A few weeks ago, I shared my recipe for DIY laundry detergent. (Yes, I’m still making this detergent and loving the clean, soft clothes…and the money I save!) My success with this homemade household cleaner got me thinking, “What other cleaning products can I make myself?”

That’s when I came across this idea for homemade cleaning wipes on Pinterest. I love cleaning wipes. They’re a quick and easy way to handle spills on the kitchen counter…and a great way to cheat when you have to clean your bathroom fast!

What I don’t love is the waste and expense of the leading consumer brand. That’s why this idea from One Good Thing makes perfect sense. Reduce waste and expenses, recycle old T-shirts (as well as the old cleaning wipes container), and re-use the cleaning wipes themselves. What could be better?

Here’s how to make cleaning wipes at home:

Step 1: Cut up old T-shirts. I found that by cutting 4 rectangles from the front of my husband’s old T-shirts and another 4 from the back, I could make about 8 wipes per shirt. I cut up 3 T-shirts for a total of 24 wipes.

Step 2: Mix up the cleaning solution. All you need is:
1 cup water
¼ cup rubbing alcohol
2 Tbs. Dawn dishwashing liquid
2 Tbs. ammonia (optional)

Stir ingredients together in a small bowl.

Step 3: Place cloth rectangles in an old cleaning wipes container. (A baby wipes carton also works nicely.) Then cover the wipes with the cleaning solution. I find it works best to put a few wipes in the container at a time, pour enough solution to cover them, add a few more wipes and continue until you fill the container.

Note: I like my wipes really moist, so I made a double batch of cleaning solution for all 24 cloths.

Step 4: Drop the used wipes in the washing machine, not the trash can! Whenever you’ve finished your cleaning job, just throw the wipes in the laundry hamper. Wash with any load you like, and they’re ready to go. I don’t even fold mine. I just toss them in this cute little tin on my laundry room shelf as soon as I pull them from the dryer: