Homemade Cleaning Wipes Solution For Speedy Cleaning

Want to know how to make a homemade cleaning wipes solution? Read on – I’ve got two recipes for you – one made with vinegar and another stone-safe solution that can be used on quartz, marble and granite surfaces.

My partner and I split the household chores, and that works well for us. That is, until it comes to cleaning the bathroom. Specifically, our upstairs bathroom frequented by our children. Honestly, the state they leave it in would make you weep sometimes. Weep, I tell you!

I’ve been thinking about how we can make cleaning the bathroom easier. But also give my children greater autonomy.

So I decided to make a non-toxic homemade cleaning wipes solution, and leave a jar in the bathroom. This means anyone in the house (including my kids) can wipe down the surfaces in between big cleans. That’s the dream, anyway!

The wipes turned out to be so useful that I made an extra jar for the kitchen. And so useful, that I wanted to share the recipe for my homemade cleaning wipes solution with you today. Sharing is caring, after all!

What’s Wrong With Conventional Cleaning Wipes?

You might be wondering why I am not just buying a packet of wipes from the supermarket.

For a start, I’m trying to reduce the single-use plastic we use in our house. Many conventional cleaning wipes are made of non-biodegradable plastic. Even the wipes marketed as biodegradable and flushable shouldn’t actually be flushed. These flushed wipes are behind 93% of blockages in UK sewers. In short, they’re an environmental disaster.

And secondly, scientists have warned that some conventional cleaning products could be as bad for your lungs as smoking 20 cigarettes a day. This homemade cleaning wipes solution means I avoid single-use plastic and reduce the number of harsh chemicals in our home. Double win!

How to Make A Homemade Cleaning Wipes Solution

Here’s the full step-by-step guide to make the solution.

Please note that this cleaning wipes solution isn’t suitable for use on granite, marble, quartz, or any other kind of natural stone. This is because vinegar, and the lemon and lemongrass oils can be corrosive to natural stone.

Keep reading if you have natural stone, because I’ve got a stone-safe recipe for you further down the page.

You Will Need

• 125 ml cooled boiled water
• 125 ml white vinegar (this is where I buy my white vinegar in bulk)
• 5 drops of lemon essential oil
• 5 drops of lavender essential oil
• 4 drops of lemongrass essential oil
• 1 teaspoon washing-up liquid

Equipment Required

• A 750 ml jar or a similar airtight container
• Clean, dry reusable cloths
• Measuring jug

Depending on the size of your jar and the size of your cloths, the exact number you will need will vary.

I used some old Cheeky Wipes terry squares I had leftover from when my daughter was little. I find that nine Cheeky Wipes fit in my jar perfectly. However, you could use any fabric scraps or kitchen cloths you have to hand. You could even cut up an old towel that’s seen better days.

Method

• In a measuring jug, mix the water, vinegar, washing-up liquid, and essential oils together.
• Place your dry cloths into the clean dry jar.
• Next, pour the solution over the cloths, making sure you try to cover the cloths evenly. If the cloths feel too dry, make a little more solution and pour it over. The goal is that your cloths feel moist to the touch, not completely sodden.
• Job done!

How To Use

• Whenever you want to clean, simply take a cloth from the jar. You may need to squeeze out some of the homemade cleaning wipes solution if it feels too wet.
• Wipe down surfaces (remember, not any natural stone surfaces). Once you’re done, pop the wipe in the wash with the rest of your laundry.
• When the jar is empty, make up a new batch of solution.

Because the cleaning wipes solution is made using water, it has a relatively short shelf life. I therefore wouldn’t use water straight from the tap – boiling the water helps prolong the shelf life. As such, the wipes should last up to eight weeks or so in the jar.

If the solution starts to smell bad, or the cloths start to look mouldy before then, then discard the solution, wash your cloths, and start again.

Why It Works

These wipes are super effective in cleaning your bathroom because the vinegar is acidic, so it cuts through dirt, grease, and grime with ease. The addition of the lemon also helps to cut through any grease, whilst deodorising. Meanwhile, the soap helps to shift any lingering dirt.

When it comes to the other oils, they are added as they may help to kill germs and bacteria. Lemongrass essential oil has been found in scientific studies to have antimicrobial properties. Meanwhile, other scientific studies have found similar results using lavender essential oil.

A Stone Safe Cleaning Wipes Alternative

If vinegar isn’t your thing, or if you have natural stone, then let me show you how to make a vinegar and citrus-free homemade cleaning wipes solution using liquid castile soap. Washing-up liquid also works fine if you don’t have any castile soap to hand.

• 250 ml cooled boiled water
• 2 teaspoons liquid Castile soap or washing-up liquid
• 10 drops of lavender essential oil
• 4 drops of tea tree essential oil

Follow the same steps as before, again making up a little more solution if your cloths feel too dry. Again, this should last up to eight weeks, but discard the solution and wash the clothes if it smells or looks off before then.

Do Homemade Cleaning Wipes Disinfect?

I’ve devised my homemade wipes primarily as cleaning wipes, rather than disinfectant wipes. This means they are ideal for wiping down dirt and dust from surfaces, such as toothpaste smears and soap scum.

Whilst I have added oils that do have germ-killing properties, I haven’t tested my wipes in a lab. This means I can’t be certain that they kill all germs. If you are in any doubt, or need to use a disinfectant, then make sure you follow up after use with a disinfectant.

I quite like this plastic-free eco disinfectant from OceanSaver at Ethical Superstore. Just fill a bottle with 500 ml of warm water, drop in the refill, and you’re good to go.

More Natural Cleaning Guides

Looking to make more cleaning products? I’m really big on green cleaning (I’ve even written a book on the subject!), so I have a ton of other natural cleaning products to make right this way.

I have heaps of cleaning products to make for almost every application – from cleaning your kitchen to your bathroom, and all the other rooms inbetween.