Homemade wet wipes are easy to make with simple household ingredients, and you can customize them for baby care, personal hygiene, or general cleaning.

Key safety notes

  • Use distilled or previously boiled and cooled water to reduce bacteria growth in the wipes.
  • Do not flush homemade wipes, even if they look like store “flushable” wipes; dispose of them in the trash to avoid plumbing issues.
  • If using essential oils on baby skin, go very light or skip them altogether, and avoid them entirely for newborns or anyone with very sensitive skin.

Basic disposable homemade wet wipes

This style uses a paper towel roll in a container and is close to standard store wipes.

What you need (base recipe)

  • 1 thick paper towel roll (strong, non-lotioned)
  • 1 ½–2 cups warm distilled or previously boiled and cooled water
  • 1–2 tablespoons mild baby wash or unscented castile soap
  • 1 tablespoon gentle oil (baby oil, olive oil, coconut oil, or almond oil)
  • Optional (for adults, not newborns): a few drops tea tree, lavender, or orange essential oil
  • Airtight container with lid (old wipes tub, plastic canister, or glass jar)

Step-by-step

  1. Cut the paper towel roll in half crosswise with a sharp or serrated knife so you get two short rolls.
  2. Place one half-roll upright into your container (or accordion-fold towels into a rectangular tub).
  3. In a measuring jug, mix the warm water, soap, and oil; stir gently to avoid too much foam.
  4. Pour the solution slowly over the paper towels, starting from the top and moving around the edges.
  5. Close the lid and let it soak 5–10 minutes; flip the container once to help even absorption.
  6. Open and carefully pull out the cardboard tube from the center; the innermost towel should pull up as your first wipe.

Use and storage tips

  • Make small batches that you’ll use within about a week, especially for baby or face wipes.
  • If the roll feels too soggy, use slightly less water next time; if too dry, add a bit more of the solution or keep a small spray bottle of it nearby.
  • Keep the container tightly sealed between uses to prevent drying and contamination.

Gentle “natural” baby wipes variation

This version is often preferred for babies with sensitive skin and minimizes surfactants.

Gentle solution (for cloth or paper)

  • 1 ¾ cups warm distilled or boiled-and-cooled water
  • 1 tablespoon aloe vera gel
  • 1 tablespoon witch hazel (alcohol-free for baby skin)
  • 1 teaspoon unscented castile soap (or less)
  • 1 teaspoon olive or almond oil (omit if your cloths repel oil)
  • Optional: a few drops very mild essential oils like lavender or orange for older babies or adults

How to mix/use

  1. Add all ingredients to a mason jar or bottle and shake well.
  2. For disposable wipes: pour over half a paper towel roll in a container as above.
  3. For cloth wipes: either
    • Place clean cloth squares in a container and pour the solution over them, or
    • Keep the solution in a spray bottle and spray baby’s skin or the cloth just before wiping.

Extra care notes

  • Patch-test on a small area of skin first if your baby has a history of eczema or allergies.
  • If any irritation appears, stop using the solution, rinse the area with plain water, and switch back to very simple ingredients (e.g., just water and a bit of oil).

Reusable cloth wet wipes (eco-friendly)

Reusable wipes cut down on waste and long-term cost and are currently popular in many parenting and low-waste communities.

What you need

  • Soft cloth squares (old cotton T-shirts, flannel, or baby washcloths)
  • A container with a tight lid or a wipe warmer
  • One of the liquid solutions above (standard or gentle)

Method

  1. Cut fabric into roughly 8–10 cm or hand-sized squares.
  2. Either pre-soak: place cloths in the container and pour the solution over them until damp but not dripping.
  3. Or spray-on-demand: keep cloths dry and store the liquid in a spray bottle; spray baby’s skin or the cloth before use.
  4. After use, put the cloths in a dedicated wet bag or small bin and wash with hot water and baby-safe detergent.

Why people like this option

  • Reduces plastic waste compared with many commercial wipes that contain synthetic fibers.
  • Lets you fully control ingredients touching your or your baby’s skin.

Simple household cleaning wet wipes

For kitchen counters, handles, and general household surfaces, many people use stronger cleaning mixes on reusable cloths. Do not use these on skin.

Example cleaning-wipe solution (for surfaces only)

  • Water
  • A little white vinegar
  • Optional: a small amount of dish soap
  • Optional: rubbing alcohol (for streak-free glass/steel, away from kids/pets)
  • Optional: a few drops of citrus essential oil for scent

How to use

  1. Mix the ingredients in a container or jar.
  2. Add cloth squares and let them soak until damp.
  3. Wring out slightly before use on non-porous surfaces.
  4. Store tightly covered and launder or replace cloths regularly.

Quick HTML table of basic recipes

html

<table>
  <thead>
    <tr>
      <th>Type</th>
      <th>Key Ingredients</th>
      <th>Main Use</th>
    </tr>
  </thead>
  <tbody>
    <tr>
      <td>Basic disposable wet wipes</td>
      <td>Paper towels, water, baby wash/castile soap, light oil</td>
      <td>General baby care and personal hygiene</td>
    </tr>
    <tr>
      <td>Gentle “natural” baby wipes</td>
      <td>Water, aloe vera, witch hazel, very mild soap, light oil</td>
      <td>Sensitive baby skin and those avoiding strong fragrances</td>
    </tr>
    <tr>
      <td>Reusable cloth wet wipes</td>
      <td>Cloth squares plus either basic or gentle solution</td>
      <td>Eco-friendly baby care and body wipes</td>
    </tr>
    <tr>
      <td>Household cleaning wipes</td>
      <td>Water, vinegar, optional dish soap or alcohol</td>
      <td>Counters, handles, and other household surfaces (not skin)</td>
    </tr>
  </tbody>
</table>

Quick recap (TL;DR)

  • Use thick paper towels or cloths plus a mild soap-and-oil solution for your main “how to make homemade wet wipes” setup.
  • Choose distilled/boiled water and small batches to keep things fresher and safer.
  • Keep baby formulas extra gentle, skip harsh cleaners and heavy essential oils on skin, and never flush your homemade wipes.

Information gathered from public forums or data available on the internet and portrayed here.