Anyone else use cloth baby wipes?

Michelle - posted on 08/07/2011

I figure we are saving over $300 a month just by using cloth diapers and wipes. My children have sensitive skin anyway and have a hard time with wearing throw aways for too long.

Adrianne - posted on 01/25/2010

i have used washclothes for my kids even when i didnt use cloth diapers.i buy colors that everyone will know those are just for my little bums in the house.its the cheapest way

Bethany - posted on 01/25/2010

A friend gave me a packet of 80 disposable wipes before Charlotte was born. A year later and I still havn't finished them.

My mum cut up an old flannelette sheet into squares and overlocked the edges. Probably about 20. I have about 8 or so in a lunch box in 500ml of water with a teaspoon of grapeseed oil and a drop of Tea Tree oil. I renew the water every other day.



They are so great, when I do have to use a disposable wipe, I hate it, they're so small and thin and useless. I can just wrap Charlotte's bum up in a wipe, and gather any mess up in one go. I rarely need a second.



I take them out with me in a Glad ziplock sandwich bag. They go in the nappy sack with the dirty nappy and go through the same wash.

Carolee - posted on 01/23/2010

My youngest is out of diapers now but I made my own when he was in CD's and it was so much easier- great thing!

Melissa - posted on 01/22/2010

I made my own w/flannel I purchased at the fabric store and since I have a serger machine I was done making them in just about an hour. Also I got to choose cute patterns. I always kept mine in the wipe warmer that hung off of my changing table and it worked great. The recipe I used had some lavender oil in it and some chamomile extract as well. Comfrey is also good for skin care.

Justine - posted on 01/21/2010

i have facewashers for face clean ups & bamboo/jersey wipes from baby beehinds for bum! To save running to the tap I keep an empty bubble bath pump pack full of water & some sorbolene to pump on the wipe as well on the change table. works a treat :)

Danielle - posted on 01/21/2010

That's all we use. We also made cloth hankerchiefs out of left over flannel for one time use durring cold season, cloth napkins and of course cloth diapers.

Erin - posted on 01/21/2010

We just use printed washcloths on my sons bum (Plain washcloths in the bath) with foaming bum spray. I find it easier to throw the cloth diapers and washcloths in the diaper pail for laundering rather than wipes in the garbage. And I agree it was a huge cost savings.

Julie - posted on 01/21/2010

I make my own flannel squares - just zigzag stitch two pieces together, I like them 4"X4". I don't have a serger so they wear out eventually but it's still cheaper than disposable! I keep a little dish of water on the shelf on my changing table to dip them in. For the diaper bag, I have a mini spray bottle.

SANDRA - posted on 01/20/2010

We also use cloth whipes so much better then addin another $10-$15.00 for bulk whipes. guilty though we did use with fiss baby and with second but when rashes started then we stoped and big improvement.

Amelia - posted on 01/20/2010

My mother-in-law bought us some along with her purchase of cloth diapers, and my husband and I have hardly used any disposable wipes because we love them! We toss them in the diaper hamper with the diapers! She bought us a set from Green Mountain Diaper. One side is like a wash cloth and the other side is flannel. I have started (but not finished) making my own out of washcloths that I bought cheap from Wal-Mart. Weather you make them or buy them, they are inexpensive to purchase and are totally worth it! Mother-in-law also bought us two types of diaper wipe companions (a couple table spoons per 4 ounces of water or witch hazel in a spray bottle). We spray in on his bottom, wipe with a cloth wipe, and he hasn't had a diaper rash yet! We also put coconut oil on his bottom and it keeps his bottom moist. I personally suggest tea tree oil to be added to any recipe (cheaper than buying wipe companion) because it is an anti-fungal and anti-bacterial agent. I wish I had known about it before I was a mom!

Elizabeth - posted on 01/20/2010

I also use cloth wipes and I make my own diaper wipe solution. Definitely saves money.

