Earlier today I told you guys about a great Amazon wipe deal…. but also mentioned that I have used my own cloth wipes since my oldest, Gwen, was born in 2006.
How in the world do you live without baby wipes? Ha ha! People are most curious I guess! I have for over four years, and haven’t looked back. I can say that I have saved my family a ton of money… and, well, a lot of garbage!
I am a h-u-g-e cloth diaper mom. I used them on both kiddos, and plan to use them on the third. They are economical, good for the environment, and better on my kid’s behind than the ones you buy in the store – even if those are cheap or free there is still much added benefit to putting cotton on my kiddos butt than a disposable diaper.
There was no doubt in my mind when I went to cloth that I would do cloth wipes also. I mean, why not? They can be washed with the diapers too, and they’re cute, easy to make etc. – realize that most people do the wet wipes because they are more convenient, however… for me, convenience isn’t always the best option.
Why did I make the decision to do cloth wipes?
Pretty easy actually. I won’t go too far in depth, but looking at the ingredients in a regular package of baby wipes is a tad bit scary to me – even more so that they’re supposedly sensitive…. hmmm, not so sensitive the ingredients that make those wipes. Many of the ingredients in the baby wipes are also deemed somewhat hazardous to the Skin Deep cosmetic safety database. Not what I want for my kiddos.
So how did I make my own?
I’m a big sewer actually – although I really don’t get as much time on the machine as I’d like, back when Wendy was born I had a little more time. I have 3 machines, and so obviously if one breaks down I have another as backup 
Cloth wipes can be made out of flannel, terrycloth, velour, sherpa or hemp fleece = I chose flannel. I actually took old receiving blankets and cut them into 8×8 squares – I use an old baby wipe container to fold in half and store them. You can make them 4×8 if that’s easier, and then you wont have to fold..though I like mine to be slighly bigger.
Even for a beginner sewer, wipes are fairly easy to make. You can choose to do one layer, or two, I would start with ONE layer. Easier (in my opinion). Just take the sewing machine and zig zag around the edge – making sure the “zig” of the zig zag goes over the edge so you can prevent raveling raggedy edges. Make sure you backstitch at the start and finish to reinforce the main stitch. Trim the threads and BAM! You are done!!
You can get as fancy or as plain as you want. I’m a pretty plain person so I don’t use fancy thread colors…. you may want to.
How many wipes do I start with?
Oh….gosh I’d say 24? You can build from there. I started with 24, and I think I may have around 36-48 around my house. I have well over 50 cloth diapers of all different varieties.
How do I wash them?
EASY! With the diapers! Super simple. Just toss in the wash every day or every other day when you wash the diapers. Take out, hang on the line or toss in the dryer – super easy.
Do you travel with cloth wipes?
I sure do. I take a little spray bottle with me, and I spray as I go. You can also soak the wipes in an old baby wipe container with your own homemade solution – I did that for quite a while and used a little Aveeno mixed with water. We have always been in a place with a washer (at some point) if not with family …so they get tossed in. Now my husband is the geek who loves to buy the real wipes… so I will admit that there are times that I have had that tub in my car…. but that’s purely his doing.
Making wipes for your kiddos is not only fun, it’s a GREAT way to celebrate a new baby – whether it be a family member or friend. Once I get my entire stack of wipes out of the wash (and dryer) I’ll have to shoot a picture of them to show ya
This is amazing! I would have never thought to do this for wipes… but I would definitely do it now. I almost wish my 2 year old wasn’t almost potty trained, so I could use them for longer!
Good for you, Sheryl. I did the same thing. I didn’t have a washer or dryer back then, and hand washed and hung my diapers and wipes every day. I still don’t have a dryer. Or, as I tell people, I have a solar dryer — an Arizona outdoor solar dryer. Kudos to all of you that take the time to save $$ and save the earth. (Not to mention our little ones’ hineys!.)
Want to add that I think potty training is easier with cloth. They can actually feel when they’re wet.
disagree, my boy didnt felt any uncomfy when he was in wet in cloth diaper. in my humble opinion potty training is purely dependable on child abilities and brain development. some kids do stuff earlier and others they do same exact think waaay later.
I also use the solar dryer. Why would I pay for a dryer and the electricity to run it when I have a free dryer outside?
In the picture above it looks like yours have two layers. What is the other fabric paired with the flannel? Do you use both sides to wipe or just one?
It looks like Sheryl serged the edges to stop them from fraying
What a great idea…..These would make a great baby gift!
Your third? …I totally missed that you were expecting! Congratulations!
Fellow cloth diapering/wipes mama here too! SAVES US so much money! Between breastfeeding and cloth diapering we save some serious doe!
I made my own wipes too and I love them! It’s not any harder than store bought wipes and they just get softer and better the more you wash them.
Such a great idea!! I know there are some adorable fabrics too!!! Think my daughter will appreciate the gift?? LOL- I did not use cloth but you are all making me wish I had!!! Sheryl, what do you put in the spray bottle- and do you carry the wipes in plastic baggies for on the go?
I plan on going cloth diapers/wipes with my baby due at the end of June. I just need a sewing machine so I can finish the edges.
i have used both cloth wipes/diapers and disposeable., but when i always wondered whether i have really saved any money or earth. have you done any calculation?
when you buy diaper/wipes you spend monthly certain amount. when you use cloth diapers/wipes you dont have to spend monthly any money upfront but you are using electicity for washer and dryer, water consumed by washer, costs of detergent then you have to factor in your time. in my calculation it ended up it not beeing so economical. how does your calculation looks like?
re: electricity – im under impression unles you are using solar/wind energy that it is not much difference to earth. from what i heard production of electricity causing global warming. someone told me that when i have mentioned using cloth diapers/wipes and it really left me speechless. what do you think? it that right or not?
