Wednesday, September 16, 2009

Frugal Tip: Homemade Wipes

Cutting your paper towels: Use a straight edge knife. You don't want to use a serated knife and rip up the edges more than they will be already. But I couldn't get through the cardboard. I cut all around the cardboard then went back and used a bread knife to finish it. I wouldn't use anything but Bounty. I've heard the Costco brand is almost the same quality so I imagine that would be o.k. too. But unfortunately we don't have a Costco near us. Even the closest Sam's Club is almost an hour away!

The container: I used the "Lock & Lock" 11 cups container. It was the perfect size. And MJC can't open it and pull out all the wipes. My sister sent me a video where the lady used a regular container and cut the top so she could just pull out the wipes.
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Ingredients:

Homemade Diaper Wipes
2 Tablespoons Baby Oil
2 Tablespoons Baby Bath
2 cups hot water (use filtered or distilled water)

Homemade Face/Hand Wipes
2 Tablespoons Baby Bath
2 cups hot water

Homemade Bug Wipes
1 cup Avon Skin-So-Soft
1 cup hot water

Homemade Bathroom Wipes
1 cup pine cleaner
1 cup hot water

Homemade Window Wipes
1 ½ cup glass cleaner
½ cup water
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Instructions:

Cut a roll of Bounty paper towels in half. Gently remove the cardboard tube from the middle and place ½ of the roll end up in a container with a lid. Heat the water, then add the appropriate ingredients and mix well. Slowly pour the liquid over the paper towels in the container. Let sit overnight and then they are ready to use! You will pull out the first wipe from the center of the tube and tear off at the perforation.

Note from Sheri: I have made the Baby Wipes and used them for my children. I have never had problems with diaper rash. I remember with my oldest (before I knew about these homemade wipes) I used the store-bought wipes. My daughter was always getting diaper rashes. I’m not sure if it was the wipes or something else, but I haven’t had that problem with my other children using the homemade wipes. I also prefer the homemade wipes because they are moister and clean better. I also use these wipes sometimes to clean my children’s faces. [A note from Kerrie: I think this is true. A long time ago I read that you didn't need to wipe for just a pee pee diaper. So I only wiped for poo poo and KJC only ever pooped every other day and it was easy to clean up and she never had diaper rash. I've notice that with my other kids. MLC had diaper rashes, but needed to be wiped more often. But she still didn't get it as often as some kids do. JRC needs to be wiped less and gets diaper rashes less. My doctor will even tell me not to wipe them when they have diaper rashes, but to put their butts under running water. ]

I have also made the homemade bathroom wipes. They work great for doing a quick swipe of the toilet or sink when you are in a hurry or just need a quick touch up.

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Click here for that video on how to make them.

So far, I've only made the baby wipes. If you try the others leave a comment and let me know how you like them!

A while ago I did the math on the baby wipes. If you buy the Walmart brand wipes, I think you save about $20 to get the same amount of wipes! And that wasn't finding anything on sale! I have friends who now make their own baby wipes and they say they like them a lot better than the store bought ones.

2 comments:

April Hardy said...

Very interesting! My kids are notorious for diaper rashes, which makes me feel like a bad mom, like I don't change them enough. I think for Weston it's more of what he is eating, and Autumn- I don't know. But I was going to ask you about a homemade diaper rash ointment b/c this weekend I went through a whole tube of Desitin b/t the two kids. If you have any frugal tips!

Kerrie said...

Unfortunately, I don't know of any. I'll see if I can find something later tonight. Our pediatrician would tell me just to rinse their bottoms with water and let them air dry. Don't touch it. But that might take a little longer. I once read that diaper rash happens when pee and poo mix. I've noticed that with my kids. If I don't catch a poopy diaper right away or I can't change it right away, they become a little red. Try these wipes and see if it helps. But in the mean time, I'll be on the look out for a cheaper way to help with diaper rash. But I'll just have to send it to you and you'll have to try it. My kids don't get it very often, so I really can't test it on them.