DIY Baby Wipes & Lysol Wipes

So lets get down to the real truth about wipes.  Wipes are something to clean your babies butt or wipe dirt!  So why do we spend so much money on it?  You are literally throwing away money with this!

I started trying the baby wipes simply because I was sick of spending money on something that I was throwing away in the trash.  I have been using these for a little over a month and love them!  Best part is that you can customize these to your child's needs.  Here's what I mean:  My daughter always had a little bit of a diaper rash.  Nothing serious, but always enough that I was using cornstarch.  After using these wipes, she has not had a diaper rash at all.  I could customize the type of baby wash and oil to fit her and it is super cheap!

A lot of people are concerned about quality.  I use the VIVA brand pick a size paper towels and have not had an issue at all with quality.  They work just as good as the regular wipes.  The size of the wipes are a little smaller but I never use the entire wipe so this was never an issue.

What do you have to lose? Most people have all of these ingredients around the house so you won't be losing anything by trying this.  Some people will even state that with wipes being so cheap, why make them?  As with all things stingy, every penny counts and this will definitely add up.


To make Baby Wipes

Cost is around 75 cents to make 77 wipes

Paper Towels - I use Viva Pick a Size
1 1/4 cups water
2 tsp. Baby Wash
2 tsp. Baby Oil

Here is how you make it:

1. Cut the paper towel roll in half.
          It should look like 2 rolls of toilet paper once cut in half

2. Put one of the rolls in a plastic container
          I used an old Lysol Wipe container

3. In a measuring cup, mix the water, baby wash, and baby oil.
          I make sure the water is warm and use a whisk to stir it all up.
          You can put more water in if you would like but I prefer it with less water.

4. Pour the mixture over the paper towel in the container.

5. Pull the cardboard center out and you're done.
         I prefer to let mine sit for a couple hours before I use so the water can evenly distribute to all    the wipes but you can start using right away

UPDATE:

Here is what I have found out, the less water, the better.  Everyone thinks you should saturate the wipes but DON'T.  For 2 reasons:

1. It will make the wipes shred and fall apart.

2. I noticed my baby wipes smelled after a couple weeks.  I work full time so I don't go through wipes quickly.  I have noticed when I add less water, they stay smelling fresh.

3. If you do not go through your wipes within a couple weeks, you will need to add lavendar or tea tree essential oil to use as a preservative to keep an bacteria from growing.

To make Lysol Wipes:

Follow everything exactly the same except use regular lysol or Mr. Clean in place of the water, baby wash, and baby oil.

DIY Nose Strips, Scrub, and Toner

Have you googled DIY Face Cleaner lately? There is a wide and I mean wide variety of cleaners out there. I stumbled on the Face Scrub and Toner last year and have been using them for awhile now which I still love.  However, I was still buying those Nose Strips which cost a small fortune so I stumbled across this and voila, I have a great DIY Nose Strips.

Nose Strips:

1 packet of Gelatin
1 tbsp of Milk

Mix together and microwave for 30 seconds then stir again and put all over your face.  Remember, too thin and it will crumble, too thick and it doesn't work.  I found it I could get the best layer if I dipped my fingers in the mixture and wiped it over my face. That seemed to be the perfect layer.  Let it dry for 15 minutes and peel it off

Note: It stinks. No really, it does but it works.  Also, don't put it over any hair because it will pull hair off.

Face Scrub:

½ cup Oatmeal

¼ cup Baking Powder

¼ cup Cornstarch

To make it: Process oats then add in baking powder and cornstarch.  Store in an airtight container.

To use: Scoop a small amount in your hand and then add water to the mixture until it is a paste.  Scrub your face. Rinse.

Face Toner:

 1/2 Cup Lemon Juice

2/3 cup Witch Hazel

2 tbsp. Rubbing Alcohol (only add if oily skin)

1 cup water

Mix everything together and use on your face twice a day.   

Total Cost: 60 cents for a little over 18 ounces.

Note: I added a couple drops of lavender essential oil as I saw that someone had stated it helps with inflammation.

