The Simplest Solution for Reusable Cloth Wipes

The simplest solution for reusable cloth wipes is to wet them as you go, rather than keeping a tub of soaked wipes. A pump or two of liniment, a natural, no-rinse nappy change cleansing lotion, on a dry cloth works for every change, wees and poos. It cleans and leaves a light barrier on the skin, with nothing to mix.

Why switch to cloth wipes?

A newborn can get through a lot of wipes every week, and most disposable wipes contain plastic fibres (here's what's really in a baby wipe). Cloth wipes go in the wash and come back out ready to use. Once you have a stack, they cost next to nothing.

The problem with DIY wipe solutions

Search "cloth wipe solution" and you'll find dozens of recipes: water, oil, baby wash, aloe, essential oils, sometimes vinegar. They're a bit like a cocktail menu. Fun to read, fiddly to make at 3am.

The bigger issue is storage. A tub of cloth wipes sitting in homemade solution is warm, wet and full of fabric, which is exactly where mould and bacteria like to grow. And we'd skip the essential oils on a baby's bottom.

Option 1: Water

Free, easy, always there. But water only rinses. It leaves nothing behind to protect the skin before the next wet nappy, and on a sticky poo it tends to smear more than it lifts.

Option 2: Liniment on a dry cloth

This is what we do at home. Keep your cloth wipes dry and stacked by the changing table. At every change, wee or poo, pump liniment onto a cloth and wipe. The olive oil loosens the mess so it lifts off, and the light barrier it leaves helps protect against nappy rash. No mixing, no soaking, no rinsing, nothing sitting wet between changes. An open bottle keeps for six months.

Cloth nappy bonus: thick zinc creams can build up in cloth nappies and stop them absorbing. Liniment leaves a much lighter layer, so your nappies stay happy.

A simple cloth wipe setup

• At the changing table: a stack of dry cloth wipes, a bottle of liniment with a pump, and a wet bag or bucket for used wipes.
• In the wash: pop used wipes in with your nappies and follow your usual wash routine. Dry them completely before they go back on the stack.
• Out and about: a 125mL bottle, a few dry cloths and a small wet bag.

Quick questions

Can I use liniment with cloth wipes?
Yes. Pump it onto a dry cloth wipe and use it like a normal wipe. Lots of cloth nappy families do exactly this.

How many cloth wipes do I need?
Most families find a couple of dozen enough to get between washes.

Can I wash cloth wipes with nappies?
Yes. Wash them together using your usual nappy routine.

Starting out? The Everyday Starter Bundle gives you a 250mL bottle for the changing table, or try it small with the First Try Bundle.