Crunchy’s New Challenge
September 5, 2007
Here is Crunchy’s newest challenge! September 16-30 you choose to use cloth wipes for:
1. Only for #1
2. For both #1 and #2
3. Only at home
4. On the road
I have been using cloth wipes for many months now. I love it. It is so much gentler on sensitive areas and I don’t have to devote an entire closet to TP stock. It is liberating. The first month was awkward. I had to figure out what do with the clean ones, what to do with the used ones (soak or not-to-soak), and how often to wash (disinfect? bleach?).
They are stored next to the toilet (handy, hmm?). I keep a pail beside the toilet with soapy water for the dirty ones. If it is used for #2 then I rinse it first before putting it in the pail (and that water gets added to the bowl to be flushed). Every evening I throw them in the washer, turn on the spin cycle, then wash in warm/hot water with my home-made tea tree oil soap and washing soda. I hang them over a drying rack in the bathroom. Once a week I hang them on the clothes line for the sun to bleach and disinfect them.
I haven’t noticed any odor and believe me my nose works on overdrive so I would notice. I haven’t had any dreaded UTIs since starting with the cloth wipes. My biggest issue with the cloth wipes is that I haven’t told many people that I use them. Oops, I guess that isn’t an issue any more!
Our wipes are made of 100% cotton flannel. Cut 2 squares (4-5 inches square) and sew them together. That’s it. So easy. I have a stash of 21. That keeps them rotating pretty well. I have some stacked, some soaking, some drying, and some out in the sun.
Kim
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September 5, 2007 at 10:19 am
Kim:
Thanks for this very detailed info. I’ve been trying to figure out the details myself and this is very helpful. I made the switch to cloth pads about 5 or 6 months ago and I will never go back, so I think that I won’t want to go back to paper after this switch, too.
Many thanks again!
E
September 6, 2007 at 9:47 am
Nice informative post. My problem with #2 wipes is the “I wash them every night” part. I don’t want to do that much extra laundry, especially since we are looking at eventually doing all laundry without electricity (either grape-stomp or something rigged up with a bicycle).
My #1 wipes can sit in a dry bucket for up to a week without problems. Easy to get clean and no stinkies. The #2’s just seem really labor-intensive. *sigh*
September 6, 2007 at 12:51 pm
Hi Chile,
You wouldn’t have to wash them every evening. When you rinse them all the “stuff” comes off and the soaking solution would stay good for a week. I have gone 4 days before running a load and they still came out fresh and clean.
Kim
September 6, 2007 at 5:07 pm
I’d love to read more about your tea tree oil and washing soda recipe/results, if you want to share. Thanks!
September 7, 2007 at 6:58 am
Isle Dance,
I’ll post the recipe for you tomorrow. I have a very busy day today!
Kim
September 10, 2007 at 12:04 am
I’ve considered this in the past. I’m afraid I won’t be able to join you during the challenge, but I plan on trying this in the future. Thanks for telling how you do it.
September 18, 2007 at 10:21 pm
I clicked through from your recent comment on Homesteader Life, and what should I see but this.
Timely! We have been discussing how much TP to stock in case the ‘Schumer Hits The Fan’ and I have decided we really need to investigate other options. (Like, what did our great grandparents do when they were kids?)
Thanks for the details.
September 19, 2007 at 7:22 am
Cloth would be a great option. You could store a whole family’s worth in a gallon ziplock.
Kim
September 24, 2007 at 10:51 am
With help from hearing others suggestions from other sites I came up with this solution for wipes for #1. I have 2 handkercheifs, bandana or thin cotton would do. I fold up the hankie and wipe, then I wash it out in the sink with just water and hang it up over the shower bar. It is usually dry by the next time I need it. If it is still damp it works well too. If it is really wet I may chose to use my second hankie.
I developed this method because I got tired of hanging 30 pieces of cloth on the clothes line. I still use the smaller cut up towels for #2. They get washed with diapers.