Natural Baby Life logo (480 x 130)

Baby Wipes Dried Out? Learn How to Rehydrate Them!

/

Disclosure: Some of our articles contain links to recommended products or services in which we may receive a commission if you make a purchase.

It’s practically a parenting rite of passage to be in public with an epic baby mess only to realize your wipes are dried out. If your baby wipes dried out, you can actually rehydrate them to save you money and help you out in a pinch.

The easiest and most simple way to rehydrate baby wipes is to add some water and then leave them to sit at room temperature in a sealed container or bag. You can also make a homemade wipe solution that can be used to rehydrate dried-out baby wipes.

Having baby wipes on hand can be a huge help when caring for a baby though they can also be used around the house or in a vehicle for a quick clean-up on the road. Baby wipes come moist in their packaging and should be moist when used because they perform best when damp – here’s how to keep them that way!

What to do if your baby wipes dried out

The solution of store-bought baby wipes is mostly water along with detergents, perfumes, and preservatives.

The solution is primarily water so you can easily rehydrate baby wipes by just adding water to them and then placing them in a sealed container. Rehydrating wipes is a great way to save money and also help you clean up a mess when you are faced with dry wipes.

How to revive dried out baby wipes

Water is the number one ingredient in the solution that keeps baby wipes moist while in the packaging or container. Sometimes though, from age or the package being left unsealed, the wipes may dry out and make them difficult to use. There are a few ways that you can rehydrate baby wipes.

The simplest and easiest solution to reviving baby wipes is placing them in a sealed, airtight container, adding about 2 tablespoons of water or a homemade baby wipe solution, and leaving them at room temperature for a while to soak it up.

Wipes left in hot vehicles can dry out quickly but adding water to the wipes can restore them quickly.

Mother wiping down her toddler with a baby wipe

You can easily make your own baby wipe solution that you can use to rehydrate baby wipes. While water is still the main ingredient, there are also other things you can add to the solution such as natural fragrance, essential oils, vitamins, and oils.

Adding these ingredients to dried-out baby wipes can make them perform even better versus just adding water to the dried-out wipes.

Making a natural baby wipe solution

Instead of just adding water to a package of dried-out baby wipes, you can make your own solution which can be used to rehydrate the wipes. You can either put this in a spray bottle to spritz it on the wipes or add it to the dried-out wipes and allow them to absorb the moisture.

Making your own baby wipe solution can restore old wipes or you could even replace store-bought wipes with paper towels and use homemade wipes. A homemade wipe solution is easy to make. Here is a good recipe for making your own homemade wipe solution to restore dry baby wipes:

How to make homemade wipe solution

Ingredients

  • 2 cups of boiled water or distilled water
  • 1 tablespoon of aloe Vera
  • 1 tablespoon of Witch Hazel Extract
  • 1 tablespoon of soap
  • 1 teaspoon vitamin E
  • 1 teaspoon coconut oil
  • 5-10 drops of essential oils

Instructions

  1. Boil the water in a tea kettle or pot if you are using tap water. Skip this step if you are using distilled water.
  2. Add all of the ingredients to the water and mix well.
  3. Once the solution is well mixed, pour it over the baby wipes OR place in a small spray bottle and spritz the wipes as needed.
  4. Use only once the solution has reached room temperature.

How to use dry baby wipes

Despite trying to remoisten baby wipes, you may still find yourself with a stack of dry wipes and wondering if you can still use them despite being dry. While baby wipes work best when moist, they can also be used in other ways if they are dry. Some of these ways are:

  • Dusting furniture – Baby wipes can be used to dry dust furniture
  • Dusting electronics – There is a pretty strict “no moisture” rule for most electronics so a dry baby wipe can be useful when cleaning the screen of a device.
  • Soaking up a spill – Baby wipes are very absorbent so they can be very helpful if you find yourself with a spill at home or in the car.
  • Tissue or napkin – A runny nose or messy lunch can be cleaned up with a dry baby wipe.
  • Vehicle wipe down – Dry baby wipes can be used to wipe down the dash and steering column of a vehicle.

