How to Make Homemade Baby Wipes

Cloth diapers have existed for generations, but there are no handy diaper wipe options for moms who want to save money or go green. One great option is to prepare homemade, reusable diaper wipes to keep on hand. For those less concerned about going green, but whose infants have sensitive skin and cannot use traditional disposable baby wipes, homemade disposable wipes is also an option.

1. First: Prepare wipes

   Cut old receiving blankets into four by six inch rectangles. Purchase these inexpensively second hand, use spares that you were given as hand me downs, or use those left over from previous pregnancies. You can also separate half a role of Viva paper towels into single sheets if you plan to make disposable wipes.

2. Second: Prepare solution

   In a large mixing bowel, combine two cups of water, a half cup of organic olive oil or baby oil and two tablespoons of gentle baby wash. Flip the wipes over and allow them to remain submerged for 10 minutes.

3. Third: Submerge wipes

   Submerge the wipes in the solution until they are soaked through. It is suggested that you leave the wipes in the solution for at least 10 minutes to make sure it is fully absorbed and not just on the surface.

4. Fourth: Store wipes

   Fold each wipe in half and stack them in a diaper wipe box, a rubbermaid container or any other tightly sealed container. Disposable wipes are discarded after a single use. Put reusable wipes in the diaper bucket with the reusable diapers and wash them together. Never use fabric softener on reusable wipes or diapers, because it limits their ability to absorb moisture.

5. Fifth: Reuse wipes

   To reuse wipes, mix a second batch of the wipe solution and soak dried wipes in the solution, just as they were soaked on their first use, and fold them back into their container. Repeat until the wipes get too thin to reuse, or too rough to the touch. When this occurs, cut more squares of flannel and make new ones. How many times a wipe is used before it wears out depends on how used the blankets were when they were cut into wipe squares.