Video: How to Make Homemade Baby Wipes
If you are expecting and/or you have a little one, this is one video and blog post that you’ll want to check out. In this video, I will show you how easy and budget-friendly it is to make your very own baby wipes – using just 6 ingredients!
And keep in mind that baby wipes are not just for all of you with babies and toddlers. Even though my youngest is seven, I still keep a container of wipes with me in the car in case someone (or something!) needs a quick clean-up. Baby wipes also make great make-up removers.
Homemade Baby Wipes
Supplies:
- Roll of paper towels
- 1 and 1/2 cups water
- 1 tablespoon olive oil (I used 1/2 tablespoon)
- 1 tablespoon witch hazel
- 1 tablespoon Aloe Vera
- 2 tablespoons soap (such as Pure-Castile brand)
Note: The Peppermint Pure Castile soap is not recommended if you are making these wipes strictly for the purpose of cleaning a baby’s bum as it may cause irritation.
Directions:
- Cut the roll of paper towels in half. A sharp bread knife works best.
- Boil the water and let it cool down a little.
- Mix together the water, witch hazel, aloe, and soap in a bowl.
- Place the paper towel roll in the container (I used a red plastic Folgers coffee tub to store my wipes and decided to spray paint and add an adhesive label).
- Then pour the mixture on top.
- Close the lid and turn it upside down.
- Let them soak for a few days.
- Because the wipes are on the roll, they come off easily!
wont this rip? buying wipes is not that expensive
Yes, buying wipes is very expensive. Besides they are loaded with harmful chemicals.
Me and my husband use wipes instead of toilet paper (out of necessity) and we go through a lot of wipes. I buy unscented ones and pour witch hazel on top and I even keep a container soaked with all purpose cleaner to use for cleaning the toilet seat, sink etc. It is still cheaper than buying Clorox.
But I will definitely try Collin’s recipe because I would love to have more natural wipes. I just need to buy some good soap, since I only have bars of Dr Bronner’s at hand. And I will probably try to use coconut oil because I love the smell.
paper towel will clog any toilet.
that’s why u would put them in the garbage.
There not with coupons it’s cheaper then making them I can get a name brand tub for a dollar on sale i spend a dollar on just the paper towel alone.
True, however, one of the main points is that the name brand (and non-name brands) are just filled with chemicals.
Yes but after you cut the towels in half, makes 2 containers of baby wipes. Initial cost seems pricey but after that, Really really economical. Thanks Collin
Wipes are really expensive! I started making my own wipes for over a year. I use regular Johnson’s and Johnson’s head to toe body wash and baby oil. You can even use the scented kind. I have never had any issues with rashes. I make about 200 wipes for under $1…200 wipes cost at least $6!
What a great idea. Natural wipes get expensive so this is something we definitely want to try. Any ideas for them fitting into a wipe warmer?
I don’t drink coffee so I don’t have those tubs….. Any other tubs for substitution?
Do you have any local FB yard sale groups? I am sure someone would be glad to give them to you 🙂
Yes great idea- or Freecycle! You could probably get a bunch of them that way (not that you need a lot, but you know what I mean) 🙂
We did this for all three kiddos. Very sensitive bottoms in this house even to the sensitive wipes!! We have ripped them off and folded them into other wipe tubs. We have even folded them and put them in ziploc baggies. More labor but it works and then you have baggies of wipes ready to grab and go. HTH
Sometimes your local churches, firefighters or police use these types of coffee containers so you might check there to see if they will give you some.
We just used wet washcloths to wash/clean the kids bottoms and then I washed the washcloths every couple of days on the hot setting. Best part is, you can use them over and over and over without having to worry about buying more wipes if you run out. We used the store bought wipes for travel/emergencies. We also kept the wet wash cloths warm in the wipes warmer and it worked just fine. I just clean the wipes warmer every few days with a mild cleaning solution.
I think Domino’s sugar has similar containers.
You could just buy a tupperware container to keep them in, they come in all sizes and the dollar tree has a big selection.
you can make baby wipes right in the baby wipe container …my sis and I did that for my niece works great too you just have to take the paper towel off the roll ( use the half towels or cut them in half …then you just layer them back and forth like the wipes come out of the container …they work great and save a lot of money !
That. Is. So. Cool!
Love your glass jar with the k-cups in it! What an awesome idea!!
I make these all the time. They are fantastic!
They make a Rubbermaid container that a half of roll of paper towels fits in also. I received one as a baby gift with all the supplies needed to make the wipes:-)
What a great baby shower gift idea!!!
