Guest Post Review and Contribution by Amy of So Easy Being Green blog
When my husband and I decided that we wanted to be foster parents, I immediately knew that I wanted to use cloth diapers. I didn’t know what ages we would get, or for how long we would have the kiddos that were placed with us, but if we could, we wanted to keep it age 3 and under, which definitely meant diapers. Well, to my surprise, the day we were approved is the day we got the call to take our first placements…a 14 month old girl and a 2 1/2 week old baby boy. Two…how did we get two on our first call?! We freaked out and then the excitement set in…& I began prepping for my 2 under 2 to be in their fluff.
DIY Cloth Wipes
I had prepared for just about everything & what I hadn’t thought of, other people helped us with, or so I thought. I forgot one thing…cloth wipes! I knew I wanted to use cloth diapers, but I hadn’t thought about the wipes. So, I began researching. The ones that you can buy are good and everything, but it just wasn’t practical for me with 2, nor was it in my budget, so I researched making my own. What I came to the conclusion of 
doing is going to our local thrift store and finding the softest, thickest t-shirts they had…which ended up being $1 each. I bought 5, took them home, immediately washed them like I would to prep my cloth diapers to get out any residue (since they would be in my future diaper laundry) and prepared them for cutting.
The reason that I decided on t-shirt material is that you don’t have to sew jersey knit. You just have to NOT cut them in a square/rectangle, keep your cuts oval (they do not have to be perfect) so the edges won’t roll up on you…this is a PAIN to undo (found this out from trial and error). But there is one certain material that no matter which way you cut it, it won’t roll, I just don’t know how to describe it except that it is the softest t-shirt material that I have found. And then once I finished cutting, I washed them again (OCD, I know) just to make sure all the fuzzies didn’t get on my diapers or inserts. Once dried, they’re ready to use and put in with your regular dirty diapers and inserts in the diaper pail/bag.
Cloth Wipes Solution Recipe
Now for the wipe solution… I researched this for a long time and came to the decision to keep my solution separate from my wipes due to mold/mildew issues that just completely grossed me out. I just knew this wouldn’t be the ideal way for me to do this. But then, I didn’t like the idea of using a spray bottle or a pour bottle, however I did like the idea of using a FOAM on these little bums! So, I got one of my friends to save a few of her foaming hand soap bottles for me after they were empty. I brought them home and washed them out REALLY WELL. This took some time and patience because the foam just kept coming out! I let them completely dry out & then made my solution to keep in the bottles.
I found the “recipe” that I wanted to use on Zany Zebra Designs. I really didn’t know there could be so many! But, I just stuck with the Basic Solution, tweaked it to my liking and it is still the one I like and continue to use today. It smells good and is very gentle on my kiddo’s fluff covered bums.
Zany Zebra Designs Basic Wipe Solution: This basic recipe can be adapted by changing the type of soap or oil. 1/2 cup baby oil 1/2 cup baby wash 2 cups water
I changed the baby oil to olive oil, the baby wash to Dr. Bronner’s Mild Castille Soap, and added a few drops of grapefruit essential oil.
Once you gather everything, measure and mix in a large container, then pour into the foam dispensers. Once your baby needs a change, all you have to do is grab the foam dispenser and shake it to mix because the oil, water, and soap will separate and grab cloth wipe(s) and a new diaper and you’re ready to change your little one. You can either put the foam on the wipe or directly on the dirty bum. Up to you. My preference is to gently wipe all the solid away that I can and then spray some of the foam on the bum and clean. I am not a one wipe woman, I just can’t do it. This is another reason that the t-shirt way was my best option.
Do you have your own personal cloth wipes recipe or tips? If so, please share in the comments, we’d love to hear from you!
Amy is a foster mommy to 3, 2 and under, and a wife to a big, hairy “kid”. She loves life & everyone in it, and is trying to make better choices for her family.
I’m Julie, a former cloth diaper retailer who discovered a passion for the industry. Now, instead of selling cloth diapers, I advocate them and promote small businesses I love who sell and manufacture them.
I’m the wife of a fireman and mother of three. I have a daughter and identical twin sons.
