Reusable Wipes Question

[expatinscotland]

Now that we've switched to cloth successfully, we're considering a foray into washable wipes.

I've got a ton of those terry squares from IKEA.

If I cut one of these squares in two and don't hem it - I can hardly thread a needle - will it fray to all hell?

I've just bought some squares from the nappy lady. They aren't hemmed and white bits galore fell out of the packaging when I opened it. However, since being washed all the loose bits seem to have disappeared and they are great now.

are they just like a towel then, sarah? cuz there are just your basic flannel for bathing.

Probably! And leave little fluffy bits all over your washing whilst it does so. :)

Although, having said that, I thought someone told me the reusable wipes you buy aren't always hemmed.

I use microfibre cloths from Savers. A pack of three for 89p can be made into 24 hand sized wipes. I didn't hem them and quite alot of bits came off when I cut them but they were fine after that I made 2 lots and have been using them for a good couple of months. As they're microfibre they dry really quickly.

Good luck.

Think these are a bit thinner than a flannel but as soupdragon says, no reuseable wipes are hemmed unless you pay premium price!

I bought some cotton bottoms reusable wipes at 12 or 2.99 rom an ebay supplier. They are flannelette and very good, but next time I will just cut up a flannelette sheet.

Yes towelling will fray, but after a bit it will slow down.

I use the Ikea squares whole, expat. I keep a kidney bowl shaped dish (also Ikea!) on the change table and then add warm water and dunk in the flannel to use - works fine.

Are they the ones with the coloured loops, expat? Can't you leave them whole if you have loads?

We used Smartprice flannels from Asda.

Those are the ones, Gillian.

Just wanting for something smaller whilst out and about. Headed to Perthshire for a week in a self-catering cottage and will be spending most of the day out site seeing.

I don't suppose they'd fray much in a week...

We also have some of \link{http://www.babykind.co.uk/wipes.htm#washablewipes\these first ones} and they are great but not as big as the flannels. I liked the flannels for a good wipe over a pooey bum. They might be more the size you are looking for.

I used tesco value face cloths - 25p each.

I bought a load of fleece wipes from this ebay \link{http://cgi.ebay.co.uk/10-NEW-fleece-AQUA-reusable-supersoft-wipes_W0QQitemZ7768185370QQcategoryZ26269QQrdZ1QQcmdZViewItem\seller} The postage is cheaper if you buy a few sets adn the patterns are really fun. Mind you, I just got white - soooo boring, but no risk of the dye running.

I bought the unhemmed towelling ones from nappy lady, 1st wash they shed bits but not in any subsequent washes. dry quick and are nice and small. If I was wanting more I'd try just cutting up a flannel and seeing what happened.
I've made a bunch of flease liners for nappies from a 1/4 meter of polar100 flease from the haberdashers- grand cost - 75p for 10 liners.
Am useing old flannels as boosters in night nappies.

you could just get a fleece throw (asda / ikea do them for less than £3 or about £1 from a charity shop)

and cut it up.... it doesnt fray and seem to be able to be washed at any temperature with anything!

1 throw would make LOADS of wipes.... could also do some stay dry nappy liners.

I bought thin cheap face flannels 100% cotton. They are overlocked rather than hemmed so dry quickly and are not bulky.

My cleaner uses old hand towels cut in two and they do not fray too much after the initial wash.

Oh yes - Ikea's cheap fleece throws are £2.50.

Oooh, I hadn't thought about using a throw to hack up!!!

Still considering this whole reusable wipe thing, but need a load of decent sized liners (why is it that anyone who seems to have added in free liners with nappies I've got off ebay - and its not a complaint, free liners is always good - but why is it that they are always shaped and far too small???? The nappy lady free ones are just a large rectangle, fit all nappies, and catch all the poo - sooooo much more practical!)

I found those shaped ones too small so I have bought some fleece off ebay to cut my own. I want rectangles the same size as my folded prefolds, so cutting my own means I can get that. When I can get out to the shops I will try and find fleece, but our local market only has one poor fabric stall and the fabric warehouse in town has the roads dug up all around it (complete nightmare!)

I have an Ikea fleece blanket, and it was only cheap, but it looks too nice to cut up!

Can I ask what everyone uses when they are out and about? Do you wet the wipes at home/ or take a little spray bottle of water/ wash out with you?
If you take ready wet wipes out with you what do you carry them in?

I'm sadly very excited about using my washable wipes once baby arrives (10 fleece and 10 towelling with hems for £6 inc p&p from weenotions website btw), but the practicalities are confusing me!

i got ikea flannels, which were bigger than the ones you mention expat, and they frayed to hell so I got my mother to oversew them

as for taking them with me, I just run them under a tap or something while I'm out

babylily, I keep my washable wipes pre-dampened in tupperware type container (actually one of those plastic boxes take out curry comes in ) - find is small enough to chuck inot change bag for going out and means you don't necessarily need to be near a water source ie changing in a layby when travelling etc. I use a dash of top to toe wash and a dash of baby oil mixed with water dunk them in then wring out and put the lid on, hth and enjoy!

Should say I started with a spray bottle but the tub thing is much easier...

you could just carry them in a ziploc bac - wet wipes that is.

eidsvold, that's a great idea, gonna give it a try as will take up even less room in my bag - funny how the simplest options don't strike you when you think of these things .