These wipes are for personal hygiene—not for cleaning surfaces. If you’re looking for disinfecting or household cleaning wipes, check out my homemade wipes recipes.
Stomach viruses are the worst. I’ve written about staying hydrated and the items I keep in my sick kid prep list but I’m expanding on this topic, because odds are, if you come down with even a mild stomach bug or food poisoning you’ll be revisiting the restroom…over and over again.
And it really starts to chafe.
If you’ve ever had a stomach virus run through your house, you know how quickly frequent bathroom trips can make regular toilet paper feel unbearable. That’s exactly why I started making these simple homemade wet wipes.
When stomach bugs lead to frequent trips to the bathroom, choosing the right foods that help stop diarrhea can help calm your digestive system while your body recovers.
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I stored them in an old wipes container, making them difficult to use, unlike store-bought wipes.
Homemade baby wipes also don’t travel well–especially in the Florida heat.
Related: DIY Toilet Paper Spray- the flushable wipes alternative!
How To Make Your Own Wet Wipes 
If you’ve never made wipes before, read my DIY Wipes Guide first!!!
However, I used homemade wipes when I was potty training. (Have you bought “potty training” wipes or the name brand toilet wipes? Highway robbery, I tell ya! Scandalous!!)
The homemade version works well for toddlers, bigger kids, and adults. I also don’t mind using a bunch when needed because they’re inexpensive.
On the day that inspired this tutorial, I was trapped in the house with one miserable child. He moaned through vomiting episodes but cried every time he had to go to the restroom.
The reason? His butt hurt when I wiped it. It got to the point that I barely touched him with the toilet paper and he would bawl.
My husband was deployed at the time so there was no “running out to the store to grab wipes.”
Not only would I have had to bring a violently–and contagious– ill young child to the store, I had a toddler with me too. So I did what anyone at the end of their rope would do. I made what I needed. (Update: This tutorial became very popular during the early days of 2020.)
How To Make Your Own Bathroom Wipes
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What You Need for Your Homemade Wet Wipes:
- 2 Cups of distilled water, lukewarm is best
- 1 TBL Baby Wash, or Dr. Bronners Baby Soap
- 1 TBL baby oil or 1 TBL Fractionated Coconut Oil
- 6-10 Drops of Tea Tree Oil (Melaleuca)
- 1 Airtight Glass or Plastic Container
How to Store Your Wipes
I used a cheap plastic container that stands upright. Since I don’t regularly buy wipes travel packs I keep in the car), this turned out to be a blessing. Now I’ve upgraded to more stylish airtight containers.
Furthermore, this one change from using baby wipe containers to a tall plastic container made dispensing a great deal easier. Plus, the wipes don’t dry out as quickly.
Easy Instructions for Making Your DIY Wipes
I use a super sharp knife to cut a roll of paper towels in half. (Based on news reports regarding the havoc wipes are causing in city sewage systems, you can use biodegradable paper towels. I prefer to use Bounty Select a Size Paper Towels or Kirklands Paper Towels
Many readers ask what what works best. After almost two decades of making these wipes, these are the ingredients I personally use today. Keep in mind this original recipe was published ten years ago.
- Kirkland Signature Premium Big Roll Paper Towels, 24 Rolls, 160 Sheets Each,...
- Johnson and Johnson’s no more tears baby wash. (I’ve just always loved how it smells and cleans babies lol.)
- Fractionated coconut oil
- Plant Therapy Tea Tree oil
- Plant Therapy Lemon Essential Oil
Keep in mind that commercially made wipes are more durable and take longer to break down than paper towels. That is why there is such an issue with the wipes in the country’s sewage systems. Never ever flush store bought baby wipes down the toilet! They are not made to flush.
After cutting the roll in half (which is the hardest part of this process.) I stood the roll up in the canister.
Then I mixed 2 Cups hot water 1 Tbl Baby Wash (I don’t like it to be too soapy) 1 Tbl Baby Oil (update* I now use Fractionated Coconut Oil instead of Baby Oil). I then slowly pour in the distilled water and add 6-10 drops of Tea Tree Oil (a small bottle lasts forever and keeps the wipes from mildewing.)
