bootay spray

Taking a step further into the land of the crunchy, today I made my own cloth wipe solution, or as I like to call it, bootay spray. I started using regular old baby wipes I was given at my shower, as if there is one thing I hate more than artificial things it's wasting free stuff. When they were getting close to running out I made my own cloth wipes. Making those was the first time I had come into contact with a sewing machine since high school. That's how old I am by the way, that there were still sewing classes for us girls, to teach us to become excellent housewives. I never did well in such classes, in fact, the worst grade I ever got in school was in Home Economics. Go figure. But now, being Suzie Fucking Homemaker as I have named myself, I am wishing I had listened better.

The cloth wipes are easy. Easy enough a small child could do them. The only trial and error I had was figuring out what I liked best in terms of materials and edges. Turns out double layered flannel serged is what this lady loves. I did some flannel/terry which are nice for the super poops but not my favorite. Turning and topstiching was all well and good, but serging was perfectly sufficient.

I had on hand some Kissuluv's Lotion Potion, which I have to say I have thoroughly enjoyed over the past three months whilst using these wipes. However, I am as much a cheap skate as an ever-crunchier mom and had been planning to make my own wipe solution once it ran out.

D-day is upon us. It's almost out. There are tons of "recipes" for homemade wipe solution and I could have followed any number of them. Eco-crazy mom (nice name) has a great list here http://ecocrazymom.com/homemade-cloth-wipe-solutions-recipes/. But ever the trailblazer I decide to mix my own concoction. It is Halloween after all, so a little hubble bubble toil and trouble is in order.

I got everything I needed from my local ghetto shopping center by perusing the Dollar Store and CVS. The truly granola would be horrified to know that I used Johnson and Johsnon baby wash, because I have two enormous bottles of it I got at Costco before I found out about how shady they are and how using their products makes you - what is the opposite of crunchy?...soggy? I will find something more natural and eco-friendly for the next batch but like I told you, I'm cheap.

The basic jist of homemade wipe solution is that you need water, oil, soap and some essential oils, of which tee tree is a favorite. I went with tee tree oil, eucalyptus (because it smells delicious) and then also stocked up on some olive and sweet almond oil to experiment with. I got a 4oz bottle of vitamin E oil from the Dollar Store for $2 (have you ever noticed that NOTHING in there is actually $1?) for my main oil base. I started with a small bottle to see how it turned out so I added:

1/8 cup vitamin E oil
1/8 cup baby soap
1/2 cup water
Hannah sized splash of tee tree oil
Hannah sized splash of eucalyptus oil

I could have been more precise, but they didn't come with droppers so oh well. It smells great and I tested it on my hand and it left it feeling very clean and smooth. I hope it does the same to her butt, as well as cleans up the poop of course! A little advice that I was given so I will pass along...always add the water first, oils second and soap last. By starting with water you’ll avoid creating bubbles, and the oil will coat whatever you are measuring with allowing the soap to easily slide off into the solution. Good thinking Batman.

So now we have a totally crunchy baby butt. Cloth wipes, homemade wipe solution and coconut oil as diaper cream. Score another one for me, I'm feeling good about Ryleigh's carbon footprint. And did I mention how much cheaper all this is??