DIY Cleaning Wipes (Reusable & Disinfecting). Save money and clean naturally! Plus, you can use these as homemade swiffer pads. Genius!

“I love to clean. I love to clean. I really love to clean.” 

Maybe I should try clicking my heels together, while holding the dog? “Toto…”

“I love to clean. I love to clean.” 

Nothing!

Despite my best effort, cleaning is simply not my “thing.” I realize it’s probably not many people’s “thing.” Very few people walk around dreaming about going home and breaking out the wipes, broom, and duster to spend hours cleaning every square inch of the house. Or is that just me?  Maybe cleaning really is some people’s “thing.”  If so, I have a room for you, and warm bread. Please say you’ll stay!

My “thing”? Well, I love my bed, fluffy pillows, and nap time. Ahh, the things that become your “thing” after embracing motherhood.

Anyway, we were talking about cleaning, not napping. Right? Let’s get back to the whole cleaning thing, because we have established it’s a “thing.”

DIY Cleaning Wipes (Reusable & Disinfecting). Save money and clean naturally! Plus, you can use these as homemade swiffer pads. Genius!

Whether this whole cleaning love (AKA “thing”) is an inherited gene or inspired from browsing way too many Martha Stewart magazines, is still a great mystery to me. I love the benefits of a clean home; and I promise my family enjoys the benefits of a regularly (a word with many meanings) cleaned home. Nightly dishes are always tended to, clothes are folded when I’m not sidetracked by popsicle-making, and toilets are cleaned daily (four year-old boy, enough said). I diligently keep my house as clean as possible with an active family, eight chickens (they live outside) and two dogs.

Since the act of cleaning simply doesn’t fill me with warm little flurries of happiness, I’ve been trying to make chores much more of an enjoyable process. Something I look forward to, not just the end result, but the actual process of scrubbing around the potty (I mean, toilet) and wiping the counter for the umpteenth time. That’s a lot, incase you’re math challenged like myself; also not my “thing.”

DIY Cleaning Wipes (Reusable & Disinfecting). Save money and clean naturally! Plus, you can use these as homemade swiffer pads. Genius!

Creating the Natural Kids’ Cleaning Kit convinced my kids cleaning was their “thing.” In fact, Londyn (2) can be found at random times during the day washing walls and spraying spots on the floor. True story. So, why can’t mommy fall in love with the cleaning process?

After much thought (time I probably should have spent cleaning) revelation came: I need to make the process appealing. “Appealing” was just the word I needed, the wheels turned and soon pretty pink washcloths were pulled from the back of the linen closet and vinegar was poured into a glass jar. This mom simply needed a change from the mundane white cloth and spray bottle.

Enter the simplest DIY cleaning wipes EVER.

DIY cleaning wipes have turned cleaning chores into my “thing.” Pretty magical, right? While these wipes aren’t really magical, they pack a powerful natural cleaning punch via pretty little towels that can be reused over and over again. When the toilet needs some TLC, simply grab a wet wipe and dance your way into that bathroom. Magical!

DIY Cleaning Wipes (Reusable & Disinfecting). Save money and clean naturally! Plus, you can use these as homemade swiffer pads. Genius!

Whether cleaning is your “thing” or your wanna-be “thing,” DIY cleaning wipes will make your house sparkle and keep your budget low with only a few simple, natural ingredients.

Bonus: DIY cleaning wipes are perfect to use as homemade Swiffer pads! Simply attach a wipe to a standard Swiffer base and clean the floor.

DIY Cleaning Wipes (Reusable & Disinfecting). Save money and clean naturally! Plus, you can use these as homemade swiffer pads. Genius!
4.77 from 13 votes

DIY Cleaning Wipes

Enter the simplest DIY cleaning wipes EVER. While these wipes aren’t really magical, they pack a powerful natural cleaning punch via pretty little towels that can be reused over and over again. When the toilet needs some TLC, simply grab a wet wipe and dance your way into that bathroom. Magical!
Kristin Marr
Prep Time5 minutes
Total Time5 minutes
Course DIY, Homemade
Cuisine Cleaning
Servings 4 Cleaning Cloths

Ingredients

Instructions

  • Roll the washcloths and place in a jar.
  • In a small bowl combine the water, vinegar, and essential oils.
  • Pour the vinegar mixture over the washcloths, pressing the washcloths down into the liquid. The washcloths should be wet. Depending on the size of your washcloths, you may need to add more vinegar/water as needed.
  • Close the lid on the jar.
  • Remove the washcloths from the jar as needed. Wash the dirty cloths in the washer, and repeat the process. Use the wipes within a week. 

