MIZAS GIRL: April 2010

I first saw this idea here. How much do you pay for baby wipes? Here's our math:

Store Bought Baby Wipes

192 wipes for $6

$6.00/192 = 3 pennies per wipe

Home Made Baby Wipes

52 towels per roll

since you will cute the roll in half you double the amount of wipes made

so 52x2 =104

8 rolls (value pack) = $11.64

$11.64/8 = $1.45 per roll

$1.45/104 = 1 penny a wipe

Yes, you have to buy baby wash (soap) as the other ingredient. I didn't factor in the amount, but I can't imagine it taking more than a few bottles a year since you will just be using a squirt or two per tub of wipes made (approximately 175 tubs a year). I think you'll definitely be able to afford those few extra bottles of baby wash when you see your savings! You think it's only a couple pennies, what's the big deal? Well, see below...

Wipe Usage

We use approximately 3 to 5 wipes per diaper change.

10 changes a day = 30-50 wipes

70 changes a week = 210-350 wipes

280 changes a month = 840-1,400 wipes

3650 changes a year = 10,950-18,250 wipes

Holy crap (no pun intended), what a load (again, no pun) of wipes!

So, your savings:

10,950 (3 wipes a change for a year) x .01 (Home Made) = $109.50

18,250 (5 wipes a change for a year) x .01 (Home Made) = $182.50

10,950 (3 wipes a change for a year) x .03 (Store Bought) = $328.50

18,250 (5 wipes a change for a year) x .03 (Store Bought) = $547.50

That would be a savings of $219.00 to $365.00 a year!!!!!

Told you it adds up! Remember, this doesn't include the insane amount of baby wipes I use to wipe sticky hands and faces for all 3 of my children and the occasional mess that I make myself. I think with your extra bucks in your wallet you can afford a few extra bottles of baby wash and dare I say, something special for you?!

Want to be GREENER? Use recycled paper towels, or skip paper altogether and go with cloth! Those savings would be even greater!

The Process

It's super easy!

#1. Gather your supplies! 1 roll of paper towels (I used "Bounty"), 2 containers (I used "Lock and Lock" 2.6L/88oz./2.7QT. containers that I found at my local supermarket), baby wash (I used "Burts Bee's Baby Bee" which is free of Sulfates, Parabens, Phthalates and Petrochemicals!), a liquid measuring cup containing 4 cups of water and a non-serrated knife.

#2. On a clean protective (use a cutting board if you care about your counter top) surface take your roll of paper towels and a non-serrated knife (I know, I know, I am totally using a serrated knife in the photo... you'll see why!). Cut the roll of paper towels in half as shown below.

See, look at that mess of a mess the serrated blade made!

Seriously, besides the jacked up edge of my soon to be wipes, I had about 4oz. of paper towel fuzz balls to clean up!

Just look at that fuzz ball cake! No worries though...

#3. If you do get a mess of a mess of paper towel fuzzies, no worries, just tap and brush off the bottoms of your cut rolls. Get as much of it off as possible! Trust me (the one who used the serrated blade) you'll be cursing yourself when the fuzzies stick to your baby's little tush!

#4. Measure 4 cups of water and pour 2 cups into each container.

#5. Take your baby wash and put a squirt or two into each container (I used two squirts).

#6. Take a long handled spoon and swish it up a bit until you get a few bubbles on top, not too much bubbling, but enough that you know it's mixed well.

#7. Take one half of your paper towel roll and place fuzzy side (cut side) down into the container. My containers are just the right size, but if your container seems too small, no worries, just squish it down, make it fit! After it's wet it will compress just fine.

#8. Quick! Attach that led securely and flip that sucker upside down!

#9. Repeat with the other half roll.

#10. Set your timer for 5 minutes, no more no less! Too little time and not only will your towels not be evenly watered, the core (brown tube) won't be easy to dislodge. Too long and that brown tube will rip into tiny pieces as you struggle to get it all out.