How to use Reusable Cloth Baby Wipes in 5 Simple Steps.
Over the last 3 1/2 years I’ve made many changes in pursuit of a more eco-friendly, sustainable and ethical life. Some were instant no brainers. Like buying onions loose, always making sure I have a refillable water bottle on me and starting a compost bin. Some took a little more effort and defiantly can cost more, like finding a plastic free toothpaste.
However the best eco-friendly decision by far I’ve ever made was to use cloth wipes on my children. So much so if you told me as of tomorrow disposable wipes where suddenly good for the environment, I’d say no thanks. Leave me be with my cloth.
Using cloth baby wipes over disposables packs is not only better for the environment it is much gentler on babies skin, and will save you a ton of money. They are incredibly easy to use, just wet them with water when needed.
Are reusable baby wipes worth it?
Reusable baby wipes can save you an average of £150 a year, as well as thousands of wipes from landfill and are incredibly easy to use.
4 Reasons you should Start with Cloth Baby Wipes!!
Cloth Wipes work so much better than disposables.
One wipe will contend with a huge pooey disaster. There’s no fighting with a packet for re-enforcement’s while trying to keep your dirty hands from touching anything else and holding down a back flipping baby.
They are kinder on babies skin.
Considering disposable wipes are not recommended for newborns its doesn’t fill me with joy to use them moving forward either. Though you can of course buy sensitive or Water Wipes these are often more expensive and of course still come in plastic packaging.
They are much better for the environment.
We all know by now that most disposable baby wipes contain plastic, making their way into our water systems, block up sewage ways and end up in the sea, damaging marine live. Okay you say, “But I buy wipes that do not contain plastic, and would NEVER flush one down the toilet.” Unfortunately this doesn’t help.
The biggest problem with disposable baby wipes is the fact that they are single use. Even if you buy eco-friendly, bio-degradable, bamboo, whatever claim they have about being eco-friendly we have to remember when they are made, they take resources, they have to be packaged, shipped and transported from wherever they are made to get to us. To be used for a matter of seconds, only end up in landfill, where they will sit for hundreds of years produce green house gases. Yes even the bio-degradable ones, because landfills are not designed to let things break down.
Of course if you do need wipes, and I do believe they have their place, buy the more eco-friendly ones, but I propose we do not need them as often as we think we do. How did our parents cope without them after all? Using flannels? Washing in the sink? Yes I often plonk my kids in the sink too.
They will save you a ton of money.
Reusable cloth baby wipes could save you as much as £450 per child. The same wipes can be the used on subsequent children saving parents even more.
I spent around £30 on buying 50 wipes and these have so far lasted me nearly 4 and a half years. I fully expect they will last us the whole time my children are in nappies and then will probably be re-purposed as dusters around the house. Making your own and cutting up old towels could cut that cost dramatically too if your watching the pennies.
In comparison to that £30 I spent before my daughter was born the average parent using disposable wipes will spend around £150 A YEAR!!! I’ve been using wipes since my daughter was born 4 and a half years ago and my now my son who probably won’t potty train for another 18 months or so, so that’s a potential at least 6 years of wipes saved!! That would be an average £900 on wipes that don’t work as well and will end up in landfill forever more. Feeling more pleased with my cloth wipes by the minute. (Average spend taken from what a range of parents I asked spend on a monthly basis.)
How to Start with Reusable Baby Wipes.
1.Which Cloth Baby Wipes to Buy?
Close parent, Cheeky Wipes, Babi Pur, and The Nappy Lady all sell a range of wipes. Even Poundland sell baby flannels that work perfectly. Or you could make some out of whatever cloth you have lying around. Just cut to size and lock the edges with a sewing machine. Old towels work the best as the toweling material helps with gripping dirt. We have always used Cheeky Wipes which have worked well for us. They are a nice size for wiping everything from bottoms to hands and face without being too big in the wet bag when out and about. However when my second baby was born I ordered some Muslinz wipes which are larger and the perfect size for moping up poopy bottoms. I really rate these and their longevity too.