Maria - posted on 01/20/2010

I can't imagine using disposable!! They don't work very well, are expensive, and hurt baby's bum. Just use baby washcloths and cotton wipes I found at a diaper store, get it wet and away you go.

Bonnie - posted on 01/20/2010

We bought a stack of regular cotton washcloths and cut them into quarters. They are far more effective than the disposable wipes for those "sticky" clean-up changes and we just throw them in the laundry with the rest of the diapers.

Emily - posted on 01/20/2010

I use cloth wipes called Cheeky Wipes www.cheekywipes.com/ brilliant for weaning too!

Dawn - posted on 01/20/2010

We use cloth wipes, too and love them! I use Eli's Wipe-E's- you can find them on hyenacart.com.. I prefer the one side terry/one side flannel.. even for the biggest messes I usually only need 2 wipes. :)

Sarah - posted on 01/20/2010

I use plain terry wash cloths with just tap water - works great and are easy to replace!

Nicole - posted on 01/20/2010

I make my own wipes as well, about the size of a paper towel, one side adorable printed soft flannel, the other an absorbant, fine, soft stretch terry. . .I serge the edges, and then fold them in quarters for wiping. My solution I keep in a "peri bottle"...I fill my clean bottle, to know how much water (just the right amount will evaporate as steam to make room for the other ingredients), then pour that in a sauce pan, heat to boiling, then remove from heat. Then I add 1 T Dr. Bronner's Liquid Castile Baby Mild soap, 1 t olive oil, 1 t pure aloe vera gel, and then after it cools 1 drop tea tree oil and 2 drops lavender oil. My little loves have always been very clean and rash-free. :-)

Cheryl - posted on 01/19/2010

I use those baby face cloths to wipe my little one's tushie and it works well. I don't want those chemicals on his sensitive skin. It works well, and saves money and the environment. Keep on going!

Sadie - posted on 01/19/2010

By accident I found out that the manufactored wipes can go through the washer and dryer and come out intact...wondering how many times they will hold up doing that, but even using them twice with my own solution seems like a pretty good idea. Thoughts? Anyone tried this?

Leah - posted on 01/19/2010

calendula, what a great idea! We use it for boo boo's all of the time, never thought of a touch on the wipees!

Margaret - posted on 01/19/2010

I don't use cloth wipes, but I do make my own with paper towels. I boil two cups water, add 2 tbls organic calendula and lavender oils, and 2 tbls organic vegetable based soap with jojoba oil. Works great!!! leaves my son's bottom and my hands feeling soooo soft. You could definately do the same with cloth, infact I might just try that. ;)

Audrey - posted on 01/19/2010

I do! Some were included in the cloth diaper kit I bought (applecheeks) and I thought it was a good idea so I bought plenty. Thought it was safer for the environment, safer for my baby's skin and cheaper! I don't regret my choice. I only use disposable cloths when we're out and I don't have an easy access to water.

Leah - posted on 01/18/2010

we sew our own fitted cloth diapers (although I still prefer pinning and don't spend the time to sew hook n loop) - we had a ton of baby wash cloths so we usually just dampen with water, but I do like (when i'm not lazy) to do a lanolin/tea tree oil mixture to soak them in before storing. We also use cloth mama pads and nursing pads, old towels/sweat shirts have been recycled for all of our cloth products - didn't cost anything except the time & thread/elastic. I can produce a nice trim fitted in less than an hour, although with a 10 month old and almost 3 year old it's hard to find that hour sometimes!

Sheila - posted on 01/18/2010

I didn't hit major peak eco-friendliness until my son was out of diapers. I felt so bad about it that I make cloth diapers now, use old bandanas instead of paper towels, and I cut up old t-shirts to use in the bathroom (only for peeing).

I know there is a HUGE debate if cloth diapers and the like really are more eco-friendly since the water usage is up... but with a baby, you are doing so much laundry already it doesn't really matter!

