How to Fold Cloth Wipes to Make Them Pop Up

Have you ever wanted to make your cloth wipes more convenient and fun to use? Folding reusable baby wipes to pop up one at a time, similar to disposable wipes, is easy to do, I used to stuff my nappies and fold my washable baby wipes whilst watching TV in the evening - and saves you time and hassle during the busy day.

Not only does it add a little ease to diaper changes, it also creates a streamlined system for pulling out wipes, especially if you have one hand trapping your little one! With a little practice, you’ll have perfectly popping cloth wipes ready to go. 

"Loved using cheeky wipes for my first child, so much cheaper than using disposable wipes and so easy to wash and use. Great service and quick delivery on all products, quality is excellent every time." MD, Trustpilot Oct '24

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What You’ll Need to Get Started

To create a pop-up washable wipes system for your cloth wipes, here’s what you’ll need:

A stack of cloth wipes

We recommend using either 15x15cm wipes for baby changing, hands and faces and weaning or 20x20cm wipes for kitchen roll, tissues or cleaning wipes. You'll need around 20-30 depending on your container size.

A reusable wipes container, wet bag or reusable wipes tub

Now curve ball here - we recommend using our MUCKY wipes box as a fresh wipes kit if you plan to create pop up wipes. It has the perfect capacity and an opening in the top ready for you to pull your folded wipes through. We sell them separately in three different colours so just choose one that is a different colour to your designated dirty wipes container. 

A spray bottle with water or wipe solution

You can still store your wet wipes damp and they will pop up but you can keep them dry and wet as you go. Fill a pump bottle with wipes solution and keep it on hand to wet as you go, especially useful if you are out and about. You can choose a ready made spray like our Harry and Rose wipes spray or make up your own solution with poppets and their pump bottle or our natural wipe solution and pump bottle

1. Step #1: Lay Out the First Wipe

Begin by laying your first cloth wipe flat on a clean surface. Ensure the cloth is flat, as this will help the wipes stack neatly and pop up effectively.

2. Step #2: Place the Next Wipe on Top

Now, take a second wipe and lay it flat on top of the first wipe. Position it so that it’s centred half way over the first wipe.

3. Step #3: Fold the First Wipe Over the Second

Next, take the exposed half of the first wipe (green) and fold it over the second wipe (pink). This will partially enclose the second wipe and create the “pop-up” effect when the wipes are stacked in your container.

4. Step#4: Lay a Third Wipe

Lay the third wipe (baby blue) over the fold of the first wipe(green) and half of the second wipe (pink)

5.Step #5: Fold the 2nd Wipe over Half of the Third Wipe

Fold the exposed half of the second wipe (pink) over the third wipe (baby blue) to create a concertina effect that will pull the next wipe out when the first is removed.

6.Step#6: Lay your Next Wipe Over

Lay another wipe (blue) over the folded wipe (pink) and half of the open wipe (baby blue), then fold the open wipe (baby blue) over the top wipe (blue)

7. Step #7: Repeat the Process

Continue layering your cloth wipes following this pattern: Lay down a new wipe flat on top, fold the side of the previous wipe over it, and so on. Stack as many wipes as you need in this way until you have a full pile ready to go.

8. Step #8: Place the Wipes in the Container or Wetbag

Once your wipes are fully stacked, place them carefully into your wipe container.

9. Step #9 Close the Box Ready for Use

The wipes can be stored dry ready to be wet as you go or store them damp and refresh the box every two days removing any unused wipes for washing

10. Step #10: Pull Out Through the Pop Top

When you’re ready to use, simply pull the top wipe, and the next one will pop up, ready for easy access.

To see this process in action, check out our video below! We’ll take you through each step and show you how it works. Feel free to share this video across social media or save it for quick reference.

Troubleshooting

Here are some common issues you may encounter and tips to help you make the wipes pop up for you.