Stir the mixture and pour it in the wipes container. Tip: pour it in a little at a time to make sure that you don’t over saturate the paper towels. If you have any of the solution left over, put it in a small spray bottle. You can use it to re-wet the wipes if they dry out.
DIY Wet Wipes
This easy to follow tutorial is our family's recipe for homemade flushable wet wipes.
Materials
- 1 Paper Towel Roll
- 1 TBL Baby Wash
- 1 TBL Fractionated Coconut Oil
- 2 cups warm distilled water
- 6-10 drops Tea Tree Oil
- 1 Air Tight Container
Tools
- Sharp Knife
- Cutting Board
- Measuring Cup and Measuring spoons
Instructions
How to make your own wet wipes for personal hygiene
- In a measuring cup, add baby wash, fractionated coconut oil, and tea tree oil to the warm water.
- Gently stir.
- Cut the roll of paper towels in half. Place one half in the plastic container so that it is standing upright.
- Slowly pour half of the liquid mixture over the paper towels. Flip over the paper towel roll so the drier half is at the top and pour in remaining mixture.
- Once the roll is saturated, remove the cardboard center. gently pull up the center sheet for easy dispensing.
- Label container and place in the bathroom.
Once the center cardboard roll is saturated, it is easy to remove. Pull the wet paper towel in the middle up a little and you can easily grab wipes when you need them.
Voila! You have a wet wipes tub for the bathroom! I first made these when my kids were early readers. For some reason, they learned the word “butt” fairly early. The label I put on my container makes them laugh and reminds them to use what their mama made them.
You can also purchase a customized decal and have the designer make it say “butt wipes.”
They are perfect. These wet wipes are so inexpensive to make that I use them for everything! I clean up after my son when he “forgets” to lift the toilet seat. I clean toothpaste off the sink. There are tons of uses for them in the bathroom.
Other Wipes You Can Make At Home
Once you understand the base wet wipes solution, you can easily customize it for different uses. Over the years I’ve created several different wipe recipes depending on what our family needed. These tutorials will walk you through each version.
-
DIY Feminine Wipes: Gentle, soothing wipes for personal hygiene
-
Biodegradable Wipes for Camping: Earth-friendly wipes that won’t weigh down your gear
-
Sanitizing Hand Wipes: Keep germs at bay when you’re on the go
-
Homemade Itch Relief Wipes: With cooling ingredients for bug bites and skin irritation
-
DIY Reusable Cleaning Wipes: A washable, eco-friendly alternative to disposables
-
Wet Wipes for the Body: Stay fresh after workouts or while traveling
-
Super Tough Disinfecting Wipes: Durable and effective for heavy-duty messes
Are paper towels more expensive than wet wipes?
Short answer: no. We buy our paper towels in bulk from Costco. And our main reason for buying them is to make our own wipes. We use reusable/washable cleaning wipes and kitchen towels for most of our kitchen tasks so we save money by not being wasteful. Plus, you get way more DIY wipes for your money than you get for more commercial wipes. If you have a roll of paper towels that come with 80 sheets, you can make 160 wipes.
The math changes based on the brands of the materials you use. If you look closely at our wipes pictures, you’ll see that I rarely craft with the “expensive essential oils.” I save the high quality oils for use on our bodies, in the diffuser, etc. This recipe only calls for a few drops of tea tree to prevent mildewing and mold growth. If you make small batches of wipes and use them within a couple of days, you can technically omit the tea tree oil.
Want to save even more money on homemade personal hygiene?
Skip the paper towels. Yep, you read it correctly. Skip the paper towels and turn your toilet paper into wet wipes with this DIY Toilet Paper Spray.
This is also how I make dried out wipes wet again! I mix up toilet paper spray and spray my dried out wipes.
Similar Posts You Might Find Helpful:
My Toilet Paper Spray Recipe for septic systems that can’t handle wipes.
You can also see my full list of 24 Homemade Wipes Recipes if you want more variations.
Got any DIY Wipes ideas you’d like me to make? Let me know in the comments!
DIY Wet Wipes
This easy to follow tutorial is our family's recipe for homemade flushable wet wipes.
