more cloth wipes questions

[luckygreen713]

So, I've been cd'ing for almost 2 years but I haven't had much success with cloth wipes. I tried using flannel wipes from GMD with olive oil soap and also with plain water. I wasn't really happy with it so I've been using disposable ones and washing them with my diapers. Then I reuse them to dust before I throw them out. Anyway, I'm sick of buying them. So I bought 24 cheap washclothes. I also have some old receiving blankets. I was thinking of sewing the flannel to one side of each washcloth. Should I back them with flannel? Or do they work just as well without the flannel?

Also, I'm trying to come up witha solution to use in a spray bottle. I was thinking of water with a litle Burt's Bees baby wash with a drop of tea tree oil and maybe some ilive oil. Does that sound okay? How long would that type of solution stay good in a bottle? Would it need to be refrigerated?

I'm planning on having 24 wipes for 1 toddler. I wash diapers every day. I'm sure that'll be plenty, right?

I'm willing to do whatever I can to make myself not hate cloth wipes. Thanks in advance for your suggestions!

[luv-my-boys]

I used plain old washclothes bought in the towel aisle at a big box store. The kind that comes like 10 to a pack and they worked thru all the boys and have now found another life as cleaning clothes. I found them sturdier and more durable than the ones marketed as *cloth wipes* they also washed up really well.

I used one of those small travel size spray bottles (4 oz. maybe) and used tap water with 1 drop of baby wash or Tea tree oil. I usually went thru the bottle in 1 day and would make it up daily as needed. I never worried about it getting *stale* or yucky as the smaller bottle allowed quicker turn around plus the TTO is a natural disenfectal/anti bac/anti fungal.

[Moonchild77]

happy with this info

[luckygreen713]

awesome, thanks mamas!!

[JessieBird]

I also use tea tree oil in water. I make it in a big spray bottle and, now that DS only poops once every 3 to 4 days, it lasts several weeks! It doesn't need to be refrigerated. You can add some olive oil or sweet almond oil but not too much or it will clog your spray bottle. Luckily my DS doesn't mind that the water isn't warm (I've even sprayed directly on his bum in emergencies) but I suppose that could be a problem for a pickier baby.

For wipes, I use Norwex baby cloths. They are expensive but do a very good job on messes. I find that other cloths (esp. flannel) just smear the poo around. Also, they have their own anti-bacterial properties so if I forget about them in the diaper bag or they sit in the laundry hamper too long, they don't get that mildew smell.