I got the face toner recipe from the below website:

http://shwinandshwin.blogspot.com/2010/10/skin-brightening-toner.html

 this was an area that could use some improvement

Quick & Efficient Cleaning

Define Clean.  When do you consider that your house is clean?  Do you have to scrub everything?  Does your house have to have a certain smell in order to be “clean”? Do you have to go through a certain process of cleaning ?  I have been trying, testing, and searching for over 7 years for a quick and efficient way to clean my house and found that I had to redefine what clean meant for me.  Clean no longer has a smell.  Clean no longer means scrubbing.  Clean means that the surface no longer has germ, dirt, etc on it.  For an OCD person that has 2 kids, redefining clean meant trying a lot of different cleaners and ways to clean.  I happy to say that I have finally found the quickest and most efficient way that truly gets the job done with the least amount of effort.

To begin with, I am a huge Norwex fan and half the products I use are Norwex.  I hosted a party and got everything I am mentioning in here for free with hostess rewards.  I was always uncertain of their products ; however, after using them, I happily have bought more Norwex products.  How I look at it is that this is an investment in cleaning supplies much like when someone purchases a steam mop.  You are investing in a product that will last.  Their products truly work and save time when it comes to cleaning which makes them even more worth it plus you are only using water so no chemicals.  To those of you that can’t quite budget in Norwex,  I am going to include what I used beforehand.

Bathroom
 

Sink:  Norwex Enviro Cloth:  Wet the cloth and I wipe my countertops down with it.  That’s it. This puts an awesome shine on my sink and it is a simple as wiping it down.  Since there are no chemicals, it doesn’t leave a residue so my sinks are extremely shiny and clean.  My husband even stated that my faucet hadn’t looked that good since I had bought it new.  This was an awesome compliment as he never compliments my cleaning.  ---- Before Norwex, Mr. Clean. 

Shower/Tub:  Magic Eraser.  I leave a magic eraser in my shower and, once a week; wipe the shower down while I am showering.  This is awesome on soap scum.  My husband is a mechanic and there is always a black ring around the bottom of our shower and this easily takes care of it.  There is no scrubbing at all, plus, no chemicals to smell either.  (Note: I use the name brand Magic Eraser as I have found that it works better than offbrand.)  

Mirrors: Norwex Polishing Cloth.  This is the quickest I have ever been able to clean my windows.  I spray on water and wipe.  No streaks…….at all. I literally called my sister after using this I was so amazed at how easily it cleaned and how good it worked. Her response was, “See, I told you!”---- Before Norwex, I used newspapers and vinegar/water in a spray bottle.  

Toilets:  The Works Toilet Bowl Tablet.  This is placed in the tank.  Every time that you flush, it is putting cleaner in the toilet.  So, once a week, I flush the toilet and use my scrub brush to scrub the toilet.  No messing with putting a cleaner in the toilet.  (Note: This is the only tablet I like.  I have tried others and don’t feel they work.)   Now, in my toilet that I clean diapers out with, I can’t use the tablet since I don’t want the chemicals on my diaper so I use a little baking soda and vinegar and scrub it around.

Kitchen
 

Microwave:  SprayWay Glass Cleaner.  I know this is a glass cleaner but it works awesome in my microwave.  I spray it in my microwave, close the door, wait a few minutes, then I open the door and wipe down my microwave.  It is super simple and works doesn’t leave a residue.  Note:  Cleaner has ammonia. 

Stove:  Sprayway Glass Cleaner.  Spray on stove top, let sit a few minutes and wipe down.  Just like the microwave, it’s super easy and doesn’t leave a residue.  It picks up any food that is left on it.  Note: Cleaner has ammonia. 

Dusting 

Dusting:  Norwex Dust Mitt.  Wipe off surface.  That’s it.  This works like a Swiffer Duster.  It picks up the dirt and doesn’t just spread around dust.  Best part with the mitt is that it does not need refills.  Just brush off and every so often throw in wash machine.  For areas like my end tables that get glass and bottle rings on them, I spray the table with water and then wipe down with the cloth. --- Before Norwex, any polishing spray and Swiffer duster.

