To go along with my cloth diapers, I use reusable cloth wipes that are used with a homemade wipes spray. Even if you don’t use cloth diapers, you can still make use of cloth wipes and cut down on your use of disposable wipes and save some money in the long run.

For the wipes, I purchased some thin flannel fabric from the fabric store. I had a friend who sews serge the fabric into 8” x 8” squares. These dimensions are perfect for being able to fold in half and put into a wipes container. A serge stitch, for those of you unfamiliar with sewing terms, is a way to finish the end of the fabric so it doesn’t unravel. You could also stitch two pieces of fabric together with a simple zigzag stitch. My Happy Crazy Life has a great website tutorial on different ways to make your wipes. You could also purchase reusable wipes at most cloth diaper websites like Kelly's Closet or SoftClothBunz. Baby wash cloths or even a cut up receiving blanket can also work.

When my baby was little, I just used water that I had stored in a spray bottle. When changing my baby, I would grab a cloth wipe and spray it wet just before using it. Now that my baby is older (and dirtier) I make my own wipes solution. I also keep this in a spray bottle and spray the wipe right before using. I’ve found this simple recipe to be effective and easy to make because I always have these ingredients on hand.

• 2 tablespoons of baby wash (I use Dr. Bonner’s Peppermint Castile Soap, which I also use for cleaning around the house)


• 2 tablespoon of olive oil


• 2 drops of tea tree oil (never use at full strength because it will burn your skin)


• 2 cups of water

Put all ingredients into a spray bottle. Shake the bottle before using as the ingredients will separate. I’ve found that long-term storage of wet wipes tends to start smelling so I’ve preferred to stick with my spray bottle method.

There are many recipes online for making your own wipes solution. If this solution doesn’t work for you and your baby, or you would rather use different ingredients, you can find more with a quick internet search.

When going out, you can still use your cloth wipes. If you use cloth diapers, I find it easier to use cloth wipes, because you can throw them right into your wet bag with the dirty diaper instead of having to carry it over to the trash. I place my folded cloth wipes in an empty plastic wipes travel case and spray them with my wipes solution so they are damp and ready to use.