Feb 12 2009
Make Your Own On Thursday
Thursday is going to be my official “make your own” day. That means that I will feature something useful that you can make yourself to help you save both time and money. Making your own products is also useful in home school, because it teaches not only health and home economics, but also science on occasion, and even survival skills. I have always thought that if, in my early marriage, I had known how to make and do just a fraction of what I can do now, we would have lived like kings. Be that as it may, I am glad to be able to teach my own children how to “make your own” so that they can be better equipped when they have their own households to manage.
Today’s MYO is going to be baby wipes. Those of you that have children, can testify to the fact that baby wipes are NOT a luxury. I use baby wipes for the baby, but also for quick clean ups of leather tennis shoes, a remedy for sticky hands when not at home, and even a great make up remover. There are many recipes for home made baby wipes on the internet, but after trying a few different kinds, I finally came up with my own simple version.
You Need:
old baby wipe container, or some type of square container that won’t allow water to leak
Viva brand paper towels
small amount of baby soap
small amount of olive oil or baby oil
purified or distilled water
Tear paper towels individually off of the roll. Cut towels in half (some recipes say to cut the roll in half, but that ends up leaving raggedy edges, at least when I have tried).
Stack towels neatly in the container of choice.
In a mixing bowl, mix approximately 1/2 cup water, 1 tablespoon oil, and 1 tablespoon baby soap (use more or less depending on how wet you would like your wipes).
Pour solution over the wipes, and let set for at least one hour. If wipes are not all wet, either turn the box upside down for awhile, or mix up more of the solution and pour until you feel that you have enough. (this is strictly according to your own tastes). You don’t want to make your wipes too soggy, or they will cause you to have to dry the baby’s bottom after using them. The point is for them to be slightly moist, not soaking wet.
The cost of the VIVA paper towels seemed like a lot to me at first, but I have so far made three boxes of baby wipes and still have a great deal of dry towel halves left from the first roll to make more. Therefore, for about the cost of one box of wipes, I am getting several.
In the past, I have tried other brands of paper towels, and have found that the cheaper paper towels do not work out for this project at all. It’s better to splurge on a good paper towel, than to have to throw away your wipes when it doesn’t work out.
Have a Great Day!
Laurel Santiago