Mopping

This section gets a lot of blog space since this is what takes the longest when it comes to cleaning!  I have used Swiffer vac and sweep, Swiffer wet mop, dry mop, libman wet mop.  I have tried a lot of different mops and settled on the Norwex mop.  This was the reason I even had a Norwex party.  I had broken my libman mop and my Swiffer vac and sweep kept going dead.  So I hosted a party since the mop was the hostess special.  Wasn’t for sure if I was even going to like this but I am super pleased with this!  It cut my cleaning time in half!  It is one mop handle and base and 2 different pads.  One is a dry superior mop pad that I use in place of my sweep n vac.  The other is my wet mop pad that I use in place of my Libman.  I sweep my floors and run over it with the dry mop and then clean with the wet mop. I honestly have no clue how this works but it does work. Plus, it is a huge space saver since it is only one mop that does both dry mop and wet mop.

Dry Mop: This mop picks up hair, small pieces of food, and dust and dirt.  You simply use a rubber brush to brush it off or use your vacuum to clean it.  I wash this in the wash machine every other week.

Wet Mop:  I personally like to fill up a spray bottle and spray my floor and then wipe over it with the mop.  I have heard of people just wetting the mop pad and ringing it out and then using it.  Either way, it cleans better then any mop I have ever used and I barely scrub.  I wash this is the wash machine every other week.

Feel free to add any quick ways you have found to clean your house!

Michelle

Goodwill

For me, Goodwill is one of the primary examples of America refueling itself.  They are a company that works off of people’s donations to create jobs.  Unlike other stores or even other resale shops, Goodwill doesn’t pay for the product they are selling.  They are simply using what Americans don’t want anymore and reselling which creates jobs for us.  Every time that I purchase an item, I know that my money is going to create a job for someone.  Someone that without another person’s donation and someone willing to buy the product, wouldn’t have a job.

So, where do the savings come in?  Goodwill is one of the cheapest resale shops I have shopped at.   I couldn’t make the items as cheap as I can buy them at Goodwill.  Plus, if you are lucky like I am in, the store where I live is large and holds a lot of items.

What can you buy at Goodwill?

 

Obviously, this can change dependent upon the store, season, etc.; however, I can always find clothing and shoes for everyone in the family, books, dishware, cookware, picture frames, lamps, crafts, vases, seasonal items, and a wide variety of many other things.  Please note: The prices can change dependent upon what they have, quality of item, location, inflation, etc.

Kid’s Clothes – There is usually a pretty wide selection of kid’s clothes.   On average, I pay around $1.95 per article of clothing and I just paid $1 for a pair of Dora Sandals.  Here are a couple images of clothes I have bought. 

 

 

Kids’s Book – I recently bought around 15 books at .35 cents a piece!  This is an awesome deal because as most parents know, kids end up ruining books! 

Kid’s Toys –  I am always surprised at how cheap the toys are.  Truly think about what you as a parent pay per year for toys that your kids only play with for a few months.   I bought a Little Tikes kitchen set for $9.  I found a Fisher Price Little People Dollhouse that originally cost $40 for $2.50.  Also, I bought a pair of Dora sunglasses for 56 cents! 

Adult Dresses –  I purchased 2 dresses there that I wore while I was pregnant.  I paid $3 for one and $5 for the other.  They have a wide variety of clothing.  Jeans run around $5 and shirts run around $3 and up. 

Crafts – This is actually a fairly big part of Goodwill.  People are constantly changing the crafts in their houses so I always see a lot of craft items.  So before you go to a craft store and pay a ton of money for something, I would take a peek at Goodwill to see what they have to offer.   

Seasonal – Another thing I love about Goodwill is that as the seasons change, so do they.  Around Christmas time, there was an entire aisle with Christmas crafts (nativity sets, platters, etc).  I just went into Goodwill and with Spring approaching, there were plastic pitchers and glasses.  Some were still in their original boxes.  I purchased a new strainer for $1.96. 

I could go on and on about everything that they offer.  I found 4 picture frames ranging between $1 - $2 per each frame.  I also found a new lamp base for $5. 

