Dry, scratchy paper towels and overpriced packaged wipes get old fast. These homemade moist towelettes fix that with a simple folded stack you can keep in a small container or plastic ziploc bag. They take minutes to make, and they pull double duty when life gets sticky (because of course it does).
Making your own costs less than buying a ready-made pack of specialty wipes. A homemade batch uses 24 half-sheets of white paper towels plus witch hazel and glycerine, while comparable pre-moistened wipes often cost several dollars per pack at retail. You also control the formula yourself, which means you can skip extra fragrance and keep the mixture as simple as the original version intended.
You only need 3 materials for this batch: white paper towels, witch hazel, and glycerine. The finished wipes go into a small container or plastic ziploc bag, and the only real prep is cutting and folding the towels, then mixing and pouring the liquid over them.
- 🧰 Materials You'll Need
- 🔧 Tools/Equipment
- 🛠️ How to Make Moist Towelettes
- 🎨 Customization Ideas
- 🛠️ How to Use Moist Towelettes
- 🛡️ Safety and Care
- 📦 Storage
- 💸 Estimated Cost
- 🛍️ Need Help Finding Everything?
- ❓ Frequently Asked Questions about Homemade Moist Towelettes
- 📌 Love this Homemade Moist Towelettes? Pin it!
- 🖨️ Print-Friendly How-To: Homemade Moist Towelettes
Materials You’ll Need
- 24 squares white paper towels, separated, cut in half and folded into thirds
- 1 1/2 cup witch hazel
- 2 teaspoons glycerine
Tools/Equipment
- Small container or plastic ziploc bag
- Scissors
- Mixing bowl or measuring cup for blending
How to Make Moist Towelettes
- Separate 24 squares of white paper towels, cut them in half, and fold each piece into thirds.
- Fold your towels like letters so they stack neatly and pull out easily.
- Place the folded towels in a small container or plastic ziploc bag.
- Combine 1 1/2 cups witch hazel and 2 teaspoons glycerine, blending well.
- Pour the liquid mixture evenly over the towelettes.
- Close the container or bag and let the towels absorb the mixture before using.
Hint: fold your towels like letters.
Customization Ideas
- Use a small reusable container at home if you want a sturdier grab-and-go option.
- Pack the folded wipes in a plastic ziploc bag for the car, diaper bag, or travel kit.
- Make one batch for general wipe-ups and keep another batch in the vehicle since these are great as a windshield wipe too.
How to Use Moist Towelettes
Use these homemade moist towelettes anywhere you need a quick pre-moistened wipe. They’re handy for freshening hands, wiping up small messes, and stashing in the car for convenience.
The original tip still stands: they’re great as a windshield wipe too. If you keep a batch in the vehicle, label the container clearly and use it only as a general wipe, not as a disinfecting product.
Safety and Care
Store these in a clearly labeled container or bag so nobody mistakes them for food or a commercial disinfecting wipe. If you plan to use them for surface cleanup, remember this is a simple homemade wipe formula, not a registered disinfectant. The U.S. Environmental Protection Agency notes that disinfectants should never be applied to skin and should be stored carefully according to label directions, which is a useful reminder any time homemade or commercial wipes live in the house or car: read the EPA guidance here.
Storage
Keep the container or plastic ziploc bag sealed so the towels stay moist. If the stack starts to dry out, add a small amount of the same witch hazel and glycerine mixture rather than plain water so the balance stays consistent.
Estimated Cost
This batch is inexpensive to make, but exact pricing varies by brand, package size, and where you shop. Since the formula uses only part of each purchased supply, a reasonable estimate for one batch is about $1.25 to $2.25 in consumable materials, which is often less than a packaged specialty wipe product.
🛍️ Need Help Finding Everything?
- Witch hazel at Walmart
- Glycerine at Walmart
- White paper towels at Walmart
- Small wipe container on Amazon
- Plastic ziploc-style bags on Amazon
- More Household Recipes for the Do it Yourselfer
Frequently Asked Questions about Homemade Moist Towelettes
Yes. The original method specifically uses either a small container or a plastic ziploc bag. Just seal it well so the towels stay moist instead of turning back into regular paper towels with attitude.
Folding them into thirds helps the stack stay tidy and makes the towels easier to grab one at a time. The original hint says to fold your towels like letters, which gives you the same neat effect.
Stick with white paper towels, since that’s what the formula uses. If you switch brands, the absorbency and thickness can change how wet the finished towelettes feel.
Glycerine helps the liquid feel less stark and adds a little slip to the mixture. In practical terms, it helps balance the witch hazel so the wipes feel more like moist towelettes and less like a damp stack of paper.
Yes. The original directions specifically say they’re great as a windshield wipe too. Keep a batch in the car in a sealed bag or container so it’s ready when you need it.
No. This formula makes moist towelettes, not a registered disinfecting wipe. Use them for simple wipe-ups and freshening, not as a substitute for a labeled disinfectant when you need one.
Keep the bag or container tightly sealed between uses. If they start to dry, add a little more of the same witch hazel and glycerine mixture instead of soaking them all over again.
Yes, as long as you keep the same ratio. The full batch uses 1 1/2 cups witch hazel and 2 teaspoons glycerine over 24 prepared paper towel squares cut in half and folded.
Separate the 24 squares first, cut them all in half at once, then fold the stack assembly-line style. It goes faster, and you won’t end up wrestling soggy towels later.
📌 Love this Homemade Moist Towelettes? Pin it!
Did you try this project? Tell me whether you kept yours in a container or a ziploc bag, and where you ended up using them most.
🖨️ Print-Friendly How-To: Homemade Moist Towelettes
Homemade Moist Towelettes
Equipment
Materials
- 24 squares white paper towels separated, cut in half and folded into thirds
- 1 ½ cup witch hazel
- 2 teaspoons glycerine
Instructions
- Separate 24 squares of white paper towels.
- Cut the towels in half.
- Fold each piece into thirds.
- Fold your towels like letters.
- Place the folded towels in a small container or plastic ziploc bag.
- Combine the witch hazel and glycerine, blending well.
- Pour the mixture over the towelettes.
- Close the container or bag and let the towels absorb the liquid.
- https://www.budget101.com/wp-content/uploads/2010/01/homemade-moist-towelettes-witch-hazel-glycerine.jpg
- These are moist towelettes, not registered disinfecting wipes.
- Label the container clearly.
- They're great as a windshield wipe too.
- Estimated cost reflects consumable materials only and will vary by brand and package size.