Usually people who aren’t supportive of cloth say that you’re wasting water, electricity etc.
I will just say, from MY experience: My water bill has not gone up. I wash once every other day. I have an eco-cycle washer, it uses 75% less water than an average machine. My machine cost me $250 YEARS ago at the Sears dent and scratch store. So they’re wrong on that aspect.
My electric bill is less than most others. What is ONE extra load 3 days a week? Really? Not much. People dont blink when it comes to turning on the TV and tossing in an extra load of clothes, so they’re def putting their two cents in where it doesnt belong. We dont have cable here; we keep lights off. My electric bill in the summer does not top $140, and my house still hasn’t turned on the AC, and it has been pretty darn hot. I highly doubt 3 extra loads a week are going to make my bill go up.
Then your time – that’s funny for your friends to say that. What is it to toss one load in? A few minutes? Gosh, if that’s alot of “time” then I dont know what to say. I’m speechless on that. It takes me all of 30 sec to dump those diapers in the wash and turn the knob. They go right to the dryer. Then they go in a basket. They dont get folded, that’s it.
I guess people want convenience. When I think of disposable I think of driving TO the store. Spending GAS. Tossing that diaper in the trash. The Trash truck coming to get it. The diaper sitting in a nasty landfill for years and years.
I can honestly say that yes, it does save me money. I’m not easily convinced by others and their opinions though… what I can say is that
1. Most people are not educated on cloth, so they’re natural reaction is to create some storyline as to why it’s not economical
2. Most folks want convenience – I worked FT, had a government job that I traveled 3 weeks/ mo and still made it work. It IS possible.
3. The diapers I bought were all purchased for less than $100 – so no large up front costs. Your up front costs are what YOU make them. I’m not the type of person to have new everything, so I bought all 72 diapers I had used. 5 years later they work fine. Some folks have to buy everything new…well gosh in that case then you can really spend a fortune. Get creative and find ways to find used diapers.
If you are concerned about the amount of water used to wash cloth diapers, think about the amount of water used to mill the paper and materials that go into a disposable diapers. 2-3 extra loads of laundry a week is FAR LESS than is used in the manufacturing of disposable diapers. Water is a renewable resource!
Also consider this, there is sixty times more solid waste and twenty times more raw materials, like crude oil and wood pulp from trees consumed to make disposable diapers than in cloth diapers. 25 million trees per year are consumed alone in the production of disposable diapers. Cloth diapers are often made of hemp, cotton and other materials that are biodegradable and easier to renew than trees.
I just came across this site and obviously came in really late on this topic, but it’s one that I’m passionate about, since I am a cloth diapering mom. As Sheryl mentioned, cloth diapering moms are frequently subjected to others’ opinions/stories as to why cloth diapering isn’t any better than disposable diapering. As with any topic, if it makes someone feel insecure they will tear it apart and make up whatever storyline makes them feel better so they don’t feel guilty that they aren’t doing it.
It sounds like Sheryl got her cloth diapers for CHEAP, CHEAP, CHEAP :), but even if you use one of the newer pocket diapers or in-one diapers, the savings are HUGE. We spent about $300-$400 on our diapering supply, but will save thousands. The average cost of a single diaper is $0.20-$0.50 depending on brand/size, etc. The average cost to diaper a baby for 1 year is $1000 according to most literature on the topic (closer to $1200 in the first year because you’re changing them so much more frequently in the early months). Considering many kids aren’t fully potty trained until they are nearly 3, that’s a savings of over $2000 for just one child. And cloth diapers can be used for subsequent children as well.
Sure, you use a little more water, but if you have an appropriate stock of cloth diapers, you’re only doing 2-3 extra loads of laundry per week. Most cloth diapering moms hang their diapers instead of drying in the dryer, so that savings makes up for the extra water. As Natalie said, the amount of resources (water/electricity, etc) that go into manufacturing disposable diapers is astronomical so that is offset by what we are doing at home. Also, in the City of Phoenix one unit of water is only $3.80 during peak season and one unit is 748 gallons. Keep in mind that in the winter you automatically get 5 units “free” (included in your base fees) so you’re bill is only higher than your base fees when you go over 5 units. In the summer you get 10 units. The typical load of laundry will use 25-50 gallons of water depending on whether you have a HE unit or not. If we use the higher figure and say we’re using 50 gallons per load and doing 3 extra loads per week, that is still less than 1 extra unit of water per month so by cloth diapering we’re spending about an extra $3.00 per month on average in water, but the water we use is off-set by the water that would have been used to manufacture the disposable diapers.
Cloth diapering is SO easy… I wish more people would give it a try. I’ve met so many moms (including some in my own family) that talk crap about it because they feel bad about themselves for not making some of the same types of decisions. I can’t understand for the life of me why they wouldn’t try it themselves instead of talking crap about other people. Fortunately, we have a lot of great people in our lives and have been able to share our experience and get them to try it.
Even if you only add a few cloth diapers to your routine, it will save you a lot of money. Give it a shot.. it’s really easy!
And when they are done covering little bottoms, they still have a multitude of uses. My hubby swears by them for polishing the cars after he has waxed them. By then they are soft and lint free.
Thanks for sharing! This really has me thinking! I currently have 2 in diapers.
I used those soft baby washclothes with soap and water when my boy was in diapers. I did use wipes on occasion such as for a messy job.
Sheryl, did you forget to tell everybody about your homemade laundry detergent and fabric softener!!! [This woman is AMAZING folks!!]
After washing my cloth diapers and wipes I line dry them. It saves me 3-4 dryer loads a week, they dry faster outside, the sun helps the stains, I get fresh air, and am left feeling good about saving money. Just remember to take them down before it rains. :)