A New Way of Thinking

Goodwill has definitely changed my perspective of shopping. For Christmas last year, I bought my daughter a dollhouse at Goodwill and I purchased a brand new Radio Flyer wagon.  Guess what she liked more?  The dollhouse that I had paid $2.50 for.  It dawned on me then, if she doesn't care if something is used, why do I care if it is used?  Who says that something used cannot be as great as something new?  Yes, I know I am buying someone else’s used item; however, with a little cleaning, I think something used can be as good as new.  

What do I do with my purchases once I am done with them?  I donate it back to Goodwill to pay it forward and help create another job for someone.  Remember:  As you can read on Goodwill’s website, “ Every 38 seconds of every business day, someone gets a job — and moves toward economic stability — with help from you and Goodwill®.”

Stingily Yours,

Michelle

Does cloth diapering really save money?

Yes, it saves a lot.  I have been doing cloth diapering for 2 years now.  This is a subject I feel truly passionate about because I feel if everyone would just try for a couple weeks to do cloth diapering then they would feel the same way I do.  That it is completely worth it.  So this blog is for anyone that is interested in getting started in cloth diapering and wanting to know more about it.  I encourage anyone that is interested to read the entire blog as it give reasons why you do certain things!   There are many things that I have just found out on the way and wished I would’ve done my research beforehand.  I may update this from time to time as I remember more and more things about it. 
 

How are the diapers now different than your grandmas?

The diapers now have inserts that you simply put in the pocket diapers.  You add a couple inserts as the baby gets bigger.  Once the diaper is dirty, you put the whole diaper in a hanging diaper bag until you are ready to wash them.  There are no pins, big cloths, or plastic pants.  I could go on and on but instead I am going to reference you to the below website:

http://www.fuzzibunz.com/pdf/ClothDiaperFacts.pdf

How much should I buy and how much does it cost?

I spent around $340 getting started with 22 diapers and 2 hanging diaper bags; however, I waited for Black Friday sales.  I bought 22 diapers because I knew I wanted another baby and bought enough for 2.    Fuzzibunz currently has a starter kit for $316.  This includes 12 diapers, diaper sprayer, diaper hanging bag, 1 bag of detergent, and some wipes which is an awesome deal. 

Where are the savings?

Everywhere! J  You don’t have to buy disposables plus no diaper creams or a diaper genie with expensive bags.  The only additional purchase you make is the cloth diapering detergent which lasts for months.  Also, when it comes to washing, my water bill never went up when I started cloth diapering. 

 I can’t say how much you will save since everyone has their own brands of disposable diapers that they purchase.  Simply do the math, take how much you spend on diapers per week and times it by how long your child will be in a diaper then subtract your initial cost.  For me, the savings for the girs so far are about $1,000 and for Anna it will be a lot more since I don’t have any startup costs with her. 

What kind should I get?

 I went with Fuzzibunz One Size Diapers for the reasons listed below: 

Snaps – They have snaps instead of velcro.  Velcro can wear down after many washes plus can get lint caught in it and make it not stick as well.  I have not had a problem yet with my snaps.

Adjustable Elastic – They have elastic in the legs and back of the diaper that you can adjust to fit the baby as your baby grows so you do not need to purchase different sizes.  This is great because you can tailor it to perfectly fit your baby whether they have chubby legs or skinny legs.  Also, Fuzzibunz has an extra set of elastic with each diaper so when the first wears down, you can simply replace.

Why not perfect size?  You have to buy for each size (Small, Medium, and Large) By the time you spend the money, the savings are not that much.  The One Size can be adjusted as the baby grows. 

What about diaper cream?

Do NOT use diaper creams or ointments.  The fleece will naturally pull the water away from your babies’ bottom plus the creams can ruin the diaper.  If your baby gets a diaper rash, use cornstarch.  I personally just bought regular cornstarch in the grocery isle which works better and is cheaper than baby powder. 

Washing & Drying

This is a big section because how you care for the diapers determines how well they will work.  Some of this I found out only after having diapers that smelled for weeks so this section is extremely important.  It’s not hard to wash them but there are a few key things to remember.  I have hard water so I include any steps I do for the hard water. 

Wash Cycle:  I personally run a rinse cycle first since I have an HE washer.  After that, run a hot wash load and hang dry them on a pop-up dryer rack. 

