How to Make Your Own Non-Toxic Cleaning Wipes

The invention of the cleaning wipes was genius.  They make wiping up a mess or disinfecting door handles a snap.  The problem with these wipes is that sometimes the ingredients are a bit harsh and they can be a bit pricey.  Worry no more, check out this tutorial on how to make your own non-toxic cleaning wipes for less.
Step 1 Take a roll of 2-ply paper towels and cut it in half with a sharp knife.  Try to avoid serrated knives as sometimes they chew up the edge of the paper towels too much.
Step 2 Find a container that is big enough to put one half of the paper towels in.  A 4 quart round container is ideal, but sometimes difficult to find.  Square containers work fine too.  A large margarine tub is often the most efficient and handy choice.  Once you have found a container that the paper towels will fit into you will want to work the core of the paper towel roll free from the glue in the center and remove it.  Put the paper towel in the container cut side down.
Step 3 Mix together a solution of 1 ½ cups of white vinegar, 1 ½ cups of water, and a tablespoon of lemon juice (optional).
Step 4 Pour the solution all over the paper towels.  Snap the lid on and turn it upside down for about 5 minutes to let the solution completely saturate the paper towels.
Step 5 Turn the container right side up and cut an “X” in the top of the container.  Open the container and grab a paper towel from the center of the roll and feed it up through the “X” in the lid.  Snap the lid back on and you are ready to clean.
Germ fighter In order to make your wipes the germ killing kind you will need to go a step further with your solution.  Add ½ teaspoon of tea tree oil.  Make sure that you get the pure essential oil and not the cheap imitation stuff.
Window cleaning wipes Turn your wipes into window cleaning wipes by using a different solution.  Mix together ½ cup of rubbing alcohol, 1 tablespoon of vinegar, and 2 ½ cups of water.  Pour the solution over the paper towels as before and you will have wipes that will give you streak free windows.  To make sure your windows or mirrors are streak free you might want to dry them with some newspaper.
Tips If you’d like to give your wipes a nice fragrance add a few drops of an orange essential oil and wherever you clean will have a citrusy fresh scent.
Warning these wipes are not intended for baby care. These wipes are non-toxic, but it’s still a good idea to keep all cleaning products out of the reach of children.  Do not flush these wipes as the paper towels can still clog your plumbing even though they are non-toxic.

P. S. This post was  proposed to me for publication by Maria Wells I'm therefore publishing it by her invitation and under her permission. See also the link below fore more information:


 http://www.housekeeping.org/blog/how-to-make-your-own-non-toxic-cleaning-wipes/