Go for the cloth! Do what I did and use cut up t-shirts so you don't have to buy new cloths and lower your carbon footprint in a lot of ways! After your baby's bum is wiped and out of diapers, you can use the cloths to clean up the messiest grossest things and just throw them away! Those t-shirts would have been tossed a long time ago otherwise!

Best of luck!

Melanie - posted on 01/17/2010

Thanks for the great suggestion Tessa! I will give it a try.

Tessa - posted on 01/17/2010

Melanie,
I also put tea tree oil (aka melaleuca) and grapeseed extract in my wipe solution. The tea tree oil is a natural antifungal and antibacterial. The grapeseed extract is a natural antihistimine. So, the addition of these two essential oils should solve your rash problems.
I wish you the best!
Tessa

Melanie - posted on 01/17/2010

I only used cloth wipes and a solution of water, lavender oil and baby oil but my daughter kept getting horrible diaper rash (I use cloth diapers from a diaper service so it's not from the diapers). I realized the solution and wipes weren't being sanitized enough from just regular cleaning in a washing machine so I switched back to disposable wipes. Anyone else have this problem? Any solutions? BTW the rash disappeared when I switched to disposable wipes.

Tessa - posted on 01/16/2010

I love using cloth wet wipes. I made my own out of flannel. They do a much better job of cleaning her than disposable wipes.

Jennifer - posted on 01/16/2010

I love my cloth wipes! They are so useful for things other than diapering too! I have found some great sellers on Etst and they are also easy to make yourself. Cloth all the way :-)

Nadia - posted on 01/16/2010

Hi I just use wasclothes. I have about 25 washclothes that I use specifically for wipes and they work wonderfully

Nancy - posted on 01/16/2010

yes - we use them also, with baby oil..and bamboo diapers from BumGenius.. my daughter has never had diaper rash and we are helping 'save' the environment - so good for you! I wish more people would at least try!

Christina - posted on 01/16/2010

I use cloth wipes. I started making them when my ds was about 22 months old, and have been using them since. I have a combination of terry/flannel, terry velour/fleece, and velour/velour wipes. I love them.

Ivy - posted on 01/16/2010

We use them!

Rebecca - posted on 01/16/2010

I use the cloth wipes as well and would never use anything else. I have two types: flannel and terry. I primarily use the terry for poopy messes and the flannel for everything else. They are so soft!! For travel, I just wet the wipes and toss them into one of the travel cases for regular disposable wipes.

Teresha - posted on 01/16/2010

I love using cloth wipes! Prince Lionheart has a cloth wipes warmer. I make my own diaper solution at homes. Here are some links to recipes:

http://www.diaperjungle.com/diaper-wipes...
http://www.northernbaby.com/2009/09/05/c...

Megan - posted on 01/15/2010

i use gerber wash cloths too. very easy and cheap. i have plain white to use as wipes and colored ones to use for bathtime so they do not get mixed up. I also use my scrap diper fabric

Katya - posted on 01/15/2010

I got a bunch of cloth wipes from the Little Lions website and they're great. We have a little bucket of water near the change table to dip them in for pee diapers. If she poos we use the bidet in the bathroom (we live in a country where everyone has bidets and they're pretty useful for babies bums!) We use disposable wipes only when we're out and about.

Heather - posted on 01/14/2010

I used some bought cloth wipes with my last baby, this time around I serged my own from flannel and flannel/ terry, and still using the bought ones too... from eight years ago when my son was cloth diapered! Bathroom is near the changing table...so I can easily use the warm tap...works great!

Kiera - posted on 01/14/2010

We use inexpensive kitchen cloths that have been donated to us by various members of the family. Just wet with water and throw in the wash with the rest of the diapers. Love em.

Monique - posted on 01/13/2010

I was the same. Its amazing how much money I was wasting by buying baby wipes. Its also so easy when you already have a load of nappies to wash.

Amelia - posted on 01/01/2010

I just cut an old towel into 6x6 squares and serged the edges. They work perfect and it made about 30 wipes from towel. I usually use a solution made with monkey butt soap bits.

