As a noun: pre-moistened disposable cloths used for cleaning. As a verb: third person singular of 'wipe,' meaning to clean or dry by rubbing with a cloth or similar material.
From Old English 'wipian' meaning 'to rub, clean,' related to Old High German 'wifan' (to wind around). The modern product sense of disposable cleaning cloths emerged in the mid-20th century with advances in non-woven fabric technology.
Baby wipes were invented by accident in 1957 when a failed attempt to create a new type of makeup remover resulted in a thick, durable cleaning cloth. Despite being called 'flushable,' most wipes cause serious problems in sewage systems because they don't break down like toilet paper.
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