Notes

When you introduce water into a product without a preservative you always run the risk of introducing bacteria, so use water-based products quickly.
Tried this recipe?Let me know how it was!

DIY Reusable and Disinfecting Cleaning Cloths

Leave a Reply

Your email address will not be published. Required fields are marked *

Recipe Rating




This site uses Akismet to reduce spam. Learn how your comment data is processed.

90 Comments

  1. Dangers of essential oils are real. I will for sure be doing this with the vinegar and water but without the essential oils. You should check out the book “Essentially Deadly” by April Graham. No I’ll intention just want to make you aware of the real dangers with essential oils😔

  2. Dear Friend, I have read you recipies. I agree with them all as for years I have used vinegar either white or brown to clean inside refrigerator and windows counter tops and bathroom sink and toliet tank.
    I think there may be evidence to support that your vinegar soultion lasts alot longer .
    Indeed the Ancieny Egyptians used vinegar to preserve things like olives that have been found unspoiled hundreds of years later.
    I keep both vinegars in my cabinet and ignore all use by dates on them.
    Keep up the good work I have lived by using vinegar on most everything all my life.
    Sign me 71yr old RN with clean windows

  3. Hi Kristin, so happy to have found you! Really enjoying all the wonderful cleaning recipes (have made two already) and only found your page today. Do you have a recipe for a spray furniture polish? I was gifted a homemade orange oil furniture polish which has been just fabulous but unfortunately l have no idea how to replicate it but truly would like to make something similar… any guidance you could provide would be greatly appreciated. Thanks again for such an inspiring website ?
    Just going to go and look for a suitable jar so l can make this too

  4. 5 stars
    hi kristin. thank you for sharing your wisdom. i have been using diy cleaning products for years. i am always open to new ideas. the one thing i seem unable to work through is the toilet cleaning with reusable cloths. i finally am okay with not using bleach – that was tough! but reusing anything that has touched my toilet just creeps me out, lol! any soft core changes you would recommend? i am a recovering germ-a-phobe! 😉

  5. 5 stars
    Thank you so much for this lovely recipe! I was just thinking about making some sort of wipes for when I’m in a hurry or just don’t feel like taking out my spray & grabbing towels. Plus the rest of the family will pitch in if it’s easy! I also normally use a lot of white wash cloths as cleaning rags (because I used to use bleach & so they had to be white!) But since breaking up with bleach I have found having a ton of multicolored towels is the best!! It makes me much happier to clean up. I’ll definitely be making these soon! I really love your website and appreciate all your help in “cleaning up” the lives of myself and so many. Thanks again, many blessings!

  6. Is it possible to add vitamin E oil to the mix as a natural preservative? I have noticed it’s in a lot of natural DIY skincare to keep longer (and anti-aging). Thanks for sharing this wonderful zero waste idea!!

    1. Hey Lindsey, Vitamin E isn’t a preservative. It does keep oils from going rancid when they sit for a long time. I personally wouldn’t add it to this recipe. You could add a preservative, though.

      1. Thank you! I did end up finding your article on natural preservatives and it was super helpful and informative. There are tons of recipes for homemade lotions and no one talks about bacteria growth! Thanks for doing the homework for us!

    1. Hey Paula, Yes, it will. You can shake the jar before use, or add a small amount of rubbing alcohol or glycerin to the jar first, with the essential oil, then add the remaining liquid to help disperse the EO.

  7. It’s me again. Just wanted to ask if you have a recipe for a wood polisher? I can’t seem to find one in your blog. My dining table is wood. What would you recommend or what do you use for cleaning wood? Thanks a lot.

      1. Oh please do so. Thank you very much. And I do hope you don’t mind if I ask a lot of questions. I’m just starting and trying to learn how to go DIY and natural.
        Thanks.