Rebecca - posted on 01/01/2010

I love cloth wipes! I have 3 different kinds: Kissaluvs natural cotton terry, bleached cotton flannel, and 2-sided bleached cotton (terry on one side, smooth on the other). The last 2 I bought from Green Mountain Diapers. I use them for different things -- the big Kissaluvs wipes are good for really messy changes (indispensable in the early, explosive EBF poo days!). The smaller 2-sided wipes are good for a quick clean-up with the terry side, then a final wipe with the smooth side (they are also my hubby's favorite b/c he doesn't like folding and re-folding the bigger Kissaluvs wipes). And the flannel wipes are good for touch-ups and also wiping faces.

I didn't like disposable wipes -- it seems like you have to use 3-4 to clean up a single poop, just b/c they are slimy and seem to push the mess around instead of grabbing it. I never bought a wipes warmer, but all of my wipes would have fit in there, some with a little bit of folding.

Jessica - posted on 12/19/2009

I hadn't thought about making them myself?! What a good idea! I have a few different types greenkids hemp wipes, bubblebubs polarfleece/cotton, imse vimse organic cotton and baby soft landings sherpa. My favourite are the hemp as they are so soft and fluffy and can hold almost double their weight in liquid. I just use water as my son has sensitive skin and disposable wipes give him bad rash. I used bubblebubs foamy wipe solution for a while but I had to stop using it. I use them when I am out and about too!! Bathrooms/parents rooms always have a tap so you can wet them and most friends houses have running water. I just chuck them in with my nappies and wash.

Michelle - posted on 12/15/2009

I just cut up some receiving blankets that I wasn't using anymore and did a quick hem around the edges and they work fabulously! I find that cloth wipes get the job done with less wipes than with the disposable ones. I just throw them in the wash with my cloth diapers. I just use the distilled water in my wipe warmer and they're warmed and ready to go. If we're on the go I just throw a few in a Ziploc bag and they stay moist. Hope this helps!

Carol - posted on 12/15/2009

i got 56 baby wash cloths for my baby shower so i kept about 20 white ones aside for baths and food clean ups and the rest of the colours i use for his bum, then i went to zellers and bought another 30 pack of wash cloths for like $9?? and anyways i never run out of wipes, i just run it under hot water in the sink and by the time it gets to his bum its luke warm and goes in the wash with the fuzzibunz/prefolds/velcros/covers etc!

i do admit tho... i'll use throw away wipes when the poo is visibly all stuck to his butcheeks lmao! but theoretically, its less mess with a cloth cuz the cloth doesnt always seep through witha gooey mess as a disposable one always leaks through the other side onto the hand ewwww! lol

Casey - posted on 12/15/2009

I don't use wipes, and haven't for some time, as I became sick of purchasing them so often. So i purchased 5 cloth wipes, and they were ok, but now i just wash my baby's bottom in the sink with water and her baby body wash. when i send her to the grandparents (who use wipes) she always comes home with a rash, which is normally gone by day 2 or 3. When we go out, i always try to go to the mall, or at least somewhere with a restroom so Melody can either use it, or i can wash her up.

Hannah - posted on 12/14/2009

Dollar Tree sells infant washcloths that make lovely wipes. :) you can always cut up an old cotton T-Shirt, or hooded towel too.

Kirsten - posted on 12/14/2009

i use them too...before E was born i went threw and used a bunch of my funky, nobody wanted print flannels and made 100 wipes =) needless to say =P i have a ton!

Stefie - posted on 12/13/2009

We have been using cloth wipes for wet since we started cloth diapering. I feel very comfortable with my little spray bottle full of water, a drop of baby soap, and a drop of baby oil.
I don't use them for dirty diapers. We use a poop sprayer (from cotton babies) for dirties and thus use regular toilet paper. I love it because it rinses into the toilet and I can still spray her bottom off.