Materials
- 1 Paper Towel Roll
- 1 TBL Baby Wash
- 1 TBL Fractionated Coconut Oil
- 2 cups warm distilled water
- 6-10 drops Tea Tree Oil
- 1 Air Tight Container
Tools
- Sharp Knife
- Cutting Board
- Measuring Cup and Measuring spoons
Instructions
How to make your own wet wipes for personal hygiene
- In a measuring cup, add baby wash, fractionated coconut oil, and tea tree oil to the warm water.
- Gently stir.
- Cut the roll of paper towels in half. Place one half in the plastic container so that it is standing upright.
- Slowly pour half of the liquid mixture over the paper towels. Flip over the paper towel roll so the drier half is at the top and pour in remaining mixture.
- Once the roll is saturated, remove the cardboard center. gently pull up the center sheet for easy dispensing.
- Label container and place in the bathroom.
This is a great idea ….. looking to do something to keep in my bathroom for adults. I like Dr. Bronners peppermint soap diluted as a wash. When it hits membrane there is a really fresh feeling. I wonder if that can be incorporated into this. Any thoughts?
I’ve used the Dr. Bronner’s soaps in this recipe. They work great.
I didn’t know that you could use coconut oil in wipes. I need to get some more wipes for my kid. He goes through wipes like crazy.
Hello, have been using commercial wet wipes all along. Great to know that one can actually make their own flushable wipes at home. And the beauty is that you get to control the ingredients so that it does not irritate your skin
I made these for my daughter and I using a different recipe last week but didn’t use tea tree oil, and used a couple of old small ice cream buckets that I cut a rectangle hole in the top to thread the wipes through. A few days later, she called me and told me to go take the lid off and look at them, so I did, and they were all moldy. 🙁
What kind of container do I need that this won’t happen? and I will make sure to use the tea tree oil too next time.
Hi Glenda,
I always use an airtight container and remind my kids to make sure it is securely covered after each use. The air getting into your wipes is what allowed the mold spores in and spoiled them so quickly. The tea tree oil’s specific purpose is to slow down the growth of the mold and mildew.
Hi Herchel,
I’ve been using your recipe for about 2 years with Costco Paper Towels and have had gret results with no pipe clogging issues whatsoever.
I had an old plastic Folger’s Coffee tin, about 48 oz., that fits the towel roll perfectly, and you can pull the towels up from the center as you use them. It works great.
I’m just trying the fractionated coconut oil today for the first time.
Thanks for sharing a great (and easy to remember) recipe for wipes!
Thank you!!!
Hi! I love this recipe and have made these wipes approximately 4 times now. But this time I was careless and accidentally dumped too much tea tree oil in! I thought I’d give them a shot but let’s just say…It leaves the behind extra tingly afterwards. Ha! Do you have any tips on how I might fix this? More water maybe? Thank you!!
I’ve actually done that before lol. I added more of everything except tea tree. I moved it all to a larger container and made a double batch of wipes. They doubled as bathroom cleaning wipes too that time! The good news is that the extra tea tree will keep the wipes from mildewing. If the tea tree scent is too overwhelming add a drop or two of lemon essential oil.
I think home made wet wipes are a great idea; however….there is formaldehyde in almost all brands of paper towels. I have written to the companies to confirm this, and you are free to do the same if you wish to inquire about a specific brand.
There are organic, formaldehyde-free paper towel rolls available….but they are not easily found in local stores, and most are quite expensive when purchased online (do an Amazon search for formaldehyde-free paper towels and you will see what I mean). Formaldehyde is also in most toilet paper and facial tissue as well.
Sorry to be the bearer of bad news.
Any other ideas?
You are in luck. I DID come up with an alternative that I’ll be publishing soon!
HI,
Have you puplished your alternative yet?
Thanks!
I haven’t yet! I need to take photos of the recipe and get it up this week!
We live in a community with a odd sewage system. We literally have to sign a contract every year saying that we won’t flush ANYTHING! except toilet paper (not even wipes that are labeled “flushable”). So, in our newest life adventure we are potty training a sensitive-tooshied-two-year-old boy. His little bottom just doesn’t do well with regular toilet paper and putting stinky wipes in my trash can is just something I can’t manage. I came across this blog post and was so excited to make my own… but we can’t use the paper towels without a possible law suit for breaking the system down 🙁 In an attempt to make it work, I bought the Charmin Ultra Strong TP (totally legal for us to flush! Hooray!) AND IT WORKED! Obviously it’s a little flimsier than what the bounty towels would be… but I don’t have stinky wipes in my trash can and my babe doesn’t have a sore bottom!! THANK YOU for the fantastic idea!!
