Construct Reusable Homemade Baby Wipes

4 Parts:

Make Your Own Baby Wipes

Two Types of Baby Wipes

Tips, Tricks & Warnings

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Disposable baby wipes are convenient and relatively cheap, but they always end up in the trash. The amount of trash in our landfills is staggering. Homemade, reusable wipes are easy to make, and they'll cut down on household waste. Two methods are commonly used to manage and store the wipes - the container method and the spray bottle method. This article gives instructions for making and using both methods. Choose whichever one suits you best.

This article assumes you have basic knowledge regarding the operation of a sewing machine.

Tools

1. 1
   Cloth (old rags, receiving blankets, any soft and durable flannel, terry, or fleece is fine)

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   Natural fibres are best - like cotton.

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2. 2
   Fabric scissors

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3. 3
   Sewing machine.

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4. 4
   Universal needle.

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5. 5
   Durable thread.

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6. 6
   Water.

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7. 7
   Olive or Coconut Oil.

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8. 8
   Baby wash.

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9. 9
   2 containers with tight fitting lids.

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10. 10
    For spray method; Spray bottle.

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11. 11
    Optional; Organic essential oil.

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Instructions for Making Cloths

1. 1
   Cut the cloth

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   Use the fabric scissors to cut square or rectangular segments from the chosen cloth. Old receiving blankets can supply quite a few 6 x 6 inch squares.

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2. 2
   Hem if needed

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   All fabrics, except jersey, will need to be hemmed. The rough edges tear and reduce the life of the wipes.  

   1. Fold each edge of the wipe upon itself about a 1/4 inch. This will prevent the unraveling of the fabric.
   2. Prepare the sewing machine. Check the condition of the needle and ensure that it is secured tightly.
   3. Thread the machine. Many machines thread with a suspended spool system on top and a spool underneath the machine.
   4. Select the zigzag stitch. Select a zigzag stitch from the stitch selection on your sewing machine. Check the sewing machine manual as these processes can vary from machine to machine.
   5. Hem! Guide the folded cloth through the sewing machine under the foot and needle. Let the machine apply the zigzag stitch.
   6. Back stitch. When you reach the end of the stitching, remember to back stitch about 1/4 inch then, stitch forward once again to tie off the stitch.
   7. If you happen to be luck enough to have a surger, wonderful! Just surge around the edges.

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3. 3
   Fold cloths

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   Fold the pieces of cloths, if necessary, now that the cloth segments are hemmed.

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4. 4
   Sealed containers

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   Store the wipes in one of the containers.

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1. 1
   Make the mixture for the container method===

    

   1. Mix the water, oil, and baby wash together in a container.
   2. Start with 2 cups of water, 1/2 cup of oil, and 1/2 cup of baby wash. This should cover the amount of wipes made from two to three receiving blankets.

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2. 2
   Add the mixture to container

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3. 3
   Pour the mixture directly on top of the wipes

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4. 4
   The container can be turned upside down if the lid is fastened securely

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   This allows the mixture to soak the cloths thoroughly.

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5. 5
   Make the mixture for the container method Spray Method

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   The amount of each ingredient is dependent on the size of the spray bottle.

   

    

   1. Add 1 part soap, 1 part oil, and 3 parts of water together to the empty spray bottle and shake to combine.

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6. 6
   Spray first then wipe

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   In this method, the bottle is used to spray each wipe before it is used to wipe the baby. Refrain from spraying the mixture directly on the baby's skin, as this could get messy. Spray the wipe, then wipe the baby's bottom!

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7. 7
   Place used wipe in second container

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   The second container can be used to store dirty wipes. When finished wiping the baby, place the wipe in the container and secure the lid.

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• Add another mixture to pre-soak dirty wipes. A mixture of water and baking soda or safe detergent can be added to the second container to help remove stains from the wipes.
• Make sure to label both containers with words such as, "clean" and "dirty" so that you don't mix them up accidentally, perhaps, say late at night when you are tired and sleepy.
• Essential oils may be sensitive for your baby skin. You can use Tea Tree Oil with care. Stop using any oil if baby develops rashes or they persist. You'd only need a couple of drops in the entire spray bottle.
• Shake spray bottle if oil and water separate. Water and oil separate when left sitting for too long. Simply shake the bottle to mix the components.
• Toss used wipes in the diaper pail. If the household also uses cloth diapers, the dirty wipes can be placed in the pail instead of the second container.

If you have problems with any of the steps in this article, please ask a question for more help, or post in the comments section below.

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