Father cleaning up toddler with baby wipes

How do I keep my wipes from drying out?

Baby wipes perform the best when they are damp with either water or wipe solution. Over time, baby wipes can dry out with age but they can also dry out due to heat, such as sitting in a hot car. But the most common reason that baby wipes dry out is that they are not stored properly.

Air getting to the baby wipes will cause them to dry out quickly, even overnight sometimes. This is why it’s important that you store your baby wipes in an airtight container.

This will help them last much longer. Most baby wipes come prepackaged in an airtight container such as a tub or package with a sealable opening. Leaving the baby wipes in their original packaging is the best way to keep wipes from drying out.

But, there are other ways to store baby wipes to keep them from drying out.

How do you store wipes to prevent drying?

Besides keeping the baby wipes in their original container, there are ways to store the baby wipes to keep them moist and to help them last longer. When picking a container or bag for your baby wipes, it is crucial that it is airtight, otherwise, they will dry out quickly.

Here are some options for storing your baby wipes to keep them moist:

  • Ziploc bag – this is probably the easiest and least expensive option. Try to get a bag with a double zipper which can help ensure that they are kept moist.
  • Travel pouch – These are awesome because not only will they help keep your wipes moist, but they also look super cute and you can throw one in the diaper bag, one in your purse, one in the car, and the list goes on! These are well-reviewed and have super cute prints!
  • Reuse containers – Many wipes come in a plastic wipe dispenser container that is sealable and easy to use. Reusing the same containers can be a helpful solution to keeping baby wipes moist.
  • Plastic tub or container – You can use plastic food storage containers to store the baby wipes. We’ve definitely used old lunch meat containers before – they are the perfect size and can easily be carried in a diaper bag or stored in a vehicle.

There are some ways to help prevent your wipes from drying out besides keeping them airtight. Some of these ways are:

  • Avoid sunlight: Sunlight will quickly dry out wipes despite being in an airtight container. The heat of the sunlight will cause moisture to evaporate from the wipes.
  • Avoid heat: Like sunlight, heat can also cause wipes to dry out quickly, so try to store them in a cool and dark place.
  • Use a small stack at a time – Some wipes come in big packages with hundreds of wipes in them. Opening and closing the packaging over and over can cause the wipes to dry out. Instead of using the original packaging, put a small stack in a container and keep the remaining wipes in the sealed package.

Toddler messy with birthday cake

How do I keep my wipes moist in a warmer?

Heat will cause baby wipes to dry out quickly. A wipe warmer can give your baby a more comfortable diaper change but they can also cause wipes to dry out quickly. Here is an in-depth look at whether or not wipe warmers are necessary.

The best way to prevent wipes from drying out while using a wipe warmer is to only put a small amount in the warmer at a time. If you put a whole stack, the wipes on the bottom will dry out. So put about 5-10 wipes in the warmer at a time and refill as needed. Also, check to see if your warmer has a reservoir at the bottom that lets you add water for this very reason!

Are there any baby wipes that don’t dry out?

Despite an airtight container, you will find yourself with dry baby wipes eventually as they age because the moisture will naturally evaporate over time.

Keeping them in a dark, cool place in an airtight container will make them last longer, but age will eventually dry them out regardless of their storage. All baby wipes, store-bought or even homemade, will eventually dry out if left to age in a container.

Conclusion

Dried-out wipes aren’t as effective as wet ones, but luckily it’s simple to rehydrate them. Simply use water if you’re out and about or make a homemade solution to soup them up.

Joshua Bartlett
Joshua Bartlett

My name is Joshua Bartlett I run this blog with my wife Jarah. We have more than 11 years of parenting experience including three girls and one boy. I started this blog in late 2018 when I realized that I was dealing with baby-related issues on a constant basis…please read more about me here!