Homemade Baby Wipes, Using Recycled Receiving Blankets
Recycle your old baby receiving blankets, and transform them into reusable cloth baby wipes!
Do you have a million old receiving blankets lying around? Chances are, you probably do! What better way to up-cycle them, than turning them into something you use all the time... baby wipes! It's so easy to make homemade baby wipes, and it will save you a lot of time and money. I come from a very frugal family, and I'm always looking for new ways to save. I have several receiving blankets that aren't being used, so I decided to turn them into something very useful!
Not only are these wipes practically free to make since most of us already have everything on hand, but they are also much softer than store bought wipes. Trust me, I used to buy wipes and the price can really add up! I love finding new ways to save money, while improving my life, and this is definitely a great way!
Hint: You could even make these cloth wipes a little smaller and use them as makeup removal wipes, or as cleaning rags. I use a diaper hamper that was bought specifically for cloth diapers to dispose of mine in, and keep the makeup wipes with my other towels and rags. The uses could really be endless, if you think of another great way to use these wipes please let me know in the comments!
I know, some people shudder at the thought of cloth diapers or wipes, but you should at least give it a try. You've heard the saying "Don't knock it till' you try it". This is a great way to recycle and get plenty of use out of your stuff! It's really simple to make, and doesn't take long at all. Don't worry, the clean up is easy and it's not as messy as it would sound (quite opposite). Another great thing about using cloth wipes vs. store bought wipes is the thickness. Have your fingers ever torn through a wipe only to get your hands dirty? Yuck! With cloth wipes you are more protected as well, and less likely to get the mess on your hands.
Here is my favorite recipe for homemade baby wipes, enjoy!
Time required: 10 minutes
Difficulty: easy
Cost: Free
Materials:
- Old receiving blankets
- Empty wipes container
- Empty spray bottle (optional)
- water
- Baby soap of your choice, I use baby wash
- baby oil (optional)
Tools:
- Scissors
- Ruler
- measuring cup
Instructions:
1. First gather up everything you will need. Find some receiving blankets that aren't being used. I usually save the cute ones for the babies, and most of the plain ones get turned into wipes! You'll need some sharp scissors as well for cutting. I usually just free hand, but if you want a more precise cut you will want to grab a ruler. You'll also need a measuring cup, HOT water (not boiling), baby wash (or baby soap of your choice), an empty spray bottle (optional), and an empty wipes container. I like the bigger wipes containers, but you can also use any plastic container of a similar size.
2. Begin by cutting your receiving blankets, to the size of a baby wipe. I like to make them just a tad bigger usually about 8X8 (this is big enough that you can make them pop up if your using the wipe containers). If you're using a different plastic container your measurements will be based on the size of the one your using, you'll just have to measure. Once you got all your wipes cut out, move on to step 3.
3. Mix your solution. I prefer to discard and make a new solution every other day. Its super fast and easy, and I just store it in an empty spray bottle. I keep the homemade baby wipes in the container, but I just spray them with solution as I need them. This keeps them from going bad, and seems to be more convenient. All you have to do for the spray bottle solution, is mix 1/4 cup of baby wash with 2 cups of hot water. I've also added a couple tablespoons of baby oil but you don't have too. If you decide you don't want to use a spray bottle you can also just pour the mixture over the wipes in the container. They just don't last quite as long this way, but if your just doing it daily it shouldn't matter. Whatever is easiest for you!
4. That's all there is to it! If your using a spray bottle and keeping the wipes dry you have several storage options. You can even store them in a smaller travel case to keep in your purse or diaper bag, or just keep extras in the car, or on a shelf at home. Wasn't that easy?