After organizing and cleaning out our linen closet, I ended up with a few towels that weren’t fit for donation.  But I hate to add to the growing mountain of waste in our landfills.  So I decided to use pieces of old cloth to make DIY reusable cleaning wipes. Wipes have grown in popularity because of their convenience — and they really are convenient! 

I cut up the towels into small six inch squares and stuffed into a recycled Clorox Wipes container.

I figured these can help with quick and tough clean up jobs while I am doing my spring cleaning and decluttering.  

• They come in handy when emptying cupboards.  I can grab a DIY cleaning wipe and quickly wipe down the shelves.
• The wipes are also great for refrigerator spills.
• I use them to spot clean baseboards.
• When the grill or table on the porch are dirty, I grab one of these old wipes.

Are you looking for “Sani-Hands” Inspired Alcohol Hand Wipes to prevent the spread of viruses? Click here for the tutorial.

I still use Clorox wipes or my alcohol wipes for quick disinfecting jobs, like wiping down the cell phone, remote controls, game controls, light switches etc.  But disposable wipes are costly.  These reusable cleaning wipes can be tossed in the washer or tossed in the garbage if I wipe up something really nasty.

I know that mixing a bucket of cleaning solution and using a rag doesn’t take that much time, I do feel that little conveniences can cut down on total cleaning time making the whole process more efficient. And I hate lugging around a full bucket or having to walk back and forth to the sink to wring out my rag.

Remember that my goal is homemaking smarter not harder, so that I have more time to spend doing crafts or spending time with my family.

There are two versions I am making for my reusable cleaning wipes.

I have an extra strength version to use as I deep clean using store bought cleaning solution.

Reusable Disinfecting and Cleaning Wipes

• Recycled Wipes Container
• Store Bought Cleaning Solution, I like Lysol or Meyers Clean Day Multi Surface Cleaner
• Contact Paper (optional)
• Instructions
• Heavy Duty Scissors

Stuff the rags in the old wipes container.

Mixed 2 cups of hot water with 1 cup of cleaning solution.

Pour over rags until you reach your desired amount of “wetness.”

Use as needed!

Want to make even more effective reusable wipes?

Instead of the rags, use microfiber cloths. Microfiber is engineered to pick up and “collect” germs and dirt. While I prefer to make my own 

Homemade Natural Cleaning Solution option – not for use on granite/marble/stone tile

This is the recipe I would use for greasy messes. 

• 1 Cup of Distilled White Vinegar (replace vinegar with rubbing alcohol for natural stone surfaces)
• 2-4 drops of tea tree oil
• 2-4 Drops Lemon Essential Oil
• 1.5 cups hot water
• a squirt (after mixing everything else) of Blue Dawn or lemishine dish soap

*Note: Liquid dish soap should go in last or you will have a bubble catastrophe.

Pour over the rags in the container.

DIY Cleaning Wipes that can be Used on Granite, Stone, Tile 

See above recipe but replace the vinegar with Rubbing Alcohol! 

No Sew DIY Reusable Cleaning Wipes

Print

How I cut down on waste and save money by making my own DIY reusable cleaning wipes.

Prep Time 1 minute

Active Time 5 minutes

Total Time 6 minutes

Difficulty Easy

Estimated Cost $2

Materials

• Cut up cloths, like old towels 
• Wipes canister
• 1 cup distilled white vinegar or Isopropyl Alcohol
• 1 squirt or 1/2 tsp Lemishine Dish Soap or Dawn Dish Soap
• 1.5 cups Hot Water
• 2-4 drops Lemon Essential Oil
• 2-4 drops Tea Tree Essential Oil

Tools

• Scissors
• Measuring Cup

Instructions

1. Place rags into canister
2. Mix liquid ingredients.
3. Pour solution over the rags.
4. Store for easy use when needed!

Notes

To disinfect a surface, make sure to thoroughly wet the area being cleaned. Allow to stay wet for 5-10 minutes.

Recommended Products

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• 
  Lemishine Dish Soap

To aid in efficient laundering of the used cleaning wipes, I bought a cheap small garbage can from the dollar store that I have on top of the dryer. It also separates the super dirty wipes from our other laundry.

Related: DIY All Purpose Kitchen Cleaning Spray

When done with the wipes I just toss them in the small garbage can. Once filled, I wash them all at once and make a new batch of wipes.

When I am done with my fall cleaning and decluttering project I will make these wipes with the above solutions but using half a roll of paper towels, in similar fashion that I use in my homemade flushable wipes recipe.  

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