| Author | |
missionfamily
Forum All-Star
Joined: April 10 2007
Location: Louisiana
Online Status: Offline
Posts: 1859
|
| Posted: April 21 2008 at 9:30am | IP Logged
|
 |
|
For those of you on the cloth diapering route...do you use cloth wipes...and what do you do? I would like to switch to cloth wipes. We are using seventh generation disposable diapers because dh felt the investment in cloth was just too much.
I was thinking of just buying a large pack of white wash cloths from Sam's to use. Can you tell me what you put on yours and how you launder them? Thanks.
__________________
Colleen
dh Greg
mom to Quinn,Gabriel, Brendan,Evan, Kolbe, and sweet St. Bryce
Footprints on the Fridge
|
| Back to Top |
|
| |
Mackfam
Board Moderator
Non Nobis
Joined: April 24 2006
Location: Alabama
Online Status: Offline
Posts: 14656
|
| Posted: April 21 2008 at 10:01am | IP Logged
|
|
|
Colleen,
I'm so glad you asked this! I was just about to ask the same questioin.
Looking forward to the responses. 
__________________
Jen Mackintosh
Wife to Rob, mom to dd 19 , ds 16, ds 11, dd 8, and dd 3
Wildflowers and Marbles
|
| Back to Top |
|
| |
SusanJ
Forum All-Star
Joined: May 25 2007
Location: New Jersey
Online Status: Offline
Posts: 1347
|
| Posted: April 21 2008 at 10:03am | IP Logged
|
|
|
We use Kissaluvs wipes. We just throw them in the diaper bag and wash them with the regular diapers. Oh, but I see you aren't using cloth diapers. I would just get a smaller wet bag and a lot of wipes and do a small load every couple of days. We wash our diapers every other day with cold rinse, hot wash, cold rinse with a small amount of detergent and vinegar. But the wipes don't get as dirty so a simple hot wash with a small amount of detergent is probably sufficient. We actually use cloth wipes for the whole family. It's easy when you are already doing diapers but we haven't bought toilet paper in months and I don't think we're ever going back! We do keep the tp on hand for guests, by the way. We have 48 wipes which was more than enough for two kids in diapers and is about right for four of us using all the time.
I do think the slightly smaller size of these wipes is easier to use than the traditional wash cloth size fwiw. I use washcloth sized rags in the kitchen but they always seemed too cumbersome for using as wipes. They are also much, much softer than washcloths. Nice for the baby bottoms and nice for you if you take the plunge to family cloth wipe usage!
Susan
__________________
Mom to Joseph-8, Margaret-6, William-4, Gregory-2, and new little one due 11/1
Life Together
[URL=http://thejohnstonkids.blogspot.com]The Kids' Blog[/UR
|
| Back to Top |
|
| |
ctrivette
Forum Pro
Joined: Nov 08 2007
Online Status: Offline
Posts: 107
|
| Posted: April 21 2008 at 10:07am | IP Logged
|
|
|
I used small squares of flannel (cheap, pretty thin, not the prettiest colors, flannel :) ) that I zig-zaged the edges, about the same size as dipe wipes. THe washclothes would work too, but I line dried and the flannel came out softer off the line. ONce you get them wet it may not matter though. And I just kept them in an old dipe wipe container with some water and a drop of tea tree or lavender oil I tried to only put in as much as I needed for a day and dump the water every morning. I just dumped them in with the cloth diapers, washed, extra rinse, hang dry. I did have some disposable wipes for really messy changes though.
|
| Back to Top |
|
| |
Fe2h2o
Forum Pro
Joined: Sept 09 2005
Location: Australia
Online Status: Offline
Posts: 150
|
| Posted: April 21 2008 at 10:17am | IP Logged
|
|
|
I cut face washers (flannels?) in half to make rectangles, and overlocked them together with a rectangle of flannelette. I don't know that I'd bother again... I'd be likely to just use flannelette.
If it's a _really_ messy nappy, I'll wet the wipe under the tap so that it's _properly_ wet, otherwise I have a spray bottle beside the changetable. In it I have water with some oils and baby bath, you'll find the recipe here.
