Homemade Wipes: Baby, Glass and Cleaning

 

 Homemade Baby, Glass and Cleaning Wipes

I can't claim this idea, though many of my friends think I came up with it.  We Schuylers are penny-pinchers and some people make these to save money... but that isn't why I started.  See Josh is VERY particular about ingredients and has been for some time now.  Its funny how I use to be annoyed by it and now I see it everywhere; no MSG, no aspartame, no parabens, no high fructose corn syrup, no vaccines (no mercury), no microwaved popcorn, no BPA, no plastic, ever, in the microwave... actually don't use the microwave at all, no tuna in a can (again with the mercury), no a-million-other things and it isn't cheap to live this way.  All the "junk" is cheap!  Anyway when it came to baby wipes the 99 cent store even carries though, but the ingredients were not acceptable.  What to do?  Super expensive baby wipes?  Ridiculous. And so the adoption of making our own wipes came to be.  This way we know exactly what is in them.  It didn't stop there though.  Eventually Lycol hit the "no no" list for apparently including agent-orange in its ingredients (obviously named something else)... and so the same principle was applied to cleaning wipes and recently to glass wipes as well.

Here is what I do (you are sure to find a million other recipes if you google the idea or look it up on pinterest!)

Baby Wipes:

 

*3 capfuls of oil (I use baby or mineral)
*3 squirts of baby wash (this is where our "expensive" baby wash came in.  I usually use California Baby or Berts Bees but used Aveeno this time.  This is the most expensive thing but one bottle will last a long time)
*BOUNTY select-a-size paper towels.  Trust me on this I have tried Viva (they dont seperate well and act like a memory foam when wet) Brauny, and generic. Bounty is worth it- but feel free to experiment and let me know if you find another that works (Scott, Kirkland, Sparkle etc.)  The good thing about the select-a-size is that the wipes end up being more square and easier to manipulate.
*Container with a lid (got all mine at the 99 cent store and they dont have to be round I have square ones too)
*A sharp, non-serrated knife.  I also got this at the 99 cent store because they dull quickly when constantly cutting cotton.  I buy a big pack of paper towels and employ my dear husband to cut them in half for me so they are ready to go.

Step One: Cut Paper towel in half

 Step Two: Add 3 squirts (TB) of baby soap and 3 capfuls of oil to your containter

 Step Three: Add 2 cups of water and mix it around (I just use my fingers)

 Step Four:put your 1/2 paper towel in with the "ugly" side up first, for about 5 seconds

 Step Five:Then pull it out and turn it around and replace

Step Six: Cover and wait approx 5 minutes for entire roll to be moist

Step Seven: Label it- especially if you are like me and make more than one kind of wipe.   I suggest labeling the actual container, not the lid as those can easily get mixed up.

Step Eight: When ready to use remove the center of the paper towel... it comes out nice and easy and the paper towel roll starts to unravel from the center and continue much like tissue paper.  Perfect!

 

Cleaning Wipes:

*1 Cup cleaner (I use simple green, but anything will suffice)
*1 Cup water
*BOUNTY select-a-size paper towels.  Trust me on this I have tried Viva (they dont seperate well and act like a memory foam when wet) Brauny, and generic. Bounty is worth it- but feel free to experiment and let me know if you find another that works (Scott, Kirkland, Sparkle etc.)  The good thing about the select-a-size is that the wipes end up being more square and easier to manipulate.
*Container with a lid (got all mine at the 99 cent store and they dont have to be round I have square ones too)
*A sharp, non-serrated knife.  I also got this at the 99 cent store because they dull quickly when constantly cutting cotton.  I buy a big pack of paper towels and employ my dear husband to cut them in half for me so they are ready to go.

 

Glass Wipes:

*1/4 cup Vinegar
*1/2 Tsp Liquid dish soap
* 2 cups water

(or substitute all that for 2 cups Windex.. which I sometimes do as well)

*BOUNTY select-a-size paper towels.  Trust me on this I have tried Viva (they dont seperate well and act like a memory foam when wet) Brauny, and generic. Bounty is worth it- but feel free to experiment and let me know if you find another that works (Scott, Kirkland, Sparkle etc.)  The good thing about the select-a-size is that the wipes end up being more square and easier to manipulate.
*Container with a lid (got all mine at the 99 cent store and they dont have to be round I have square ones too)
*A sharp, non-serrated knife.  I also got this at the 99 cent store because they dull quickly when constantly cutting cotton.  I buy a big pack of paper towels and employ my dear husband to cut them in half for me so they are ready to go.

 

 

Towel Cake Gift

 How I made this Towel Cake- and why!

I can't believe its been 7 months since my little brother got married.  I am and was so excited for him and love his wife Rachel!  It was about a month before their wedding that I made this gift for them.  I have made many diaper cakes before for baby showers and have even made a few towel cakes for bridal showers in the past but this time I decided to photograph my way through it.  Usually a towel cake would consist of 3 layers: 2 Bath towels or Bath sheets for the bottom, 2 hand towels for the center and 2 face wash cloth towels for the top.  I decided that my brother and his wife needed a rug more than face towels so switched things up a bit.  

Here is what I used:

Glue Gun, coordinating color ribbon, clear cellophane bag, but I just used a clear trash bag, I also used some velcro tabs, a rubber band and scissors not pictured

 A toilet paper roll holder (as my functional and structural center), 2 bath towels, 1 rug and 2 hand towels

Here is what I did:

Starting with the bath towels I folded one lengthwise in half twice and the started rolling it into the center of the toilet paper roll with the double seam down and the clean 1 seam facing the top.

 The first towel folded neatly into the toilet paper holder after the factory tag (I figured when they took it apart it would be nice to see that and know they are new and all that).  I Then simply continued with the second bath towel (this time tag side in) as if the two towels were connected.  

When complete I wrapped a large piece of ribbon around the center and connected the ends with velcro.  I could have used hot glue or even tied a bow but I wanted a really clean look..  Bottom level DONE

 Onto Level 2 of the towel cake: The Rug.  I again folded it lengthwise but the keep with the height of the bath towel level only folded the rug into 3rds.

 

 Again I rolled it into the center with the clean seam facing upward and inward....

This layer didn't stay well on its own so i tucked in back into the toilet paper holder and plan to use the "valley" seam as the rear of the completed and displayed "cake".  I repeated the ribbon and velcro on this level as with the bottom level. Middle layer DONE

Now to the top layer.  Also had to do these in thirds to keep with the heights of the bath and rug layers... See how I just line the towels up end to end, no connecting them or anything, just keep rolling as if they are one looong towel.

 Top layer DONE... but total project?  Almost.

I then wrapped it with plastic and held it tight with a rubber band at the top, then flattened out the extra plastic ontop.

With the rest of the ribbon I made my own coordinating bow/flower.  3 long even strips and one shorter strip as shown.   

Fold the longer pieces into the center keeping the "pretty" side up.   (the one on the left shows a partially done "petal".  The one on the far right is the small piece glued in a circle for the center.

 Assemble is the 3 long pieces centers touching each other and the circle piece in the middle.  Your own homemade bow! 

 

 And now it is ready to present to the recipient!  I love making these for bridal showers so if I come to yours- act surprised!  (I check registrys first to make sure you need towels and to get the kinds you like!).  After 10 years of marriage, 2 kids and 1 on the way I am not likely to know many single people that are doing traditional weddings and bridal showers anymore (more likely to go to a baby shower) but hey... when I can I do.