One Small Step is one simple idea (delivered to you on Fridays here at repurposeful) that can make a big impact on your family, your budget or the environment (or all three!).
About six months ago, I realized that our family was using an obscene amount of paper towels on a daily basis. Between wiping counters and wiping mouths (two kids under 3), we were going through a roll every couple of days. Ugh! Expensive and bad for the earth. At the same time in our house, I had a stack of receiving blankets no longer being used by growing Baby G. Aha!
This week’s One Small Step is an idea for repurposing infants’ receiving blankets into wash-up cloths, which will cut down on your paper towel use, save you money and reduce waste.
Receiving blankets into wash-up cloths
Receiving blankets (cut up into small squares) make perfect clean-up cloths, especially for messy little hands and faces. Because they’re made out of flannel, they’re gentle on tender skin and they don’t fray as much when they’re washed. Here are instructions to make your own:
- Fold a receiving blanket lengthwise into thirds.
- Cut across the fold three times, creating 4 squares (don’t worry about perfection here). If you own pinking shears, use them to cut the cloth–it cuts down on fraying.
- Cut each square at the folds. You will now have 12 individual cloths.
- Fold ‘em, stack ‘em and stash ‘em in an easy-to-grab spot in your kitchen.
- The next time your little one eats PB&J, grab a cloth, wet it and wipe up the stickiness!
- When you’re done with a cloth (you can rinse inbetween uses), toss it into any load of laundry.
Take this One Small Step one step further: Cut up old and tattered towels into cloth towels for wiping up counters and table tops.
Very cool idea. And seriously, ANYONE who has a baby has too many receiving blankets…
-Mary
Hi Cara,
Nice blog you have here. I saw you at BlogHer.
I cut up old tshirts for dusting. I also use clean old socks. you can slip it on your hand with makes it easier to use your hand. And then since you were going to throw the sock out anyway – I’ll usually get it good and dirty and pitch it.
I just can’t see spending all that money on swifter things.
I’ll be back to pick up some more tips
Carole
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Thanks for your comments. And agree with your tips on old socks– they are so versatile! You’ll have to check out my list for repurposing socks.
I did the same thing with all our old burp cloths which were flat fold cloth diapers. They work great of the constant mouth/hand/ everything in between wiping.
Joana– I have a huge stack of burp cloths just waiting for a new life. Thanks for the tip!
That’s a great idea, to reuse old baby blankets! I use those cheap little baby wash cloths that you get at Walmart, etc. They’re nice and soft, and the perfect size. I think it’s great to reuse something you don’t need, though!
Thanks for joining Living Simply Saturdays, too!
[...] everyone, but it’s worth a try! If you don’t have a hanky, you can cut down and repurpose a piece of flannel or other soft [...]
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[...] useful tips on repurposing everday things while living green and frugal. Learn how you can turn a baby food jar into a chandelier, socks into pillow stuffing, and create a recycled drum [...]
[...] Cara at repurposeful posted suggestions for reusing old blankets as new clean up cloths [...]