That’s awesome! We use Charmin in our house too. If there is an issue with a sensitive toosh or if he does start complaining–one way to work around your communities sewage issue is to put the wipes solution in a small spray bottle and spritz the toilet paper with it prior to wiping him. I’m so glad the Charmin is helping your little guy.
How do you keep the wipes from being sopping wet?
Hi Jodie, It depends on the paper towels I use. If I go with Viva or Bounty (something thick) then I use the amount in the recipe. When I use thinner or recycled paper, I pour a good amount in. Then I cover it and shake it around. I will then feel the paper towels and slowly add more liquid as needed.
Really good tips, I want to go as eco-friendly as I can – I can’t believe the amount of chemical products added to branded wipes.
I have used similar recipes for cleaning wipes. Same process but different liquids of course. I found, the towels did not hold up. I got pieces of wipes, not sheets. Which with a bottom, would not be good. Any thoughts?
I use Bounty Select a Size paper towels and find that they hold up very well. Did you perhaps put too much liquid in when you tried it? When I make my wipes and initially pour in the solution, it looks like there is not enough solution but once I flip over the container and let the all the paper towels get saturated, it is enough.
Hello Herchel- did you or anybody actually verify that paper towels are flushable (quickly decompose)? I searched and according to an article by a Sewerage Authority (link attached), they don’t. That Paper Towels are made out of higher grade wood products, and therefore don’t break down sufficiently fast. I figured your readers would want to consider this info. Thank you, Bret
Hi Brett, I did actually just see a story about the store bought wipes being very bad for the sewage system yesterday and am concurrently doing research on whether lower quality paper towels or recycled paper towels (which is what I use) degrades faster. I also want to make it clear that we do not use wipes all the time. I started making them when my kids had a stomach virus (hence the “don’t hurt your tush” in the title.) My DIY wipes are definitely not as strong as the store bought wipes.
An option that I also use is to mix the solution in a squirt bottle and squirt it onto toilet paper when cleaning oneself. This skips the need for the paper towel altogether.
Hi Herchel, yes, I think I saw the same TV segment. FYI- the link I put in my previous post does describe paper towels as being more “decomposable” than regular flushable wipes, but still encourages against it. If anybody hears any more, I’d like to know. Thanks for following up.
THAT is a GREAT option!
This is correct. Water treatment plants recommend to never flush paper towels. TP is designed to break down quickly in water, which prevents clogs. Paper towels are not. You may want to edit out the word “flushable.”
As many times as I have edited that tutorial to touch on the sewage and flushing issues, I never paid attention to the original title! (The post was first written in 2013.) I just assumed that it matched the URL “DIY Wet Wipes.” Thank you for pointing out that oversight. It’s fixed.
This is a great idea! I never buy those flushable wipes because they are so expensive!! Dumb question, but how do you cut the roll of paper towels in half?
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I never answered this! I cut it will an old kitchen knife. It dulls newer ones. Sometimes I cut down an inch and use strong scissors to get the rest. This is the worst part.
I love making my own wipes because you know exactly what is in them – plus store bought ones are sooo expensive. My recipe is different from this one so I’d like to try it and see which one I like the best:)
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Do you have a post with your recipe on it? I love trying out different versions. That is exactly why I like to make my own. I think that TP and toilet wipes are a rip off! I always try to find the best price for the toilet paper because it is a necessity but I would much rather make my own wipes.
I didn’t see the link. I’d love to see another recipe. The first time I had to use olive oil instead of baby oil. I didn’t notice much difference.
Hi Eileen, I have several different recipes for wipes right here! https://gymcraftlaundry.com/recipes-for-homemade-wipes/
Hi, I love this idea, but I am allergic to tea tree oil. Is there a good alternative?
Thank you!
Sara
Hmm not sure but if you make small batches you can skip it. It helps keep the wipes from getting mildewy. If you make only a weeks worth then you won’t have that problem! I will do my next batch with lavender oil and see if that works!