Have any of you tried the OmniWipe container? Check out the website:
http://www.omni-wipe.com
Great for older adults!!
Hey Colin,
Have my third baby on the way. 🙂 Would love to give this a try. Just wondering what brand paper towels do you think works best (thickness, softness, etc.)? Also, have you ever tried napkins?
I never made these wipes before but I’m thinking the viva towels would be perfect for this.
Thanks will give them a try. Still have time to make a few batches.
That’s what I was thinking! I love Viva paper towels and think I will try it with them.
We used Bounty select-a-size and they worked well.
I used Bounty as they seem to hold up well to moisture.
I have made these many times and preferred Viva because they felt more cloth-like. I also used my big bread knife because a serrated knife worked much better. Made a mess initially, but trust me.
Awesome! I use cloth wipes and cloth diapers on LO and every other week I make a similar solution for the wipes. We’ve been doing this for over a year!
Baby wash cloths work great for this too
Can Lena post a natural handsantizer formula that works?
I dont have a baby…or a use for baby wipes, but i just love watching your videos and they make me smile! i could probably watch you, …watch paint dry and be amused! 🙂 thanks for all the awesome tips!
Awww…. you’re sweet! Thanks for bringing a smile to my face! 🙂
IMO, I would not use this solution. There is nothing in the solution to stabilize it and insure that pathogens do not grow in it.
I agree Rachael.
Add a few drops of tea tree oil!
You really shouldn’t use TTO on babies. Also, it’s safeness for boys is controversial…and right next to their manhood probably isn’t a good idea.
i use TTO diluted as part of my cloth wipes solution, a few drops is safe if you’re diluting in a cup full of water/castile soap or whatever
I have researched this a lot, the safeness of a few drops in an entire bathtub of water is controversial… I highly suggest some research.
If you use young living oils then very safe!
It’s not the quality of the oil- it’s the tea tee (and lavender!) part. Research
I do the same thing. Castile soap, tto, and lavender with some water makes a great wipe solution! We cloth diaper too 🙂
Lavender shouldn’t be used on female infants or children since it may lead to precocious puberty fyi
I heard the same thing about not using lavender or tto esp on boys because of the estrogen in them. I even stopped serving the morning star items to my kids because of the estrogen in the soy protein isolate. Seems like everything can be dangerous these days.
Witch hazel can have a pH similar to vinegar and will keep pathogens from growing.
THIS IS A GREAT IDEA… WHERE DO YOU BUY LIQUID ALOE VERA AND I DONT KNOW WHAT IS… PURE CASTILE SOAP? I HAVE NO IDEA…GEEESH, IM GETTING OLD…ALL THESE ITEMS I HAVE NO IDEA OF….THANKS FOR HELPING AN OLD FART
I usually find Dr. Bronners Castile Soap in Ross, but Target sells it too. I think Trader Joes has the bet price for the big 32 oz: it is $9.99 there and it lasts a long time.
Try Whole Foods or a Trader Joes, I have a local health store that has everything,but I also order my Dr.Bronners from Soap.com when I order my dog food from Wag.com it’s a whole family of sites and you get 30% off at each new site you try for the first time here’s my referral code in case you want to try it: ALEV4541 It Applies to all sites. 👍😀
I probably wouldn’t use the peppermint Castile soap for baby wipes (as pictures in the still photos). It is tingly even when washing hands – I personally wouldn’t want to use it on a baby. Thankfully Dr. Bronner’s makes several different scents.
Yes I love the baby scent they have,that’s what I’m going try!
Any natural health food stores should sell these products. You may also want to check Amazon and Vitacost as they typically offer competitive prices.
We use cloth wash cloths and a spray bottle of water- works great
Great idea! For a balm, consider coconut oil. Make sure to spoon it out and apply with a washcloth.
I just scoop a little out with my finger and apply it that way, lol
This is exactly what we do cloth wipes with just water and a little coconut oil on their bum as needed. My older son would get THE WORST diaper rashes and only coconut oil cooled on contact without irritating it more and it kept future rashes a bay. We had originally used a premade wipe solution but warm water worked just fine.
Where in the store would you find the aloe vera?
Near the sunscreens.
I wouldn’t use that. It’s not pure aloe vera gel. It’s a mix of chemicals, including parabens. I couldn’t find pure aloe vera at drug stores. You can find it at Whole Foods or GNC or maybe local natural / homeopathic stores
Collin! You have such a high end kitchen! It beautiful! I have been meaning to try out homemade wipes! All you need are Cutco knives to complete the look. AND they will help you with cutting those paper towels in half 🙂 I can get you some great rates! Or I am sure there are local retailers. Check them out!