  8. 5 stars
    this are awesome tips, thanks for sharing! <3 i have a question though, do we really need to use the three essential oils or can we use just one? I made my own lemon essential oil and can't spend on buying the other two. thanks for the help!

  9. 4 stars
    Hi Kristin. Can I use these wipes all over in house. I mean kitchen contours, bathroom sink area, toilet seats and disinfecting door knobs, light switches. Thank you.

  10. Hi Kristin, I love this idea. Since I stopped buying the chemical loaded antibacterial wipes, my toilet has been a little neglected! So this is a great solution. It’s also a great way to use up old tea towels reusable baby wipes.

    A quick question though; would adding vodka be of any benefit for antibacterial purposes do you think?

    Thanks!

    1. Hey Natalie, I’m so glad this will work for you! I would just spray the toilet with 100% hydrogen peroxide after you’re done using the wipe. The vinegar does act as a disinfectant, so that ingredient alone will get the job done. But if you really want some extra POW, then the hydrogen will help!

  11. Enjoyed this tip! You said that after you use one wipe that you put it into the washer and dryer. Is that immediately? Or, do you wait until you have enough wipes or other items that can be washed together. I’m seeking clarification about how often and quickly you’d need to wash the wipes, but making sure you have enough items to make at least a small laid of wash. Lastly, what did you mean when you stated….
    “When you introduce water into a product without a preservative you always run the risk of introducing bacteria, so use water-based products quickly “. What would an example of this be?
    Thank you!!!!

    1. Hey Ebonie, I toss the cloths in the washer after cleaning with one, and then run the washer when I have a full load of clothes. Mold is a probably the most visible example, and one that many of us have experienced in our bathrooms (a perfect breeding grown for bacteria growth). Natural yeast is another example (a sourdough starter is a perfect example of how just water and flour attract yeast from the air and encourage bacteria growth–which isn’t always a bad thing in this case).

  12. 5 stars
    Love this idea! Thyme EO makes a great addition for anti-bacterial properties or as a substitute for the tea tree oil.

  13. HI! Came across your blog while looking for a natural stainless steel cleaner. I am guessing that the wipes will be moist and not wet? I really want to try this but was also wondering if using them once means using 1 wipe for each counter, appliance etc. Seems like 4 or more wouldn’t be enough….or it could be just me as I am somewhat of a cleaning freak lol.
    Thanks for your input and I am pleased to say that I will be returning to your blog for more tips! 🙂

    1. Hey Nancy, Welcome to Live Simply! I’m so glad you’re enjoying the blog. The wipes should be pretty wet, but this will also depend on the towels used. You can definitely increase the liquid mixture if the towels are bulky.

  14. Thanks for this! With a tight budget and our first little one on the way, I’ve been looking for natural, cost-effective ways to manage the home. This one’s a keeper!

    Question about the reusable wipe solution: Would it be possible to use the castile soap cleaner from your Natural Kids Cleaning Kit in place of the vinegar one used in this post?

    I don’t mind vinegar, but I can’t say the same for guest and other family 😉 Thank you!

    1. Hey Brittany, You can definitely use castile soap instead of the vinegar. You’ll need about 2TB-1/4 cup of csatile soap to 2 cups of water.

      Im glad you’re enjoying this DIY!

  15. I just stumble into your blog by looking for handmade hand soap. Your blog is beautiful. I took the recipe and add it to my Facebook group, I translated in spanish, of course I gave you the credits and share the link to your beautiful blog. Thanks!!!

  16. I saw that vinegar can’t be used on granite. Any other substances that we should not use vinegar on?

  17. Oooh, I know that this post is a couple of years old, but I think it was written just for me! I have so much “mom guilt” over not cleaning (especially the bathrooms) but I just can’t seem to make myself do it! I think these wipes may do the trick – I’m going to make them tonight since I have an extra glass jar after cleaning out my cupboards!
    Ps. I think your blog may be my favorite blog ever!!

    1. Hey Mary, They can’t be used on granite since the solution contains vinegar. You could sub the vinegar for 2 tablespoons of castile soap to make them granite-safe.

  18. 5 stars
    Adorei sua dica,meu marido e alérgico e este produto é natural,obrigada.

    I loved your tip , my husband and allergic and this product is natural, thank you.