Make Your Own Sanitizing Wipes

by Mary Ann Romans | More from this Blogger

14 Aug 2007 04:17 AM

Commercial sanitizing wipes are so easy to use. You know the kind? They come in big cylinder containers and are made by Clorox, Lysol or other companies. They are disposable, so you can use them and immediately toss them away. I used to use them all of the time, to wipe the counters after preparing chicken, or anytime I wanted something with a little more germ killing power over soap and water.

They work wonderfully in the bathroom. I would use them pretty much daily for sanitizing touch ups to keep everything clean. There is just something about knowing that the bathroom areas are fresh and germ free that gives me peace of mind in our home.

One of the draw backs of those sanitizing wipes is that they can get very expensive. You can expect to pay between 13 and 15 cents a wipe. And, if you use them frequently, the expense really adds up. I would always buy them with coupons or in bulk, but I found a way to use sanitizing wipes that is really frugal. Just make your own!

Get a roll of paper towels. I prefer the ones that you can tear into thirds, but use whatever works for you. Separate the paper towels and place them, stacked in layers, in a container with a tight-fitting lid. I use an old baby wipe container. Then pour about three cups of lysol all-purpose disinfecting liquid cleaner. The original stuff that is a reddish-brown color is the least expensive, but you can also find some nice new scents now, such as "Spring Breeze."

When you need to use a wipe, just pull one from the container. It is just as convenient, and you'll pay about 2 cents a wipe, and average of seven times less!

Mary Ann Romans also writes for the Computing Blog here at Families.com where she shares everything from the latest news on technology to cool downloads and fun websites.

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Learn more about Mary Ann Romans

Mary Ann Romans is a freelance writer, wife and mother of three children. She lives in Pennsylvania with her husband, the kids and a 16-pound cat.

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jwillay (50) 14 Aug 2007 07:49 PM

This is a great idea... I love it. My only suggestion would be to mark on the babywipe container - that it is not for use on bodies. I am going to do this! Thanks!

Mary Ann Romans (26876) 15 Aug 2007 04:44 AM

Yes, good idea jwillay--you should be aware of which wipes are for the baby and which are for cleaning! Thanks so much for pointing that out.

MBGrams (5) 17 May 2008 08:10 AM

I am a retired mom and grandmom and have been making my own cleaning products for years. Instead of using paper towels, I cut old rags into about 4 inch squares and give them a light spray with my cleaner and then in the laundry. I keep a bag in all the bathrooms and kitchen. Saves a lot. I really like all your ideas. Never to old to learn. Thanks

deedee1231 (4030) 17 May 2008 10:34 AM

Would you go ahead and use the higher quality paper towels for this? Like Bounty? I used to make my own baby wipes and I always used the Bounty paper towels because they worked better for that, but I always buy the off-brand paper towels for daily use.

If anyone is interested in my baby wipes recipe, I haven't made it in a long time, but I think this is how I did it: prepare your paper towels and stack them in an empty baby wipes container (as described in blog), then you pour 3 tablespoons of Baby Magik baby body wash (or any other kind of baby body wash) into a large measuring cup and add water to make a total of 3 cups of liquid. Then you add the mixture to your paper towels and replace the lid. I don't know how much it saves you per wipe, but it definately does cost less to make your own.

Mary Ann Romans (26876) 18 May 2008 04:34 AM

I found that the Viva paper towels were the best for baby wipes. They are very soft, they don't leave any lint and they usually come with extra perforations, making the tear off size perfect for a wipe!