Family Cloth

Family Cloth. Yes, you read right, family cloth! This is when you use cloth wipes instead of toilet paper. There are multiple reasons to use family cloth. It saves money, gets you a better clean, and doesn't leave behind little pieces. My sons cannot stand dingleberries and neither can my husband. Let's face it, women get them too!

My family keeps toilet paper on hand for guests, so don't be scared when you come visit!

In my personal rest room, I put a size small wetbag, cloth wipes, and a spray bottle with solution.Wipes can be used dry (for pee) and wet (for poop). Unlike baby wipes where you are getting ALL the poo from ALL over their rears, family cloth poo wipes don't really get much on them. In our household, each person is responsible for spraying off their own wipes if it gets, um, "chunks". Then the wipes are put in the small wetbag and I wash them when I wash cloth diapers.

In the restroom our sons use, we have a spray bottle of solution and a wipes container that I have accordion folded wipes into. Once the wipes are sprayed off, they just get put into the diaper pail that is next to the toilet.

I know some people are grossed out about the idea of reusable toilet paper. especially since it isn't just babies it is being used on. I encourage you to keep an open mind and give it a try. You might be surprised and like family cloth. It helps when each person that is old enough can spray off their own wipes. If you are not using cloth diapers, you can just give your wipes a really good rinse and wash with your towels. 

So, give it a try and please come back and comment on how it went (haha)!

Cloth Wipes

In recent news, Huggies disposable wipes are causing skin rashes!

If you or your child are suffering from a rash you just can't kick, it may be your disposable baby wipes. I have yet to find a disposable wipe that I can use. They all break my hands out. Once I started using cloth wipes, my rash on my hands pretty much went away.

I have used many, many wipe solutions in the past. Sometimes, I just use water. I prefer to use something with a little soap in it for this reason: our babies poop typically gets all over their genitals and butt cheeks. I know that we adults do not clean ourselves with a soap solution each time we use the restroom, but I assume that adults are not getting poop up by their penises and vaginas, or all over their butt cheeks.

My test is to smell my baby's heniey. If I smell poop, then poop is still there, even if I can't see it.

I accordion fold my wipes into a wipes container that you can buy at any store for less than $3. I typically get the Huggies containers because they are so cute and just toss the wipes that come with it.

Dirty Diaper Laundry has a great video demonstrating how to accordion fold.

As for wipes solutions, my favorite so far is:
1.75 C water
1 T soap (I like Cetaphil as it is intended to be used wet or dry, and wipes away clean)

I mix and then pour over my wipes that I have accordion folded into the container. I typically pour it over 30-45 wipes and that lasts 2-3 days, so the solution does not have time to mildew.

For wipes used on pee only, I toss into the wetbag with the diaper. For wipes used on poop, I spray clean with my diaper sprayer when I spray off the poopy diaper, then toss in the wetbag. I do like to have two wipes containers. One that is being used and one that is prepared with folded wipes and ready for solution. Then I never run out of wipes and have to scramble.

For wipes on the go, I fold about ten wipes into an on the go container. I bring a spray bottle with some premixed wipes solution in it. When changing a diaper, I spray either the wipe or baby's heiney, wipe, then toss in the wetbag. This way, I never forget about wet wipes in the diaper bag. I used to pre-wet my wipes for the diaper bag and after a couple times of them getting mildew or mold, I started bringing dry wipes and the spray bottle.

There are several wipes solutions out there, as well as bits and concentrations. A lot of people also like to add some essential oils for scent and to prevent mildew. I cannot do this as my sons's heiney is too sensitive. 

Next week, I will have a post about family cloth, so come back soon!