It's hard to argue against the practicality of disinfecting wipes. According to the Soap and Detergent Association's study (via Infection Control Today), 28 percent of Americans who use either cleaning, disinfecting, or antibacterial wipes do so because of their portability and another 20 percent use them because of the "ease of disposal." Others like them because they are quick and functional. Many like disinfecting wipes, in particular, because of their ability to kill germs. 

Disinfecting wipes' germ-fighting abilities are advertised right on the container — and independent studies have confirmed that those claims are accurate. According to one such study published in Journal of Applied Microbiology (via Science Daily), wiping down your kitchen counters with disinfecting wipes after preparing poultry will cut your chance of Campylobacter food poisoning by 99.2 percent.

The ingredients wipes contain are indeed very effective in killing germs, Sampson Davis, an emergency room physician, revealed on The Dr. Oz Show. According to the doctor, water is combined with binding agent sodium C14-17 sec-alkyl sulfonate, essential oils for fragrance, preservatives to prohibit mold and bacteria growth, and, lastly, glycolic acid, which Davis said is "an organic substance" that "helps make the area smooth."