Learn How to Make Disposable and Reusable Baby Wipes at Home

These two recipes will reduce waste and provide a much cleaner, healthier product to use on your baby's delicate skin.

Making your own baby wipes is a good way to cut down on the nasty ingredients contained in store-bought versions. Reusable cloth wipes are definitely the greener solution, but there are times when disposable wipes are extremely helpful to have on hand, especially when traveling. Here’s how to make both:

Homemade Disposable Wipes

1 roll of thick paper towels, preferably Bounty (recycled is good, but make sure they're sturdy enough not to disintegrate when used) 2 cups hot water 2 tbsp Dr. Bronner’s castile soap 1 tbsp olive or sweet almond oil 1 tbsp all-natural lotion, optional Essential oil or calendula extract, if desired

You will need a sealable container that’s large enough to fit the paper towel roll cut in half. Try a plastic ice cream container, an old wipes container, or an old coffee tin.

Cut the roll of paper towels in half with a serrated knife. Place one half upright in the container.

Heat the water in the microwave to boiling point. Stir in castile soap and oil. Add a few drops of essential oil, if desired. Calendula is beneficial for sensitive skin, and the lotion provides additional moisturizing.

Pour mixture over paper towels to soak thoroughly. Put on lid and wait 10 minutes until fully absorbed. Open and pull out the cardboard centre tube. You will continue to pull wipes from the centre as you use them.

Reusable Cloth Wipes

All you have to do is cut out squares of cloth (old T-shirts, sheets, washcloths) and stack them close to your change table for easy access. You can make a spray solution if you don’t have a sink nearby. (Recipe from All You Need Is Less by Madeleine Somerville)

4 cups water, boiled and cooled
3 tbsp olive oil
2 tbsp Dr. Bronner’s castile soap
1 tbsp pure aloe vera

Mix and pour into a squeeze bottle. Toss dirty cloths into the diaper bin and wash along with cloth diapers.