2.How to store clean cloth baby wipes.
You can choose to store your wipes wet in a container or wet bag or store them dry and wet as you go. It is personal preference as is wetting them with water or with a solution.
For me water is best and I store them dry. I have a pile in the bathroom and a pile in the kitchen. When I need one I simply grab one, run it under the tap and wipe away.
If you want to store them wet you can wet them then pop into a small wet bag for the day, or fill a container with cooled boiled water (or your wipe solution) and soak your wipes in this. Squeeze out excess water and your wipes are ready to use when you need them.
I recommend not leaving them wet for longer than a day or so or they end up smelling a little damp or musty.
Can I use just water on my reusable wipes?
Using water on reusable baby wipes is the simplest and easiest method. It is also gentle on babies skin. However, some parents do like to use baby soap or essentials oil for their wipes to make them smell nice. See the end of this post for recipes and how to’s on this.
3.how to store dirty reusable wipes?
Store your dirty wipes dry in a container or a wet bag. There is no need to soak as it does not help the washing process and can be smelly and messy to deal with the dirty water. If you are also using cloth nappies you can store and wash reusable wipes and nappies together.
If using a container I recommend adding in a mesh bag inside so when you come put your wipes into the washing machine you do not have to touch the dirty wipes, simply lifting the mesh bag out and straight into the washing machine.
Cheeky Wipes sell a dirty wipe box that comes with a fit for purpose mesh bag, however I do not recommend filling this box with water to soak dirty wipes as is advised by cheeky wipes. As mentioned above this is because the water can become smelly, and need changing. It also makes getting things into the washing machine a bit messy. It is not recommended that you soak cloth nappies before washing them, so I therefore feel the same applies for cloth wipes. A dry storage box is less likely to become smelly.
4. How to wash reusable baby wipes.
Put your cloth wipes into the machine on their own first and run a short cold wash. 30 degrees for 30 minutes is ideal. This will prevent staining and get rid of any urine and poop residue.
You can then add in other washing if you wish or wash on their own. Use powdered detergent as this is proven to clean more efficiently and wash out of materials better. Therefore leaving none behind for when you next wipe babies bum.
5.How to use cloth baby wipes out and about.
Use cloth wipes out and about by wetting the amount of wipes you’ll think you’ll need and pop in a waterproof wet bag. Alternatively carry dry wipes out and wet using a changing room tap, your water bottle, or a small spray bottle you carry with you.
When my children smaller babies I liked to have wipes wet so they were ready to go. This made them much more like traditional disposable wipes. I could grab one whenever they got messy or I needed to change when not in a toilet or changing room. If I did not use all the wipes when out I would use them around the house too.
Now they are older and I use less wipes I just carry dry wipes in my bag at all times. I always have a water bottle on me when we go out so I simply splash a little water from that onto a wipe and wipe away.
FAQ’s with reusable baby wipes.
Can I use cloth wipes to clean poo?
Reusable wipes work especially well when cleaning pooey bottoms. You do not need to rinse them before storing until wash day. However any large chunks of poo needs to be shaken off into the toilet.
Top tip. With older babies I use toilet roll first to get the majority of poo off. Then use a reusable cloth wipe to clean. This means you do not have to shake anything off into the toilet or risk it ending up in your washing machine. Poop belongs in the toilet after all. This is not necessary for pre-weaning milky poo as milky poop is water soluable and can go straight in the washing machine.
Can I use cloth wipes on a newborn?
In the early newborn days midwives will recommend you use cotton wool and water rather than disposable wipes because newborn skin is so sensitive. However you can use cloth wipes from day one with water on a new baby. (Which believe me works far better with meconium poo than cotton wool. Seriously I don’t recommend that.)
What is the best material for reusable cloth wipes?