Thanks for the tip!! My sister swears by those knives! 🙂
add a few drops of tea tree oil so you don’t have a mold or pathogen issue. I too have been using a solution similar to this for cloth wipes. Lavender essential oil helps it smell pretty too 🙂
Does the witch hazel sting the little one bottoms? I know if my kids get the Dr Bronners in the eyes the lose their minds 😟
I was wondering the same thing. I thought witch hazel was very irritating and drying. Isn’t it in lots of acne medicines?
My daughter had “breast buds” at 2 yo and the first question the dr and endocrinologist asked is if we used Tea tree oil or lavender. So, I think that maybe they both contain phytoestrogens and can cause early puberty. I’d suggest researching it before using it on you baby..,just to be safe
It has nothing to do with lavender or tto.These two were used in europe by pretty much everybody to make their soap,and believe me,european guys don’t have any issues with their manhood,nor women with their breasts.It has to do with the food the mother eats while pregnant,formula and food fed to children.Did somebody looked baby formulas up?I wouldn’t feed that to my worst enemy.United States is known for having the worst food ever (thnx to Monsanto and people who don’t wanna wake up).
I think I will make my own “Lysol” wipes. Some vinegar and lemon, or maybe some old vodka laying around.
You can use a few drops of vinegar to make sure you don’t get anything growing in there! I also use baby wash cloths so they are re useable as well! I use a cup and half of water that’s been boiled, a tablespoon of baby shampoo, a tablespoon of coconut oil and a few drops of vinegar! Pour it over your cloth washcloths and you have super cheap, reusable baby wipes!!! Thanks for the video colon!!
Lol got to love auto correct!! *Collin!!
colon lol!!!
LOL! Love it! 😉
I would not use the peppermint Dr. Bronner’s. At least not while it’s cold. I’ve used it on my bits before (grabbed the wrong bottle in the shower) and it is ICY for a while because of the peppermint oil. I can’t imagine a baby would like this…
We are having a baby in June–(our first) and of course are looking for the best deals.. How much would you say this costs per batch and how many wipes does it make?? How long does it stay good for?? Sorry for all the questions!!
If you are looking to save money, I would look into cloth diapers. You can save tons of money by using cloth diapers and wipes.
I can’t wait to make these for my Multi-handicapped classroom. We go through these like crazy and this will put my mind at ease on what the children are being exposed to. Plus, I can use these on my own two children at a cheap price! Thank you so much!!!!
You’re welcome!! 🙂
Anything you can do to cut down on all the chemicals we expose our kids to is a good thing!
Baby Wash Cloths Are A Great Size For Wipes, And they’re Reusable! Just Fold Them In Half And Place In A Wipes Container, Then Pour Wipes Solution Over Them. they’re Super Soft And Can Handle A “Scrub” When Needed 🙂
VIVA is THE sturdiest paper towel on the market IMHO. Don’t ruin your knives though cutting through the paper towel roll. Use some sharp scissors that way you’ll keep your knives nice and sharp!
I have three young kids myself and I have tried this. I didn’t like them just because they don’t work as we’ll. I found myself using 3 homemade to one store bought. I tried it for a few months and then gave up. That Being said, I love using cloth diapers. I would be more concerned about the chemicals in a disposable diaper than a wipe.
If you really want to save money use cloth wipes with this formula. I use a similar recipe and I have not bought wipes except my initial purchase. If you have a breastfed baby the wipes are super easy to wash in your washer, I have no advice past that point because my daughter is only 3 months old but I know people who do it and I plan to until she is potty trained. And you can buy wet wipe bags from WAHM’s on etsy so you don’t have to waste plastic bags. I love the idea of re-purposing the coffee container.
My baby will be a teenager soon 🙁 My SNL and I were bound and determined to be stay at home moms and we looked for any and everything to cut corners. This was the one most asked thing that other moms wanted us to teach them. Trust me you go through them faster than they can grow something but do add something to help that issue just in case. I like the Lysol idea, maybe even an adult Always wipe idea?
I did always have a back up container. Last thing before I would go to bed at night would be to check if I would run out the next day. If I thought I would I would start a new container so I was never in the middle of a mess without enough wipes.
Thanks for the memories Collin 🙂
Walmart baby wipes are cheap than paper towels to make them. It’s just wiping poop and pee…why go crazy?!?
