Expert Warns Against Wiping Dining Tables With Wet Wipes

Wet wipes offer the convenience of easy, on-demand use without special maintenance. Many households use them instead of dish towels to wipe dining tables, avoiding the hassle of washing and boiling cloths. However, experts have raised concerns that this habit may pose safety risks.

Choi Eun-jung, who holds a doctorate in science education from Ewha Womans University, recently appeared on the YouTube channel "Dr. Lee Dong-hwan TV" to warn about the dangers of wiping dining tables with wet wipes.

"Many households use wet wipes because managing dish towels—washing, drying, and boiling them—is cumbersome," Choi said. "But chemical substances in wet wipes can remain on the table surface. When you place spoons and chopsticks on it, small amounts could potentially mix into your food during meals."

Choi explained that even if no immediate health problems appear, daily repetition over years could allow ingested substances to combine with other harmful materials and adversely affect health.

Wet wipes are not simply wet tissue paper. Unlike regular tissues made from natural wood pulp, wet wipes are manufactured from synthetic fibers such as polyester. Because they must remain moist during long-term storage, preservatives are essential to prevent bacterial and mold growth. Sodium benzoate, a preservative also used in food, is a common example.

Products managed within permitted levels under Korea's strict safety standards are generally considered safe. However, they are not completely harmless to the human body. Products containing alcohol components like ethanol or artificial fragrances are likely to leave residues on table surfaces after use.

"Simultaneous exposure to various chemical substances can cause them to act as endocrine disruptors," Choi said. "Even though toxic substances are kept below regulatory limits and are relatively safe, it's advisable to be mindful of usage methods and frequency."

What are the alternatives? In environments where water is available, such as homes or offices, dampening kitchen paper towels with water is preferable to using wet wipes. Kitchen paper towels are highly absorbent paper products suitable for removing moisture from food ingredients or substituting for dish towels.

"You can use kitchen paper towels instead of dish towels or wet wipes," Choi said. "Kitchen paper towels are stored dry, so they don't require preservatives. Most products currently sold in Korea don't use optical brightening agents."

However, the inclusion of harmful substances such as optical brightening agents may vary by product. Consumers should carefully check full ingredient lists and Ministry of Food and Drug Safety certifications before purchasing.