If your making your own cloth wipes choose a material that is textured which will be more grippy such a terry cloth, toweling material or cotton. This make cleaning up easier. Avoid micro fiber wipes for bottoms as it can irritate baby, but it is fine for hands and face.
Does it matter if my wipes no long feel soft.
Over time and lots of washing your dry wipes may feel crisp and hard, especially if you live in a hard water area. However once wet they will feel very soft again and therefore soft on babies bottom.
Tumble drying will make them feel soft if you prefer this but its unnecessary as when wet they will feel the same as wipes that dried naturally.
How many reusable wipes do I need?
30 cloth wipes will see you through 5-6 nappy changes a day, washing every 3 days and mean you never run out. For a newborn you may need 40-50 or wash more frequently as you are changing more often and factoring in newborns pooping more.
Should I store my reusable baby wipes in a solution?
It’s up to you weather you soak your wipes in a homemade or brought solution. Some parents like too to have nice smelling wipes but it isn’t necessary and creates more work. Simply wetting with water is enough to get baby clean.
I personally don’t like too as I do not like to wet more than a days worth of wipes at a time. You could soak enough wipes for 1-2 days or make a wipe solution up to keep in a small spray bottle, spraying your dry wipes when you need it. Again I do not like to do this because you will still need to change the water regularly and I find it a little faffy for me. Water is simple and has always worked perfectly well.
If you do wish to use a wipe solution see the bottom of this article for my favorite recipes.
Do I need to dry cloth wipes after washing them?
You do not need to hang your cloth wipes up to dry after every wash. They will be fine going straight into a wipe container. However it is good to let them dry every few washes to avoid them becoming musty or getting mildew.
Personally I hang up my wipes to dry with the rest of the washing after every wash. You can also tumble dry if you wish to. Unless I’m in a hurry or running low.
Drying them at least every few washes will also make them last longer as being wet all the time can lead to the fibers breaking down quicker.
How long do cloth wipes last?
As mentioned before I do not recommend wetting wipes and leaving them for longer than 1-2 days or risk them smelling musty/mildew. Either soak enough wipes in water or a wipe solution for the 1/2 days or wet as and when you need them.
Do I need a separate set of cloth wipes for hands and face?
This again is personal preference. Some parents like to have a set purely for faces (buying a different colour to keep separate) but it is not necessary. As long as your washing well, your washing machine should be trusted to get your wipes super clean.
Read: “How to wash cloth nappies. 6 steps to success.”
How to avoid reusable baby wipes getting mildew.
Do not leave wipes wet for more than a few days and let them dry after washing at least every few washes. Storing them dry and wetting them as you need them is the best way to avoid damp or mildew.
My 2 Favorite wipes solution recipes.
1.Chamomile Tea.
As simple as making a cup of chamomile tea and soaking your wipes in this in a container, let it cool and squeeze out the excess. This is particularly gentle on babies skin and very soothing on nappy rash. You may opt to use this only when they have nappy rash.
2. Coconut oil
Melt a teaspoon of coconut oil in boiling water. Add a small squeeze of baby wash or baby shampoo. This will help emulsify the oil with the water and help in aiding clean baby. Let it cool, soak wipes in the solution, squeeze of excess and your ready.
Read: “Can I use essential oil with my cloth wipes?”
I hope this article has made cloth wipes seem less daunting to you. They really are the best eco swap I have ever made. Like I said I could never go back and have not needed to buy a pack of disposable wipes in my 4 years of being a mother. There really is no need for disposables once you’ve got your head around the switch. Good luck
Hannah xx
Other articles you might enjoy.
Can I use Essential Oils with my Cloth Nappies and Wipes.
How to Wash Your Cloth Nappies. 6 Steps to Success.
The Best Washing Detergent for YOUR Cloth Nappies.
Essential Baby Items you don’t need. List for the Minimalist Mother.
How many cloth nappies will you need to go full time and ditch the disposables for good?