On our journey to begin living a more sustainable life, I started researching ways to reduce our waste while saving money at the same time. I then stumbled across this shocking fact:
A single wet wipe can take up to 100 years to decompose!
Startled by this information, I began making my own cloth wipes, which you can purchase here, to replace disposable wet wipes as well as other items such as facial tissues and napkins.
Now more than ever, particularly in light of the current health crisis with shelves cleared out of these standard items, reusable cloth wipes play a large roll in not only reducing waste but also ensuring you never run out of these essential items again!
Uses
Cloth wipes are extremely versatile and can be used for numerous things including:
- Disinfecting wipes (find cleaning solution recipes below)
- Facial tissues
- Napkins
- Baby wipes (find wipe solution recipe below)
- Toilet paper
- Dusting cloths
- Mini cloth paper towels to clean up spills or wipe off messy faces and sticky fingers
They can be stored in a jar, folded in a way that makes them pop up one after the other for ease of use (how to fold instructions here). Add some cleaning solution into the jar and the cloth soaks up the liquid making them moist, just like a wet wipe. You can also leave them dry and use with a spray bottle cleaner. Simply spray surface and wipe clean.
Tips
- Store in a jar, preferably wide-mouthed, using the pop-up method mentioned above or folded in a basket for ease of use.
- Keep a lid on the jar to prevent moistened wipes from drying out.
- If using the naturally scented cleaning solution described below, store in a cool location such as the fridge or use moistened wipes within a week to prevent mold growth.
- You may also roll the wipes onto an empty toilet paper tube to use in the bathroom or store similar to paper towels. Flannel naturally clings together so simply roll onto the tube and then pull off one by one as needed.
- When cleaning up spills, press and hold wipe on the area and allow it to soak up vs quickly wiping.
Cleaning Solution Recipes
All Purpose and Disinfecting Cleaners
You can absolutely use store bought all purpose liquid cleaning solutions such as Method’s All Purpose Refill or Cleancult’s All Purpose Cleaner Refill but if you are like me and prefer simple, homemade cleaners, the disinfecting solutions below are easy to mix up and add to your cloth wipe jar for wet wipes or place in a spray bottle to use with dry wipes.
All Purpose Cleaning Solution
Needs
• Distilled White Vinegar
• Water
Directions
Mix equal parts vinegar and water in a jar.
To Use: In a jar with 12 cloth wipes, pour 1/3 cup cleaner mixture over wipes and let soak in, tilting as needed to evenly disperse. Keep a lid on the jar when not in use to prevent drying out.
Disinfecting Solution
Needs
• Lemon Juice
• Distilled White Vinegar
• Water
Directions
Mix one part lemon juice, one part vinegar, and two parts water in a jar.
To Use: In a jar with 12 cloth wipes, pour 1/3 cup cleaner mixture over wipes and let soak in, tilting as needed to evenly disperse. Keep a lid on the jar when not in use to prevent drying out.
Naturally Scented Disinfecting Solution
Needs
• Lemon or Orange Peel*
• Distilled White Vinegar*
• Water*
• Glass Jars
*Amount of ingredients depends on jar size.
Directions
Fill a container with citrus peel. Pour vinegar into jar covering all the peels. Leave it to rest for two weeks. Strain liquid into a jar and dilute with water at a 1:1 ratio (half cleaner, half water).
To Use: In a jar with 12 cloth wipes, pour 1/3 cup cleaner mixture over wipes and let soak in, tilting as needed to evenly disperse. Keep a lid on the jar when not in use to prevent drying out. Use wet wipes within a week or store in a cool location, such as the fridge, to prevent mold growth.
Baby Wipe Solution
Needs
• 2 Cups Distilled Water (you can also boil water and allow it to cool)
• 1 1/2 Tablespoons Castile Soap
• 1 Tablespoon Melted Coconut Oil
Directions
Mix water, soap, and coconut oil in a jar and gently stir together.
To Use: In a jar with 12 cloth wipes, pour 1/3 cup of the solution over the wipes and let soak in, tilting as needed to evenly disperse. Keep a lid on the jar when not in use to prevent drying out.
Notes
- Adjust the amount of solution you add to the jar based on your desired dampness of the wipes.
- 12 wipes fit nicely in a standard mason jar but you may also use a larger jar if you want more than 12 wipes ready at a time.
- Avoid squeezing the wipes too much to prevent bubbles.
- There are also baby wipe solutions recipes out there which you can put into a spray bottle, keeping the wipes dry, and spaying on as needed.
Do you have cloth wipes? If so, let us know how you use them and share any tips or cleaning solution recipes you love in the comments below!
