Best Unscented Baby Wipes

Last Updated: Oct 20, 2021 @ 10:44 am.

Best Overall Unscented Baby Wipes: Pampers Sensitive Baby Diaper Wipes

Our extensive testing of baby wipes produced this clear winner: Pampers Sensitive Baby Diaper Wipes. Here are the details:

What We Liked

• Soft texture. Compared to other brands we tested, our parent testers thought these wipes had just the right balance between softness and thickness. Less expensive wipes tend to be thin . . . and curl up on themselves when you take them out of the container. Pampers, on the other hand, were substantial.

• Size. Pampers hits the size just right—big enough to get the job done. We could handle the worst diaper blowouts with only two wipes.

• Toughness. If you can tear a baby wipe with minimal effort, it’s going to fail at cleaning up messes. Pampers Sensitive Baby Diaper Wipes topped our toughness tests—it didn’t tear under pressure.

• Perfume free.

What Needs Work

• Smell. Some folks don’t like the scent of these wipes—yes, they are unscented . . . but even unscented wipes still have a slight smell. We didn’t think the smell was an issue, but we know some folks are super sensitive!

Best Budget-Friendly Unscented Baby Wipes: Amazon Elements Baby Wipes

We estimate these wipes run about a third less expensive than name brands, yet in our testing held their own against fancy brands. Here’s a breakdown:

What We Liked:

• Unscented. No perfumes or strong odors.

• Transparency. Ingredients are listed clearly both online and on the package.

• Thickness, softness and texture. These wipes hit the right notes in this trifecta.

• No dyes, or alcohol.

What Needs Work

•  Thinner. While these wipes are the same size as name brand wipes, Amazon Elements wipes are just a touch thinner. In our testing, we thought they were still effective—but we know thickness is important for some folks.

• Additives. While these wipes are free from parabens and phthalates, they still contain preservatives like Phenoxyethanol and Tetrasodium Glutamate Diacetate. Based on our research and conversations with pediatric researchers, we believe these additive are safe and help keep the wipes from being contaminated during shipment and storage. However, we can understand why some parents would prefer to avoid them.

• Fabric from China. While these wipes are manufactured in Indiana, the cloth in the wipes is sourced from polyester, viscose & polypropylene made in China.

Best Water-Based Unscented Baby Wipes: WaterWipes Sensitive Baby Wipes

Our top pick for eco-friendly baby wipes are WaterWipes, made of 99.9% water and a touch of grapefruit seed oil. If your baby’s skin can’t tolerate other wipes, WaterWipes are an excellent choice based on our testing. We tested nine different wipes that claimed to be natural or eco-friendly—WaterWipes performed the best. Here’s an overview:

What We Liked

• Same performance as fancy brands. These wipes handled most diapers messes with the same effectiveness as standard wipes.

• No additives.  Our testers loved WaterWipes simple ingredients, especially for babies who’ve developed rashes from standard wipes.

• No fragrance. These wipes were unscented.

What Needs Work

• Pricey. They can run two to three times the price of standard wipes.

• Must store in a cool/dry place. If you are looking for wipes to store in a car during a hot summer, these aren’t the best choice. The lack of preservatives mean these wipes can mold if not stored properly.

• Expiration dates. Since these wipes have no preservatives, the company recommends using opened packages within 30 days. A box must be used within 15 months of manufacture. As a result, it may make sense to order these wipes in smaller amounts.

• Drippy. In our testing, parents who were used to name brand wipes found these wipes to be somewhat drippy—and that can make a diaper change a bit more messy. In the end, we thought this drawback wasn’t a deal killer . . . our testers just had to get used to the different moisture level.

Best Plant-Based Unscented Baby Wipes: Babyganics Baby Wipes

These unscented wipes are the ones we’d consider if you’d prefer wipes made with plant-derived materials. What does that mean? That means the synthetic chemical ingredients you see in regular wipes are replaced by chamomile extract, vegetable oil, glycerin, citric acid, tomato seed oil, sunflower seed oil, cranberry seed oil, black cumin seed oil, and red raspberry seed oil. Here’s more:

What We Liked

• Soft!

• Great for sensitive skin. We thought these wipes performed well on babies with sensitive skin.

• No parabens, phthalates, artificial dyes or fragrances.

• No sulfates.

What Needs Work

• Allergens! The plant based oils in these wipes contain ingredients like soy, which may cause a rash in those with skin allergies.

• Pricey.

• Small size. 

Why Trust Us

We’ve been rating and reviewing baby gear, including diaper wipes, since 1994. We do hands-on testing—we buy the products with our own money and evaluate with an eye toward safety, ease of use and affordability.

Here’s another key point: we don’t take money from the brands we review. No free samples, no sponsors, no “partnerships.” Baby Bargains is your independent and unbiased source for expert baby gear reviews.