Love SoftBums Blog: October 2014

Collection of Baby Wipes Solution Recipes for your DIY All-Natural wipes solution!

You can use these solutions on your Cloth Wipes, or just use with paper towels for making your own DIY disposable baby wipes that don't contain any of the nasty ingredients that are normally found in baby wipes like alcohol, or embalming fluid!!! Yikes!!!!

Common Cloth Wipe Solution Recipe Ingredients:

Most cloth wipe solution recipes contain similar main ingredients, which are used for the same reason in each recipe. These are the common ingredients and why they're included:

Oil: Helps the wipe glide across baby's skin and keeps skin soft. However beware of using too much oil as it can lead to repelling issues in your cloth diapers.
Soap: Cleanses by removing all traces of urine and feces(babies should have their little bottoms washed well with mild soap and lots of water at least once daily to keep rash away)
EO: (Essential Oil) Added for antibacterial and/or aromatherapy purposes. EO's make a nice scent, but are NOT necessary.
Water: The main ingredient in each recipe, cleanses the diaper area and dilutes the other ingredients. MOST parents using cloth wipes just use plain warm water and have great results so don't feel bad if you never get around to making your own solution!!

The type and amounts of oil, soap, EO and water that goes into a recipe is what gives each cloth wipe solution its own distinct "personality". Have fun trying different recipes until you find the ones that you like best! More information about essential oils can be found at Bath Heaven, Aroma Web, A World of Aromatherapy and other great sites on the Web.

How to Use Cloth Wipe Solutions

First of all, please use common sense and keep all wipe solution ingredients away from your child. You may not think that these everyday products can be dangerous, but some infants have suffered respiratory problems after aspirating baby oil. Also, baby oil causes repelling and leaks when used with cloth wipes and washing with cloth diapers. For those reasons we don't recommend using baby oil, only coconut oil, or other natural oils in any of these recipes.

When mixing solutions we've found that it works best to start with water, then oil and finally soap. By starting with water you'll avoid making tons of bubbles, and the oil will coat your measuring tools so the soap slips right off.

There are many different ways to store and apply cloth wipe solutions, try a few of the following ideas to find the one that works best for your family. You may discover that one system works great at home and another works great away from home. Most of the time it's easiest to gently mix the cloth wipe solution in a bottle with a cover, then pour it into the storage container. Here's some ideas to get you started:

Use a spray bottle to spritz baby's bottom or the cloth wipes. (For baby's comfort we prefer spraying the cloth wipes)
Use a bottle with a pull-up spout (like on bottled-water bottles) to dribble solution onto the cloth wipes.
Warm solution and place in an insulated container to provide warm wipes for baby.
Place the solution into a commercial baby wipes container and dip cloth wipes into the solution.
Place cloth wipes in a commercial baby wipes container and pour wipes solution over wipes.
A commercial baby wipes container can be placed in a wipes warmer to provide cozy warm wipes for baby.

Don't store solution or wet wipes for a long time because they can become musty and the wet wipes may even grow mildew - ewww! Check your solution and wet wipes daily, and mix smaller batches of solution frequently instead of large batches less often to avoid mustiness. We mix fresh solution once a week, store it in a bottled-water bottle, and have not had any problems with mustiness.

*Please note: Tea Tree Oil should be diluted because pure Tea Tree Oil may cause a reaction in some people. Wikipedia has more information about Tea Tree Oil.

Cloth Wipe Solution Recipes

Almond 'n' Chamomile

Steep the tea bags in the hot water then add the oil.
2 chamomile tea bags
2 teaspoons almond oil
2 cups hot water

Anti-Fungal

Omit vinegar if baby has a raw rash.
1/4 cup white vinegar
1 tablespoon calendula oil
A few drops lavender oil
A few drops tea tree oil
1/4 cup 100% aloe vera gel
1 cup water

Anti-Fungal w/less vinegar

Similar to the other anti-fungal recipe, but less vinegar and water.
1 teaspoon white vinegar
1 tablespoon calendula oil
A few drops lavender oil
A few drops tea tree oil
1/4 cup 100% aloe vera gel
1/2 cup water

