I could easily see The UnWipe coming in handy on airplanes, at gyms, and while traveling.
How Do You Keep The UnWipe Clean?
As I mentioned, germs are often on my mind, especially in bathrooms, so the natural question I had was: How do you keep this device clean?
For starters, you should only ever use fresh, clean water and toilet paper when you use The UnWipe. Since it is designed with silicone, there are a few things you can do to keep it clean. According to the manufacturer, you can place it in the dishwasher (top rack) with the lid open and facing down. You can also wet the sponge, leave the lid on, and microwave it for one minute, or saturate the sponge with white vinegar, let it sit for 5 minutes, then rinse thoroughly with clean water.
All of these options are low-maintenance, which works for me.
Bottom Line
Don’t purchase The UnWipe, thinking it will make your toilet paper stronger. It probably won’t. But here’s what it will do: save you money on flushable wipes, and probably on toilet paper, too, since you may not need to use as much. Save your pipes from destruction if you are currently flushing flushable wipes. And give you peace of mind that your bathroom experience will feel more hygienic and comfortable—whether you’re at home or in one of America’s most germy public bathrooms.
This is a clever little invention that’s free of plastic, portable, easy to use and clean, and that doesn’t require future purchases like refills. If you’re on the hunt for the next best thing to a bidet, this is it.
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