June 10, 2013
DIY Mason Jar Wipes
I’ve been wanting to try making my own hand wipes for times when a sink and soap aren’t readily available. I tried a couple concoctions, searched for recipes and mixed up a couple ingredients and came up with a simple ‘recipe’ for hand wipes that is perfect for car trips, going to the park, the pool or beach.
What you’ll need:
- Bounty DuraTowel (it’s super thick and absorbent and works great for this recipe)
- 2 cups of water
- 1 tablespoon witch hazel (a natural astringent)
- 1 tablespoon citrus castile soap
- 1 tablespoon fractionated coconut oil (you could also use almond oil)
- optional: essential oils
I started by tearing off about a dozen paper towels, I cut them in half, and stacked them up in neat pile
I rolled them up and stuffed them in a 2 cup, wide mouth mason jar (perfect fit!)
Mix the ingredients up in a large measuring cup and pour over the paper towels in the mason jar. Put the lid on and shake and swirl the liquid around to make sure that it is absorbed into the paper towels. Pour off any excess liquid and store for up to a week. When you’re ready to use the wipes, pull a wipe up from the center. The recipe will leave hands soft and clean and are easy access – just pull a wipe up from the center. The other great thing about using the Bounty DuraTowel is that they are a strong two-ply and will separate so you’ll actually have twice as many wipes as you cut.
Some variations?
- BABY WIPES – 2 cups of water, 1 tablespoon baby soap, and 1 tablespoon baby lotion
- CLEANING WIPES – 2 cups of your favorite all-purpose cleaner
*Disclaimer: This post is sponsored by Bounty DuraTowel as part of a compensated partnership. All opinions are my own.
A couple versions of this recipe are in my new book, The Organically Clean Home!
Tanya Says
These are amazing!! I love this idea, thank you so much for helping us stay clean & stylish too Becky 🙂
xo, Tanya
Becky Says
Post authorThanks Tanya!
xo, Becky
Tina V Says
Awesome idea…I hope they last in a jar…I’m tired of making them (or buying them) and having them dry up!
Jennifer Says
What is fractionated coconut oil? Would regular coconut oil for cooking work?
Becky Says
Post authorFractionated is in the liquid form – I’m guessing that it would turn solid if you melted regular coconut oil and used that (unless it was stored in a hot car 🙂
Here’s where I got the oil:
http://www.mydoterra.com/abowlfulloflemons/
xo, Becky
Jennifer Says
Thanks!
Jess Says
This is a great idea that I plan on trying soon! 🙂
Jennifer Hurst Says
Where did you purchase the Citrus Castile Soap from?
Becky Says
Post authorAmazon 🙂
Sher Says
Holy cow! What a really awesome way to use Mason Jars. I’m definitely going to have to try it. 🙂
Lisa Says
Hi,
I think that is actually a quart mason jar? I just made these. I have 2 cup (pint jars) and a dozen towels would never fit. Also, I recommend the Ball plastic lids for this, as the liquid could cause your metal rings to rust. Thanks for all your great posts!
Lisa
Becky Says
Post authorYep, it’s a quart jar, but I poured 2 cups of liquid in – thanks!
xo, Becky
Jess Says
Hi Becky!
Ok…I tried this tonight and it was a fail on a couple of accounts.
After putting the solution in, letting it all absorb and dumping excess I went to pull a towel from the center. The towels weren’t having it. In trying to get one, which was nearly impossible, the towels rip off in to my hand in tiny pieces. OR I was having to pinch a few which pulled a big section out. I only took a dozen paper towels, as you directed at the beginning and followed the directions accordingly. Do you think maybe cutting back on the amount of paper towels in the jar? It seemed though that it wasn’t so much the amount of towels as it was they were so soaked that they didn’t want to come apart.
The other part is that once I did manage to get one towel, and wiped it on my hand, it covered my hand in suds and soap. It was definitely too much soap and had to be rinsed off. I absolutely know I only put 1 Tablespoon as you directed. Am I missing something or is maybe your quantity too much?
Help! I love this idea and would love to figure it out so as to make these for home (0:
Thanks!
What do you think
Becky Says
Post authorHi Jess!