Basic Wipe Solution

This basic recipe can be adapted by changing the type of soap or oil.
1 Tablespoon coconut oil
1/2 cup natural baby wash
2 cups water

Castile Solution

Dr. Bronner's Castile Soap comes in several yummy scents!
1 tablespoon almond, apricot, or other oil
1 tablespoon Dr Bronner's Liquid Castile Soap
2 drops tea tree oil
1 drop lavender oil
1 cup water

Chamomile 'n' Honey

Brew the tea, add the honey, and drink any leftovers!
1 chamomile tea bag
1 teaspoon honey
1 cup boiling water

Eight is Great

Similar ingredients as other recipes, but in different amounts.
1/8 cup vegetable oil
1/8 cup baby wash
8 drops lavender oil
4 drops tea tree oil
2 cups water

Essential Oil Solution

With three different EOs contributing their unique properties...
4 cups water warmed in microwave
2-4 drops Tea Tree Oil
2-4 drops Lavender Essential Oi1
1 Tablespoon Grapeseed Oil
1 Tablespoon Calendula Oil
2 Tablespoon Baby Wash
Thanks to Lucinda A. for this recipe.
"I tried the Essential Oils solution w/ tea tree, calendula , lavender,grapeseed ,ect. We love it! My daughter is highly highly sensitive to everything but this works wonders:) We use it for all kinds of stuff now, everyone loves the smell !! We use it every diaper change then coat w/ virgin 100% coconut oil - this combo has cleared up a super nasty rash over night!!! Thank you!!!" Raven R.

Fruit 'n' Veggie

Dr Bronner's soaps can often be found in organic markets.
1 teaspoon fruit or vegetable-based oil (apricot, olive, grapeseed, etc)
1 tablespoon vegetable-based soap (like Dr. Bronner's liquid castile)
1 teaspoon 100% aloe vera gel
1 cup water

Grape Seed Extract

Grapefruit seed extract and coconut oil are natural remedies for Candida, which can cause diaper rash.
2 cups water (headed if you are using coconut oil)
1-2 tablespoons baby wash
1 tablespoon olive or coconut oil
15 drops grapefruit seed extract

Just One

Just one "something" of each ingredient for this recipe.
1 chamomile tea bag
1 teaspoon oil
1 teaspoon baby bath or shampoo
1 drop lavendar oil
1 cup hot water

Lavender 'n' Tea Tree

Lavender and Tea Tree are popular EO choices for wipe solutions.
1/8 cup olive oil
1 tablespoon baby shampoo
4 drops tea tree oil
8 drops lavender oil
3 cups water
Variation: Use lavender baby wash for a heavenly Lavender wash.

Lanolin & Glycerine

Lanolin and glycerine moisturize without oil. Lansinoh can be found in many local stores.
1 tablespoon liquid glycerine
1/4 teaspoon liquid lanolin (100% pure)
1 tablespoon baby wash
1-3 drops EO
4 cups water

Olive 'n' Tea Tree

A great natural wipes solution.
1/8 cup olive oil
1/8 cup gentle baby bath
A few drops tea tree oil
4 cups water

Shampoo Style

Baby shampoo works as well as baby wash.
1 tablespoon coconut oil
2 teaspoons baby shampoo
2 1/2 cups water

Soapless

This recipe relies on the EO to cleanse, instead of using soap.
1-2 drops tea tree oil
1-2 drops lavender oil

1 tsp coconut oil
1 cup water
Use caution with this recipe as we've been told some children may develop a rash since the essential oils aren't dissolved in a carrier soap

Witch Hazel Solution

Witch hazel is the cleansing agent in this solution.
1 cup witch hazel
1/2 cup aloe vera juice
1 tablespoon olive oil
1 teaspoon white vinegar

Witch Hazel and Lavender

This solution has a lovely lavender scent.
2 cups distilled water
2 tbsp lavender baby wash

1 tbsp olive oil
1 tbsp witch hazel
8 drops lavender essential oil

Lavender Solution

Our other favorite, the lavender is calming for us and our son.
1 tablespoon jojoba or coconut oil
1 tablespoon lavender scented baby wash
2-3 drops lavender oil
3 cups water