I had trouble with the water to soap ratio as well, is it two cups per half roll? Or one per half? Anyway, I fixed it, but, I DID use lavender, along with the tea tree oil, but, I’m by myself and they didn’t last more than a few weeks to use the whole roll, if you use them regularly, I think you should be fine skipping the tea tree oil. I’m allergic to eucalyptus myself, so, I understand not wanting to break out.
I would research which essential oils are antibacterial and maybe try those!
I use Tea Tree oil 🙂 It is antifungal and prevents mildewing.
I was relying to the girl that said she cant use Tea Tree oil.
Ah got you. Sorry about that! I missed that comment.
I am truly impressed … looking forward to this DIY project. We’ve never flushed paper towels; do we need to buy ‘cheap’ thin paper towels for “flush-a-bility”?
Gracias
I have had a few people tell me that I shouldn’t flush them. I usually buy the Sam’s Club paper towels and I never flush more than two small squares at a time. I have low flow energy saving toilets and a septic system and haven’t had any issues. It will really depend on your toilets. We rarely have clogs. If you are prone to clogging than I wouldn’t try to flush them!
One reader brought up a concern with paper towels not breaking down correctly. I have never heard of this but have since seen “recycled, easily biodegradable” paper towels at the organic stores.
Great idea…except for the flushable part. Paper towels are not really supposed to be flushed down the toilet. They don’t break down as easily in water as toilet paper. 🙁 Especially if you have a septic tank or older pipes that the paper towels can get snagged on. It can be an expensive fix (trust me on that from experience…lol)
I do stick to the no more than 2 at a time rule that is also on the store bought wipes. Since I cut a roll of the select size paper towels in size, the pieces are small. Knock on wood! I haven’t had any issues myself and I have been doing this for years, first as baby wipes then as the adjusted adult wipes. I have a septic system and low flow energy efficien toilets, myself. Hopefully, only those who know their systems will choose how they dispose of them.
Great recipe! You’re right, they look extremely easy to make and also very affordable! I love that it’s natural. God knows what really comes into those “all-natural” wipes…
Will try thiis. Thanks for sharing!
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Love this! We buy the flushable wipes for my little one, and you’re right- they’re super pricey. I hadn’t thought about making them. Which is actually crazy because I totally made a similar wipe solution for washable, reusable cloth wipes when she was a baby. Definitely going to try this soon!
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It was one if those things that I couldn’t believe I hadn’t thought to do earlier either!
Lol the recommended max is two per flush. They actually are not as bulky as some of the more expensive toilet paper brands.
LOL, I love the “Butt Wipes” label! I’ve come across a few recipes for homemade wipes on Pinterest, but have yet to try them out. I always just buy the Cottonelle at the store. I’ll have to give the homemade ones a go!
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Great idea, I’ve never thought about making my own wipes.
I TOTALLY need to make these!!!! I love flushable wipes and am so sick of paying for them haha. Awesome!! You should stop by and link them up at my new blog hop!
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I did, Michelle. Thank you for inviting me 🙂
So cool that you can make them yourself! You are a total rock star mom with this one! :)-Ashley
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I had to fiddle with the water to baby wash and oil ratio. The first time I made them (NOT the above recipe but the common baby wipes recipe) my son kept squirming and said his butt felt slimy!
I also keep witch hazel in a spray bottle and spray to after using the wipes for a extra fresh feeling. I use the witch hazel even when I don’t have a bowel movement just to feel fresh. Be careful not to use it all the time as you don’t want to alter your P H balance. Hospitals use it after giving birth.
Great idea! I love that you label them butt wipes too! The job as a mommy is very challenging so it’s good to get a laugh in every once in awhile!
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Lol my kids are just learning how to read and sadly, “butt” is one of the few words they easily recognize. Seeing the word reminds my son to use them!
Now that’s funny!
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Wow. I’m impressed! I may make some of these! We don’t use flushable wipes as much as we used to because I am just tired of paying for them. This will solve that problem!
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Hi there. Are they OK to flush? I thought paper towels were too strong for the toilet system to break down?
It really depends on your sewer system. We are ok with flushing (I give my family a 2 wipe flush limit.)