How To Use Cloth Wipes

December 2, 2013 by splanchak 1 Comment

Does your baby have a persistent rash?  Suspect your disposable wipes.

Would you like to save about $100/year in addition to what you’re already saving by choosing to cloth diaper?

If someone was wiping YOUR bum what would you want them to use?

Enter super soft, economical, easy to use and chemical free cloth wipes!

Made from a variety of materials including cottons, velours, flannels, microfleece, minky and more, cloth wipes have many advantages and are easy to use.  I mean, heck, you’re doing diaper laundry anyway, why not be using cloth wipes too.  You wash them all together anyway.

How to use cloth wipes:

• Have your wipes handy, either close to your diaper changing area or bathroom sink.
• If baby has peed, use a wipe to dry them off.  If baby has pooped, use the diaper to take off as much poo as you can as you take it off, then use a damp wipe or two to clean baby’s bum.
• Place the used wipe (s) in your wet bag along with your used diapers and wash everything together on wash day.

How do you wet your cloth wipes?

There are a number of ways to wet your wipes before use (note: you can use them dry, that’s perfectly fine, but to get baby nice and clean most moms prefer them damp like disposable wipes).

• You can simply keep your wipes in the bathroom nearest the change table and wet them with warm tap water on your way to change baby.
• You can do what I do and use a pre-mixed spray such as Applecheeks Gentle Bum Cleansing Spray to either spray directly on baby or to wet your wipe before using.  Bonus it contains no chemicals and has a lovely smell of Tea Tree Oil (anti-bacterial) and Lavender.  This option is amazingly convenient, works really well and it’s super easy to keep this small spray bottle in your diaper bag for fuss-free diaper changes when you’re out on the town.
• You can use a small container (some moms use an empty disposable wipes container) to put your wipes in and pre-wet them in the container so they’re always ready and waiting.  To do this, pour the wipe solution of your choice over the dry wipes and you’re good to go.  You can make your own home-made wipe solution, use plain water, or make a wipe solution from wipe cubes like this. (Note: if you use this option you’ll want to clean out the container and put in fresh solution about once a week).
• Or, you can take any of the wipe solutions mentioned above (plain water, home-made solution, wipe solution made from cubes) put it in your own spray bottle and use it to spray baby or your dry wipes at diaper change time.  (Note: if you use this option with home-made solution or solution made with wipe cubes, you’ll want to clean out the spray bottle and fill it with fresh solution about once a week).

Traveling with Cloth Wipes

Is this possible?  Of course!  Same rules apply as above, but on a smaller scale so they fit in your diaper bag:

• Pack dry wipes and pre-wet them just before use at the sink or with a small spray bottle.
• Or, put pre-moistened cloth wipes in an empty disposable wipes travel size container, or small wet bag.
• Store your used wipes along with the used diaper(s) in a wet bag to wash when you get home.

How Many Cloth Wipes Do You Need?

Most Moms find roughly 2 dozen to be a good number if you’re wash routine is every second day.

Other Uses For Cloth Wipes

Oh yes you can do lots of things with wipes either than clean a bum.  Cloth wipes are also great for spit up, wash clothes in the bath, face wiping, makeup removal, post-partum mama care (especially when softness is appreciated on stitches or tears) and they make lovely absorbent doublers for use in newborn diapers among other things.

So what are you waiting for.  Cloth wipes are inexpensive and easy.  Browse the different kinds we have available here and join the fun!

P.S.
As a quick side note, if you have a baby with a persistent rash that isn’t explained by a more obvious cause such as ammonia, detergent buildup, material sensitivity, yeast infection, need for a stay-dry diaper inner etc.  it may very well be that they are having a reaction to the chemicals and preservatives in disposable wipes.  We see lots of babies that have reactions even when using brands that are of the ‘hypoallergenic’ or ‘gentle perfume-free’ variety.

And definitely don’t use disposable wipes if baby has a bad rash or open blistered rash.  See your doctor and in the mean time use cloth wipes with plain water as the ingredients in disposable wipes will sting quite a lot on open skin.