I've been really happy with them. I made 40 for lack of any real idea how many I would need, but given I wash kid's nappies/clothes every second day, I'd rarely use more than a dozen—although that may change, depending on how they dry over winter.
__________________
Mama to Puggle (ds 05/04), Bilby (dd 10/06) and Cygnet (ds 09/08)
The Genial Hearth
|
| Back to Top |
|
| |
SusanMc
Forum Pro
Joined: Jan 21 2008
Online Status: Offline
Posts: 192
|
| Posted: April 21 2008 at 10:17am | IP Logged
|
|
|
We use cloth wipes. Some are baby washcloths and some are flannel squares that I zigzagged on the sewing machine. I keep them in an unplugged wipe warmer and use a little squeeze bottle to wet them right before use. The sqeeze bottle is filled with water and few squirts of baby shampoo.
Since we use cloth diapers, I just toss them in the diaper pail when done.
BTW, cloth diapering can be fairly cheap if you go the prefold and cover route.
|
| Back to Top |
|
| |
Katie
Forum Pro
Joined: March 11 2005
Location: Suriname
Online Status: Offline
Posts: 271
|
| Posted: April 21 2008 at 12:18pm | IP Logged
|
|
|
I use the cheap washcloths. I have a big basket of them, and they get used for other messes too. I run one under the tap on the way to change the baby and toss it in the diaper pail afterwards. I don't fold them out of the dryer - just toss back into the basket. Saves a ton of time.
I used to fold them in half in a shoebox size plastic tub, then add water and baby soap so the cloths were already moistened. I can't do that here, though, as everything gets stinky quick when wet. Even a tub of real wet wipes will mold if you leave it in the car! 
I like the spray bottle idea! Never thought of that, and I have a spare one tucked away somewhere....Thanks!
__________________
Mother of 5 in South America. No 6 due in April.
|
| Back to Top |
|
| |
SuzanneG
Forum Moderator
Joined: June 17 2006
Location: Idaho
Online Status: Offline
Posts: 5465
|
| Posted: April 21 2008 at 1:36pm | IP Logged
|
|
|
I'm embarrassed to admit that I actually have a post about this  :
Homemade Diaper Wipes Make Me Happy
The wipe "recipe" is in the comment section.
Happy Cloth-Wiping! 
__________________
Suzanne in ID
Wife to Pete
Mom of 7 (Girls - 14, 12, 11, 9, 7 and Boys - 4, 1)
|
| Back to Top |
|
| |
Lisbet
Forum All-Star
Joined: Feb 07 2006
Location: Michigan
Online Status: Offline
Posts: 2706
|
| Posted: April 21 2008 at 2:39pm | IP Logged
|
|
|
I do the exact same thing as Katie. I have dozens of them, and they get used for everything.
__________________
Lisa, wife to Tony,
Mama to:
Nick, 17
Abby, 15
Gabe, 13
Isaac, 11
Mary, 10
Sam, 9
Henry, 7
Molly, 6
Mark, 5
Greta, 3
Cecilia born 10.29.10
Josephine born 6.11.12
|
| Back to Top |
|
| |
LucyP
Forum All-Star
Joined: Aug 05 2007
Online Status: Offline
Posts: 791
|
| Posted: April 21 2008 at 2:41pm | IP Logged
|
|
|
We use cloth nappies and cloth wipes. We have a big basket of terry washcloths, and just use warm water on the cloth. Sometimes I use olive oil drizzled on and wiped off as well.
The wash cloths go in the nappy bucket (we use a dry bucket) and are washed with the nappies - but the same washcloths are also used in the bath, for loo paper replacemnent purposes for the rest of us, for wiping hands and wiping the table after meals, for cleaning the bathroom, mopping up spilled milk etc and (if all the "special" dusters are used up) for wetting and dusting with. All that mix and match sounds gross, but we figure that they are washed thoroughly and smell fresh and clean, so why not?
