Homemade Disposable Cleaning Wipes
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If you like the convenience of those pop-up cleaning wipes, here’s a way you can just make your own by soaking paper toweling in a cleaning solution and then storing them in handy container (I’m using a recycled coffee container for this project). When using a coffee container I cut the roll of paper toweling in half, but at the end I’ll include a photo of how I also did this project with a full size roll of paper toweling.
Making Homemade Cleaning Wipes from Paper Toweling
It’s important to use a good quality paper toweling for this project. I used the Viva brand of paper toweling. The cheaper toweling can fall apart too easily once they are moistened with the cleaning solution.
Cutting the toweling really wasn’t as hard as I thought either. You just need a good size knife, and with a little sawing and poking you’ll get the job done.
The next step was to find a container for my half-size roll of toweling. I used a recycled coffee container that was a 24 oz size and gave it a coat of spray paint that would bond to plastic. I used Rustoleum in the Summer Squash color.
Then I prepared the lid. By simply cutting an “X” in the top of the lid, you can create the correct type of opening to pull your wipes through.
Cleaning Solution for Homemade Disposable Wipes
Once the container is ready, the half-size roll of toweling can be placed inside. I’ve learned you don’t need to worry if the roll of toweling is a little taller than the container. Once the toweling is moistened, it will compact down a bit and you can indeed put the lid on without a problem.
To make the cleaning solution to moisten the toweling, you’ll mix together the following ingredients:
1 Cup Distilled Water
2 Tablespoons White Vinegar
A Small Squirt of Dish Soap
8 Drops of Tea Tree Essential Oil
I combined the mixture in a 2 cup measuring cup, and then slowly poured it over the paper toweling in the container to moisten it. Once all the liquid has been added, you can pull the roll of cardboard out from the middle of the toweling and toss it out. Find the first piece of toweling in the center of the roll and pull it through the opening you cut in the lid of the coffee container.
Your pop-up homemade disposable cleaning wipes are now ready to go!
Homemade Wipes with a Full Roll of Toweling
I’ve also made these wipes will a full roll of paper toweling placed in a gallon size plastic pitcher and moistened with a double size batch of the moistening solution. Even if the paper toweling is sticking out of the top of the container at first, it will compact once it is wet. When using a gallon pitcher however, you’ll have to take the lid off each time you want to reach in for a homemade wipe.
But whichever size you choose, this can be a frugal and natural way to make your own cleaning wipes by just using paper toweling.
DIY Disposable Cleaning Wipes
Equipment:
- Knife for cutting roll of paper towel
- Roll of good quality paper toweling
- Recycled plastic coffee container about a 24 oz size
- Utility knife for cutting top of lid
- Spray paint for painting coffee container
Materials:
Moistening solution:
- 1 cup distilled water
- 2 tablespoons white vinegar
- small squirt dish soap
- 8 drops tea tree essential oil
Instructions:
- Begin by cutting the roll of paper toweling in half with a large knife. Trim any small loose bits of paper toweling away with a scissors along the cut edges.
- You can paint the recycled coffee container if you wish. A spray paint labeled to work on plastic is a good choice. (If you paint the container, make sure you let it dry for the specified time before placing the wipes inside).
- Cut an opening in the center of the lid of the coffee container using a utility knife. Cut an “X” shape by cutting two lines about an 1-1/2″ long.
- Next, make the cleaning solution by mixing the distilled water, the vinegar, the small squirt of dish soap, and the tea tree oil.
- Place the half roll of paper toweling in the prepared container. It’s OK if it’s a little larger than the container as the toweling will compact down once it is moistened. Slowly pour the cleaning solution over the toweling to moisten it.
- Remove the cardboard roll from the inside of the moistened roll and throw it away. You can then find the beginning wipe at the beginning of the roll and pull it through the opening you cut in the lid. Your wipes are now ready to use!
Notes:
Do you have a recipe for germ-killing wipes to carry in automobiles?
I don’t currently have a published recipe, but if you wanted to do something like this you would need to saturate the paper towels with just straight rubbing alcohol, or a mixture that still has at least 60% alcohol in it in order to be effective at germ killing.
Use an electric knife and it makes quick work of cutting paper towel roll in half.
Do you know what the ratio would be if I wanted to add alcohol? Thanks.
I would try adding 2 tablespoons of rubbing alcohol so it would be at the same ratio as the vinegar in the mixture.
Do they dry out since the lid is slit open? I’m thinking these would be perfect for my boys in the garage
If the wipes sit for a very long time, they will eventually dry out, but if you are using them on a regular basis they should get used up before they dry out. You can also mix up a little more of the solution and pour it over the towels again if you run into that problem.
have you tried using old dishcloths or cut up towels instead of buying paper towels?
I haven’t tried it yet, but it’s on my to-do list!
Thank you for this great idea. I will definitely use this DIY. Now I need to figure out which size, lol.