Detergent: Use a detergent that is recommended for pocket diapers as they will not cause a buildup in the diaper.  The buildup will make them not absorb as well.   I use Hard Rock Rockin Green Detergent because it is for people that have hard water.  I use 1 tbsp per load and wash my diapers around every other day.  Do NOT use vinegar.  This can cause the elastic in the diapers to wear down quicker.  Also, fabric softener is a huge NO because it will cause the diaper to repel the water instead of absorbing it. 

Drying:  I use a pop-up dryer rack.  Works great and saves even more money.   If you use dryer sheets in your dryer, do NOT dry these in the dryer as the chemicals from the dryer sheets are on the dryer drum.  If at all possible, try to hang them in the sunlight as this naturally bleaches the diapers.  Days that are extremely hot are awesome for the diapers!

Maintenance:  This is just a section on what I personally feel should be done to the diapers from my experience.  Remember, I have hard water. 

Bleach – Every  3-5 weeks, bleach the inserts only.  If your diaper smells, this takes care of it.

Stains – Sometimes the diapers will get dingy.  I just found this cleaner a few weeks ago and love it.  Use a cleaner with 1 part original non-concentrated dawn to 2 parts hydrogen peroxide.  Spray on the fleece of the inside of the diaper.  This brightens the diapers.

Look below for more information on washing instructions:

http://shop.fuzzibunz.com/category_s/1873.htm

http://shop.fuzzibunz.com/category_s/1878.htm#trouble2

 

What is a hanging diaper bag?

I bought these instead of the diaper genie. It is simply a bag that you put the diapers in and it has a zipper on the bottom so you can unzip it and let the diapers fall into the wash machine and not have to touch them. It has a handle on it so it can hang. I bought 2 and when I am washing diapers, I add the dirty bag to the wash with the diapers and use the other bag.  How do the diapers fit with clothes?

 

How do the diapers fit with clothing?

These diapers are bigger.  Usually, the diapers upped my daughter an entire size.  So, if she could wear 6 months in pants, with cloth diapers, she wears 9 months.

Are there any cloth diapering accessories I don’t use?

The Sprayer – for me, I can clean my diapers out easily in the toilet without spending 30-50 bucks on a sprayer to clean them.

The Liners – I don’t think it’s that hard to shake off anything that’s on the diapers so a liner just seemed unnecessary, plus, it costs more money.

Used cloth diapers?

Honestly, I know people that have done this.  For me, I wanted brand new since I knew it was for both of my girls.  I will say that people have used this and do like it.

Is there a downside?

If you want to even see this as a downside.  I do use disposable diapers occasionally.  If I am going to be gone for long period of time or at night because my daughter still takes 3-4 bottles a night and 1 disposable will last her through the night.  Also, in regards to how often you need to change the diapers.  I change my daughter’s diapers every 2-3 hours.  With cloth diapering, you have to change them every 2-3 hours or they will leak out.

Final Thoughts

 If after reading all of this, you are still unsure.  Remember this quote:

Whether you think you can or you think you can’t…..you’re right – Henry Ford

If you think that you can’t do cloth diapering then you will always find a reason to not like it.  If you think that you can do it, then go out and get started!  The biggest obstacle is overcoming the idea that cloth diapering is outdated or too gross. That it’s just not for you or you can’t do it.  I was nervous starting this; however, I found cloth diapering empowering because while everyone had to remember to get diapers at the grocery store, I simply started a load of wash.

I pulled part of my information from the below website:

http://shop.fuzzibunz.com/

Stingily Yours,

Michelle

And remember, this is my recommendations from my experience. Check the manufacturers recommendations as there are some things that can void a warranty.  I believe everything I did is ok with my brand.

What do Soda, Software, & Pictures have in common?

Would you like to create FREE pictures, thank you cards, Christmas cards, and collages?  Do you drink soda?  Well my favorite drink now pays for my pictures.  Currently, coke rewards has where you can get free pictures with Shutterfly…….so 25 points for 25 4x6 pictures.  Also, you can get 11x14 pictures for a certain amount of points.  This is one of my new favorite ways to save money!