I’ve only tried it with the DuraTowel, maybe the sturdiness of that specific paper towel helped withstand the moisture? I’m guessing that the brand of towels would make a difference. I’ve made the recipe many times and haven’t had the suds – did you use the castille soap? It could be a hard/soft water issue too (maybe my water is harder and less sudsy or vice versa).
This is what I’d do….cut back on the water to one cup if you feel like it was too much and just do a teaspoon of the soap and see if that helps. The castille soap isn’t too sudsy, so it can easily handle the 1 T., but experiment with a little less.
Hope this helps!
xo, Becky
Jessica Phay Says
Hi Becky!
I will give your suggestions a try for sure.
I did used the DuraTowel and castille soap.
Will let you know how it turns out for me!
Patricia Says
Hi I like this idea alot, but I was wondering do you think I could use Dawn instead of the Castille soap?
Becky Says
Post authorI’d try mild hand soap over Dawn so it wouldn’t be too sudsy.
xo, Becky
Trish Says
will give this a try. However, I try not to use paper towels but reusable products instead. I have made an all purpose cleaner. Instead of using paper towels, I use cotton or flannel rags and put in a mason jar.
D Says
I like this idea, but I was wondering about the total cost of everything.? I think I could get most of this at my local Sprouts
Scott Says
Finally! I’ve been a big fan of cleaning wipes for their convenience, but have been looking for an inexpensive and natural DIY alternative. Thanks, Becky!
Alina Says
Great recipe ,can’t wait to try it !
You said to store for up to a week – any reason why you think it wouldn’t last longer? Do they just start to get dry after that? Thanks! 🙂
Becky Says
Post authorThere aren’t stabilizers in it like standard cleaners – it might last longer, just a precaution 🙂
Marjorie Says
I have been making homemade baby wipes for two years now. I add 10 drops of gar extract and 2TBL of melted coconut oil (which is an anti-microbial) to the above recipe. Orange and lavender essential oils about 5-10 drops each. The gse extract is a natural preservative. My wipes last two weeks, I make a bulk batch each time and they work great. Hope this helps.
Marjorie Says
Gse extract not gar extract, dumb auto correct…
Heidi Says
I make these but I cut the roll of towel in half, crosswise, put in a container that it Judy gotta in and pour the liquids mix over top and let it soak. When all soaked in you pull the core tube our and wala! You have a great pull-from-the-center wipes container! And more than just 12. Hope this helps! I make mine cleaning solutions and have one in the kitchen and in every bathroom.
Heidi Says
I really need to proof read!! Yikes! …..container that it ‘just fits’ in…..
Michelle Aguiar Says
I make baby wipes for my grandkids as you suggested as a variation. However, I make them in the same fashion as Hiedi’s cleaning wipes. I do use the extra think Bounty towels. I cut the roll of paper towels in half with my electric knife and I do several rolls at a time so I have them already cut when I need to make more. To make the baby wipe cleaning solution I put 2 heaping tablespoons of coconut oil (not fractionated), two overflowing tablespoons of lavender scented castile soap, and about 15 drops of lavender essential oil into a 2 cup measuring cup. I then add 1 3/4 cups boiling water to the measuring cup and stir the mixture until the coconut oil has melted. Pour over the paper towels in the plastic container, wait overnight and in the a.m. I pull the cardboard core out which pulls the center paper towel out and I have my baby wipes. I keep a container for the grandkids diaper changes and I keep one in the bathroom also. I don’t recommend flushing the wipes, however. We don’t want any clogged sewer pipes.
Holly Says
I make handwipes for everything. We just find a container big enough to hold a roll of VIVA brand towels. Put it in container, pour whatever solution you are using, lid on, and shake!!! Let it soak for about 10 minutes and the brown paper core comes right out, and then you have your starter napkin, pull it up and go from there!!!!
Julie Says
I love the idea! But I will do it with fabrics, so I will not make waste. I will simply wash them and reuse them. 🙂 thank you for the mason jar idea and the recipe!!
Jasmin Says
How did the fabric version of the wipes work? And what are the measurements of the fabric? Interested to hear about it.
Jen Says
Do you have a recommendation for a recipe to replace the cottonelle flushable wipes?
Becky Says
Post authorI don’t – sorry!
Ali Says
Can I make DIY Wipes using rubbing alcohol? I do not have witch hazel on hand. Thanks!