How to Make Reusable Cloth Wet Wipes
Week 33
This week, we took a look at the environmental impact of paper towels and found a few sustainable paper towel options to cut back on all that paper waste. During my research, I learned that wet wipes offer an entirely different set of problems, since they are made of plastic resins like polyester and polypropylene. This means that they will take hundreds of years to break down in a landfill.
To remedy the wet wipe problem, I decided to try and make my own reusable ones from a few old cotton t-shirts. I wasn't sure how they would hold up compared to their disposable counter parts, but I love them! I started keeping a jar of these bad boys in my kitchen and both bathrooms, as they are an excellent tool for quick wipe downs and after use, they can be laundered with towels. This project was ridiculously easy and took less than ten minutes to make.
What You'll Need:
- Old cotton t-shirts or leggings. This project is perfect for stained or ripped clothing that are no longer wearable.
- Scissors
- Glass jar with lid
- Cleaning solution - see recipe links below
Cleaning Solution Recipes
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Start by gathering up some old cotton t-shirts, leggings, or any other cotton articles with the jersey knit consistency.
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Turn everything inside out and cut away all of the seams, cuffs, and collars.
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Cut the fabric into large squares or rectangles. Mine were about 10" x 6".
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Fold and roll up your rectangles so they will fit in the jar you've chosen.
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Put all of the rolled up wipes into your jar.
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Mix up your desired cleaning solution recipe from above and pour over the rolled up wipes.
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Give the material time to soak up the clothing solution. When ready, grab a wipe, squeeze out the excess liquid, and use as your would a regular wet wipe. These wet wipes can be washed and reused multiple times.