Here is what you will do:

1.     Create an account with Coke Rewards (www.cokerewards.com)

 

2.   Create an account with Shutterfly (You will automatically get 50 free 4 x 6 prints just for signing up) (www.shutterfly.com)

3.      Save coke rewards until you are ready to order.   Coke Rewards are on your caps and in your cardboard boxes.  You will only need to save the number. You will need to ensure that you log onto the coke rewards website once every three months for it to save your points that were previously entered.  This shouldn't be a problem if you are regularly signing on to add points.

4.      Once I am ready to order, then I find my shutterfly pictures that I want to redeem and choose to redeem them.  They will give you a code.

5.      Go to the Shutterfly website and upload your pictures.  Then enter the code rewards code at  the checkout of Shutterfly.  The only thing I have to pay for is shipping and handling which is much cheaper than going any 1 hour store and printing them off.

 

6.   If you are only wanting FREE pictures then you don't need to go any farther.  If you are wanting to create a collage then read below.

So where do the thank you cards, Christmas cards, and collages come in?  I downloaded a FREE software called Picasa that I can create collages as a 4x6 picture.  I simply bring up the picture and choose that I want the size to be 4 x 6 and then add everything anything else I want into it! 

I have used this for my girls pictures, our Christmas cards, and one of my friends created her thank you cards from her wedding doing this.  Shutterfly pictures are also a great quality.  This is a great, efficient way to save money!  Plus the possibilities are endless!

FYI: Coke Rewards can also be used to redeem for free 12 packs, E-gift cards, magazine subscriptions, and many other things.

These are the websites:

www.mycokerewards.com

www.shutterfly.com

www.picasa.google.com

Stingily Yours,

 

The Stingy Sister

 

Laundry Detergent

“I don’t notice a difference between store bought and homemade.”  That is the main comment I usually receive when I ask people what they think of this recipe and that is the point.  The only difference you should notice is the price!  I have been using this detergent for over a year now and still love it!

The price of regular detergent can range from 80 loads for 5 bucks to 102 loads for 18 dollars.  You can make this batch for around 17 dollars and get over 500 loads at a tbsp a load. When calculating the cost, ask yourself this, do you fill the laundry cap perfectly to the medium load line?   Or are you like most of us and fill it higher?  If you are, then the savings are going to be more since manufacturers usually calculate total loads by medium loads. 

If you’re not convinced to try this soap yet, think about this.  For around 30 minutes of work, I just saved myself around 70 dollars this year since I do around 10 loads per week.  Where else can you get 70 bucks for 30 minutes of work!  Plus, since I only make it around once a year, it’s one less thing I have to remember on my grocery list.

Homemade Laundry Soap:

-   1-4 lb 12 oz box Borax (2.15 kg or 76 oz)

-   1-4 lb box Arm & Hammer Baking Soda (1.81 kg)

-   1 - box Arm & Hammer Super Washing Soda 55 oz (3 lb 7 oz)

-   3 Bars of Fels-Naptha Soap

-   1 small container of Oxy Clean or store brand Oxy Clean (try to get about 3.5 lbs total or 1.58 kg)

I found all of these ingredients in the laundry soap isle in Walmart by the Oxiclean and bleach.

Step 1: Use a hand cheese grater or a food processor to grate the Soap.  I use a  hand grater to grate my soap.

(Optional Step: I do this just because I have an HE washer.  After grating the soap, I add in Washing Soda in food processor and process all of it until smooth.)

Step 2: Mix it with everything!

Step 3: Use 1 -2 tbsp per load.  I use 1 tbsp per load in my HE washer.  I know someone that has a regular wash machine and uses 1 tbsp and it works great.

Also, when I calculated this, it made around 32 cups, which is around 2 gallons so make sure you have a big container or a couple of plastic ice cream containers to put this in.

I didn’t come up with this recipe on my own! I got it from the below website.  For more details on how to make the detergent, commonly asked questions, and images with step by step instructions, please select on the link below.

http://beingcreativetokeepmysanity.blogspot.com/2010/11/homemade-laundry-soap.html

 

As Always,

The Stingy Sister