Stomach viruses are the worst. I’ve written about staying hydrated and the items I keep in my sick kid prep list but I’m expanding on this topic, because odds are, if you come down with even a mild stomach bug or food poisoning you’ll be revisiting the restroom…over and over again.
When a bug hit several members of the family, I revised our old homemade baby wipes recipe into a personal hygiene wipes recipe out of necessity. While I first made them out of necessity, I’ve been making these natural flushable wipes for years!
I originally considered the homemade baby wipes one of my “Pinterest fails” because the wipes were too small and prone to tearing for infant blowouts. I put them in an old wipes container so they were difficult to use, unlike store-bought wipes. Homemade baby wipes also don’t travel well–especially in the Florida heat.
Isopropyl alcohol is a powerful chemical that kills bacteria and viruses, so you’ll want to be careful when handling it.Gather Supplies. … Measure Alcohol. … Dilute with Water. … Prep Rags. … Combine Rags and Solution. … Make a Batch for Travel. … Label the Container. … Use at Home or On the Go.
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Gather Supplies. …
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Measure Alcohol. …
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Dilute with Water. …
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Prep Rags. …
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Combine Rags and Solution. …
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Make a Batch for Travel. …
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Label the Container. …
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Use at Home or On the Go.
DIY Wet Wipes
However, I used homemade wipes when I was potty training. (Have you bought “potty training” wipes or the name brand toilet wipes? Highway robbery, I tell ya! Scandalous!!) The homemade version works well for toddlers, kids, and adults.
I also don’t mind using a bunch when needed because they’re inexpensive.
On the day that inspired this tutorial, I was trapped in the house with one miserable child. He moaned through vomiting episodes but cried every time he had to go to the restroom. The complaint? His butt hurt when I wiped it. It got to the point that I barely touched him with the toilet paper and he would bawl.
My husband was deployed at the time so there was no “running out to the store to grab wipes.” Not only would I have had to bring a violently–and contagiously– ill young child to the store, I had a toddler with me too. (This was well before grocery stores began to offer online ordering with same day pickup. I needed grocery delivery ten years before it became an option–that now earns cash back on Ibotta!)
So I did what anyone at the end of their rope would do. I made what I needed. (This tutorial became very popular during the early days of the pandemic.)
How to make your own wet wipes for personal hygiene
- In a measuring cup, add baby wash, fractionated coconut oil, and tea tree oil to the warm water.
- Gently stir.
- Cut the roll of paper towels in half. Place one half in the plastic container so that it is standing upright.
- Slowly pour half of the liquid mixture over the paper towels. Flip over the paper towel roll so the drier half is at the top and pour in remaining mixture.
- Once the roll is saturated, remove the cardboard center. gently pull up the center sheet for easy dispensing.
- Label container and place in the bathroom.
Voila! You have a wet wipes tub for the bathroom! I first made these when my kids were early readers. For some reason, they learned the word “butt” fairly early. The label I put on my container makes them laugh and reminds them to use what their mama made them.
You can also purchase a customized decal and have the designer make it say “butt wipes.”
They are perfect. These wet wipes are so inexpensive to make that I use them for everything! I clean up after my son when he “forgets” to lift the toilet seat. I clean toothpaste off the sink. There are tons of uses for them in the bathroom.
DIY Wipes Case!!
FAQ
How can I make my own wipes?
How do you make a homemade wipe dispenser?
How do you make camping Body wipes with paper towels?
How to quickly make camping body wipes with paper towels and 4 simple ingredients. Perfect for no rinse full body cleansing, head to toe! Cut your paper towel roll in half. Add the warm water to a sealable container.* Add body wash and essential oil/s to the mixture in the container. Stir the mixture together well.
How do you make paper towel wipes?
To make the wipes you cut the paper towel roll in half with a knife and set it down inside the container. Then take 2 cups of water plus 2 capfuls (Yes, capfuls. The cleaner is very concentrated so you only need a little bit and then you mix it with a lot of water.
How do you make a wet wipe?
Oh, and if you really don’t want to make your own, there are suggestions for the best shop-bought wet wipes. Choose a recycled paper, plastic-free kitchen roll. Thicker will give you stronger wipes, of course. Pop your half roll into a sealable box or tub. Mix your ingredients and pour onto and around the roll.
Are DIY Body wipes for camping a good idea?
DIY body wipes for camping are so simple and easy to make. We carry them along with us on every dispersed camping trip. Whether we’re on a shorter weekend trip or a longer trip, these homemade bathing wipes come in so handy, especially when a shower just isn’t feasible. Ok, so I can hear you groan, saying, “Ew, gross! No shower!”