11 May 2020
5 Commentsdisinfecting wipes: say goodbye to shortages
I knew this day was coming. My last container of Lysol wipes sat empty. To make matters worse, 
I had just seen the CEO of the company on TV explaining that despite factories working around the clock, they wouldn’t be able to keep up with demand until summer. The Wall Street Journal was quick to hop on that story as well.
When my house smells like Clorox, I feel as if I’m being safe, following the Covid-19 protocols, and all will be fine. Don’t laugh, but a whiff of Clorox provides some odd emotional support during these times. Home Depot and other locations are well-stocked with bleach but the wipes have been another story. So I couldn’t help but wonder and even become a bit agitated about the prospect of no wipes. What would I use to practice my multi-daily disinfecting routines around the house: wiping down faucets/handles, door knobs, drawer handles, kitchen appliances, packages, mail, and so on?
Well, there was only one solution – so I decided to start making my own wipes. After a colossal waste of paper towels, I found that using baby wipes worked brilliantly. They’re large, super durable (think of what they’re actually intended for), and much better than paper towels which leave a lint residue and fall apart easily. So give this a go if you’re in need.
Mix a ratio of 1 oz. (2 Tbspn) bleach to 4 cups of water in a glass jar/container with a screw-on top.
Let stand for five minutes.
Take a store brand pack of baby wipes and push several (as many as you need for the day) down into the bleach mixture.
Let stand for ten minutes and, voila, they’re ready to use.
Since the Clorox/bleach loses its disinfecting power after about 24 hours, you’ll want to make a new batch daily. (Don’t be confused by the big jar in my hands – I have a small mason jar for the day.)
(Warning: Keep away from children, pets, food/drink and clothing.)
Frankly, I’m not sure I’ll ever use the original ones again. If you catch the baby wipes on sale (almost always on a buy one, get one half off the price offer in the big pharmacy chains), the cost for 72 do-it-yourself disinfecting wipes comes to about $2.50.
Happy cleaning!
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June 10, 2020 @ 8:07 am
Susan, does the solution lose its effectiveness because of exposure to light in a glass jar? Why can’t you use an empty Chlorox Wipes container?
June 15, 2020 @ 1:27 pm
Hi Lynn! Following the guidelines as described by Clorox. Honestly, I ramp up the ratio of clorox to water and let it go for two days. I’ve gotten so used to doing this as part of my morning routine, that I’m operating under the better safe than sorry philosophy. Even with limited amounts back in the store, these are just so easy and inexpensive to make that I cannot bring myself to buy.
May 7, 2020 @ 8:35 pm
Great article! Just a reminder, you will need to make a new batch every day since bleach loses its effectiveness after 24 hours when diluted with water.
May 12, 2020 @ 8:18 am
Aren’t you afraid that people will begin to hoard baby wipes and then parents don’t have what they need for their babies?
May 12, 2020 @ 11:35 am
LOL, YES! I’m embarrassed to say how many packs I bought in anticipation of that!