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When I first started cloth diapering, I continued to use disposable wipes because I had a large box to finish up.
I very quickly realized that using cloth wipes was going to be easy peasy since I was already washing diapers. This has been a big savings for us because I was buying WaterWipes due to my daughter’s sensitive skin.
WaterWipes can be less irritating than other wipe brands, but they do cost a bit more. So, we are saving quite a lot just in wipes.
How I Cloth Diaper My Daughter for Cheap
Cloth Wipe Ideas
You don’t have to go out and buy cloth wipes if you’d rather save some money. You might already have material that can be repurposed into cloth wipes. Here’s a few ideas. Keep reading for ideas for wipe solution, too!
1. Washcloths
I’m listing this one first, because this is what we do. We had been given quite a few washcloths at our baby shower. When I decided to try out cloth wipes, I just designated one set as our washcloths, and the rest were repurposed into cloth wipes. No work required, and awesome wipes. Win win!
2. T-shirts
If you have some old t-shirts hanging around your house, you can cut them up to use as DIY wipes. T-shirt material doesnt fray either, so no sewing or serging needed.
I haven’t used any t-shirts because we had plenty of washcloths to use. But, if I were to do this, I would use some of my husband’s old white t-shirts he uses as undershirts, because they’re extra soft.
3. Flannel receiving blankets
Yup, pretty self-explanatory. Just cut up any unused flannel receiving blankets to make nice, soft wipes for your baby’s bum.
However, flannel can fray when washed. Meaning, you may need to serge or zigzag the edges if you don’t want your fabric unraveling. I have not personally tried this, so I can’t say for sure.
4. Disposable wipes
Now, don’t look at me (or your screen) like that. I know what you’re thinking, but I’m not talking about using them in their traditional sense i.e. in a disposable manner.
Remember those wipes I still had left? Well, I kept throwing them in the wash with the diapers and used them over and over again. Those things hold up way better than I would have thought.
If you have some extra disposable wipes hanging around, you should try washing and reusing them. They can be used many times instead of just once.
Cloth Wipe Solution
There are many different wipe solution recipes online. I like to keep things super simple. We use two different methods for cloth wipes.
Spray Bottle Method
Pro tip: You don’t have to measure. It’s not rocket science; just eyeball it.
1 tbsp olive oil
1/2 cup of water, filtered (to improve longevity)
Just shake it all up in a spray bottle.
Shake before each use. Simply spray on your cloth wipe, and wipe away.
This method is really great for on-the-go. You can put the solution in a little travel spray bottle and be all set.
Pro tip #2: You can even use just filtered water if you prefer!
Sink Method
Take your baby to the sink. Wet your cloth, and clean your baby.
This has become our go-to method at home. The reason we do this mostly is because our little girl has become quite the wiggle worm when trying to change her. Changing a messy diaper without getting mess everywhere has become quite the challenge. So, I just take her to the sink and clean her up there. And, it’s just so easy. Once she is older, I will probably shift gears a bit, but maybe she’ll learn to stop flailing everywhere, ha!
So there you have it. Cloth wipes are super easy and budget-friendly. Do you have more cloth wipe ideas? Please share them below in the comments!