I guess you could just use a nappy bucket or plastic container to keep your wipes in, before laundering them. If I have a wipe that has just been used for a wet bottom rather a dirty one, I often toss it in any wash cycle but usually reserve them for the hot nappy wash - although ones used for hand wiping etc at the table tend to go into the dishcloth bucket and get washed with kitchen linens. If I just had wipes, I would sling them in the towels or something like that.
|
| Back to Top |
|
| |
doris
Forum All-Star
Joined: April 24 2006
Location: United Kingdom
Online Status: Offline
Posts: 1103
|
| Posted: April 21 2008 at 3:14pm | IP Logged
|
|
|
I use cloth wipes even when I'm having a laundry crisis and the baby is in disposables. They're so much better than slimy chemically wipes!
I just use face flannels cut into quarters and hemmed, or pieces of fleece. The fleece is really soft and also dries very quickly.
Also, because I'm either very lazy or very mean or both, I just wet them in a pot of cold water I keep by the changing mat. I always used warm water with previous babies but this time round I've discovered that the baby isn't bothered whether the water's cold or warm -- so that makes life very easy.
I wash them at 60 degrees with the nappies. I do a pre-wash with an antibacterial nappy wash powder so I'm not worried about bugs.
Can't believe I've just written several paras just about cloth wipes...
__________________
Home educating in London, UK with dd (2000) ds (2002), dd (2004), ds (2008) and dd (2011).
Frabjous Days
|
| Back to Top |
|
| |
SuzanneG
Forum Moderator
Joined: June 17 2006
Location: Idaho
Online Status: Offline
Posts: 5465
|
| Posted: April 21 2008 at 3:18pm | IP Logged
|
|
|
doris wrote:
| Can't believe I've just written several paras just about cloth wipes... |
|
|
Precisely why we all love it here......
__________________
Suzanne in ID
Wife to Pete
Mom of 7 (Girls - 14, 12, 11, 9, 7 and Boys - 4, 1)
|
| Back to Top |
|
| |
JenniferS
Forum All-Star
Joined: Nov 09 2006
Online Status: Offline
Posts: 1049
|
| Posted: April 21 2008 at 3:20pm | IP Logged
|
|
|
I use flannel wipes. I just get them wet with warm water. I have also used the cheap washcloths. They work just fine, too.
Jen
|
| Back to Top |
|
| |
time4tea
Forum All-Star
Joined: June 02 2005
Online Status: Offline
Posts: 511
|
| Posted: April 21 2008 at 5:26pm | IP Logged
|
|
|
We definitely use cloth wipes along with the cloth dipes. It's just easier! I toss everything into the pail liner together and wash it in one load and it's done. I like the cute prints on SMJAE wipes (bought them at www.diaperware.com ), but for the cloth diapers, I really LOVE Blue Penguin ( www.bluepenguin.biz ). I don't use any kind of wipes solution because dd has such sensitive skin. Sometimes I will use a gentle baby wash with water, but mostly I just wet the wipes and use 'em that way!
__________________
Blessings to you!
~Tea
|
| Back to Top |
|
| |
helene
Forum Pro
Joined: Dec 10 2006
Online Status: Offline
Posts: 304
|
| Posted: April 21 2008 at 7:17pm | IP Logged
|
|
|
How about using those baby bath washcloths which are soft, absorbent and just the right size? They are cheap, too, and have a nice hem that won't come apart in the wash.
__________________
Happy Mom to five girls (20,17,13,11and 4) and five boys (19, 15, 10, 8 and 6)
|
| Back to Top |
|
| |
missionfamily
Forum All-Star
Joined: April 10 2007
Location: Louisiana
Online Status: Offline
Posts: 1859
|
| Posted: April 21 2008 at 10:25pm | IP Logged
|
|
|
Thanks Ladies. i knew I was asking the right bunch. I picked up 24 baby wash cloths today and have them folded in half in an old wipes tub. I wet soaked them in water with a few drops of tea tree oil (this little one is really prone to yeast and other rashes..one reason I wanted to get away from chemical wipes. I put a squirt bottle of baby-soapy water there too for a bottom that needs a little extra cleaning. I put an empty wipes container at the changing table to throw used ones in and I'll just wash them every other day when I wash the kitchen cleaning cloths...I use vinegar and detergent for those, then spritz them with water and eucalyptus oil when I hang them to dry so they smell nice. I have a lavendar oil mix for bed linens, so I think I'll spritz the wipes with them so that they have a sweet smell when they come off the line.