You can also use auto rags, There just as good as viva paper towels. =) You can find them in big boxes of 100’s for about $10 at any auto store or maybe wal-mart.
Totally off subject… Does anyone know where the best deal is to get photo to canvas? I’m looking to get about 3-4.
Living Social and Groupon always have fantastic deals =]
I used a different recipe when my kids were babies due to sensitive skin and diaper rash. They’re now 18, 17, and 15. I used 2 Tbsp baby bath, 1 Tbsp baby oil and 2 cups water. I never had any trouble with mold.
This is the recipe I have been using for over a year:). I love it…we have had no issues with rashes.
Ive been using the same recipe for many years! I switched to coconut oil when my baby oil ran out (i always have coconut oil for my babies bum) and it has worked out great! I also lower my water to 1 1/2 cups if im not using a mega roll! I use click clack containers from walmart but i may try the folgers container, I wonder if it will leak flipped over though? Love the video and you, Colin!
Great idea. Too much work for me though. For some reason, I am a person who cannot create/make things.
Love making my own wipes! Viva works the best! I use 2 cups of water 2 tablespoons baby wash and 2 teaspoons baby oil. So easy and more natural. We never have diaper rash. Burts bees wash is great
OMG! I can’t wait to try this since using the Cottonelle brand for the last couple of yrs I think they have changed their ingredients because both me & my hubby are having “issues” in the bottom area…itching (anybody else?)!!! I can’t use them any more so I will give this a try since I am in the habit of using wipes myself.
Heycan you use the aloe in the aloe vera plant?
I sewed some out of terry cloth and flannel fabric I got on sale. I also make wipe solution to go with them. They work for us bc we cloth diaper and can just throw them in the wash with the dipes. A little $ up front but much less than a few years of buying wipes.
I wonder if Viva would work? I am not a big fan of Bounty paper towels.
Shew! That’s a lot of work. I’ve been making baby wipes for over 15 years (we have 12). For a large roll, cut in half as shown, then mix 2 c. water with 2 T baby oil (I use Burt’s Bees stuff) and 2 T baby wash…pour half over top, flip over roll, pour on other half of mixture…. tada… no stove work!
That’s pretty much what I do too. No stove top for me. Never had an issue.
Thank you Collin! My husband and I are struggling financially right now and this would be a big help:) Hip 2 save readers: I have 2 girls ages 5 and 2 and a boy age 7. If anyone has some hand me down clothes you were planning to get rid of I would be so thankful. I wouldn’t have much to give in return but some P&G coupons and some miscellaneous coupons from Florida. My email is amberkerr333@yahoo.com
Where do you get cloth diapers for cheap?
Jillian’s drawers sometimes has gently used cloth for a discounted price. I’ve bought a couple of them before and they look brand new. Also, flip covers and Indian prefolds are an inexpensive way to go and work great!
And I have a boy so I guess lavender isn’t an issue. 😉
I make mine!
Sure wish I had this recipe back when I was teaching Childbirth/ mother-baby classes. Many babies had reaction to the store brands.
I wash the pee-wipes (in a mesh laundry bag, in the washer), and use them for cleaning. I’m sure they could be washed and reused as “wipes” with a solution. I think any of the wipes, except toddler wipes, hold up in the washer.
I do daycare and go through lysol wipes like nobody’s business… Thinking I will go get a jug of lysol and make some to keep in the bathroom. I might clean more! haha And I knew I was saving all these coffee containers for something! The hubs thinks I am nuts, he’s probably right but shhhhh
Not sure if this was mentioned anywhere, but when I made them I put the messy side of the roll face down in my container. After the paper towel has absorbed the solution pull out the soggy cardboard roll. This will pull up the wipes from the center. They will dispense similar to Lysol wipes 🙂 Whenever I needed to keep some in my diaper bag I just tossed them in a ziploc. Not pretty, but after baby #1 you aren’t as concerned with pretty lol. I’m sure I had the travel cases, but they break or get lost. I think the wipes stayed more moist in the ziploc vs. the wipes case.
Could I use Young Living Thieves Essential Oil to insure that pathogens do not grow in it? I know it’s a natural disinfectant and since I’m not using it on a baby, I’m thinking it should be ok. Any ideas on this??
There is a recipe to make the Thieves wipes using the household cleaner. It’s vinegar, water, and cleaner. If you use distilled water, it will help mold from growing.
What about the olive oil?
Made them yesterday and my son had bad diaper rash and its totally cleared up. Before you use the Johnson and Johnson baby wash, look at the ingredients. You’re much better off using the Castile soap.