__________________
Colleen
dh Greg
mom to Quinn,Gabriel, Brendan,Evan, Kolbe, and sweet St. Bryce
Footprints on the Fridge
|
| Back to Top |
|
| |
Fe2h2o
Forum Pro
Joined: Sept 09 2005
Location: Australia
Online Status: Offline
Posts: 150
|
| Posted: April 22 2008 at 1:29am | IP Logged
|
|
|
Katie wrote:
| I like the spray bottle idea! Never thought of that, and I have a spare one tucked away somewhere....Thanks! |
|
|
It works most of the time, (when you're mostly after 'freshening')... but it's definitely more difficult for _those_ nappies... takes a bit long to spray enough to get the wipe _wet_.
SuzanneG wrote:
| I'm embarrassed to admit that I actually have a post about this : |
|
|
<grin> I have one too:-)
There was a flurry of posts about cloth wipes a couple of months ago, timing really nicely with my son toilet training during the day, so I put him in cloth again at night... and all of that combined to getting me started on cloth wipes:-)
__________________
Mama to Puggle (ds 05/04), Bilby (dd 10/06) and Cygnet (ds 09/08)
The Genial Hearth
|
| Back to Top |
|
| |
12stars
Forum Pro
Joined: April 25 2008
Location: California
Online Status: Offline
Posts: 372
|
| Posted: April 29 2008 at 5:16pm | IP Logged
|
|
|
I had spray bottle but I found that a squirt bottle also works good too.
|
| Back to Top |
|
| |
CrunchyMom
Forum Moderator
Joined: Sept 03 2007
Online Status: Offline
Posts: 6385
|
| Posted: April 29 2008 at 6:32pm | IP Logged
|
|
|
Fe2h2o wrote:
Katie wrote:
| I like the spray bottle idea! Never thought of that, and I have a spare one tucked away somewhere....Thanks! |
|
|
It works most of the time, (when you're mostly after 'freshening')... but it's definitely more difficult for _those_ nappies... takes a bit long to spray enough to get the wipe _wet_. |
|
|
When I used a spray bottle (it broke, and I just never replaced it), for those icky poos, I thought it worked really well spraying directly on the bum instead of the cloth. Probably mean of me, lol, but it worked quickly, yk, so, the torture didn't last long.
__________________
Lindsay
Five Boys(6/04) (6/06) (9/08)(3/11),(7/13), and 1 girl (5/16)
My Symphony
[URL=http://mysymphonygarden.blogspot.com/]Lost in the Cosmos[/UR
|
| Back to Top |
|
| |
ladybugs
Forum All-Star
Joined: Feb 07 2005
Location: California
Online Status: Offline
Posts: 3732
|
| Posted: April 29 2008 at 7:11pm | IP Logged
|
|
|
Here it is just to make it easier - (thanks, Suzanne, btw)...
Recipe for Suzanne's now-famous (I added that) wipe solution:
2-3 cups of warm water
2-3 squirts baby soap
2-4 drops of tea tree oil
2 drops lavender oil(just for the smell)
1/4 cup aloe vera gel
1/4 t. calendula oil
The only things that are really "essential" are the water and soap, maybe the tea tree oil. Everything else is just "nice". Unless there are rash-issues, then the calendula and aloe are helpful.
Dr. Bonner's Baby Castille soap, California Baby Shampoo and Body Wash are a couple soaps that I like.
I've used "aura cascia" or "now" brands for the oils. Whatever my local Vitamin/Supplement store had. Herbal shops. Online-places like vitaminshoppe.com, etc. Amazon has stuff like this too. Same w/Calendula.
Aloe gel can be found in the bulk section of grocery stores or drugstores.
__________________
Love and God Bless,
Maria P
My etsy store - all proceeds go to help my fencing daughters!
|
| Back to Top |
|
| |
4Real Forums : Mothering and Family Life
Topic: cloth wipes
