How to Make Family Cloth (the Best Way!)

This post is all about how to make family cloth (aka reusable toilet paper)

I made my first family cloth a couple of year ago and we have LOVED it! It is surprisingly easy to use and maintain and it has been a great transition. Homemade reusable toilet paper might sound intimating, but here we will walk you through how to make family cloth

What is Family Cloth?

Family cloth is reusable toilet paper! It is made out of fabric that you wipe with, wash and reuse.

Supplies

Fabric Cutting Mat– You don’t absolutely need this, but it is nice.
Rotary Cutter – You will need the mat if you go with this one.
Fabric Scissors
Fabric
Thread
Sewing Machine
Serger

NOTE: If you don’t have a sewing machine or a serger, there are programs where you can rent one or get a time slot on one through hobby shops or some fabric stores.

How to Make Family Cloth

Choose Your Fabric

I have made reusable toilet paper out of three kinds of fabrics, and there IS a difference and it DOES matter what you wipe with. I have used old t-shirts, so just an old cotton knit; I have used old cotton flannel sheets; and I have used terry cloth rags, like what you can find at an auto parts store. In order of most favorite to least favorite here is an in depth description of each:

Cotton Flannel

Cotton flannel is perfect for this application! It is absorbent, washes well and don’t stain. These wipes have a plusher feel than the t-shirt wipes and I feel like this does a better job cleaning down there, if you know what I mean. I like to reuse old flannel sheets or scrap flannel for this, but brand new would work just fine.

Old T-Shirts

I don’t know if I would call this an “upcycle” but it is a great use for those old t-shirts. Most t-shirts make great family cloth that is soft, absorbent, easy to clean and doesn’t stain. It isn’t as nice as flannel, but it does the job.

Terry CLoth Rags

The least favorite fabric we have tried, terry cloth is ROUGH! On top of that it doesn’t really absorb so I tend to get a chapped butt when I use this kind. Plus it is hard to clean. Not recommended.

Measure ANd Cut Out

An 8 inch square is the optimal size for family cloth. You can get away with something smaller, but do so at your own risk 🙂 . And you can go larger, but then I find the cloth gets unruly to wipe with. I have cut mine two ways; I have done it both with scissors and with the rotary cutter and mat.

I usually measure out one using a ruler and then cut out the rest using the first one as my guide.

I like to double up my fabric, so have two layers per square. One isn’t enough in my opinion, it is too easy for things to leak through when I’m wiping. So I either cut two 8 inch squares, or one rectangle that is 8″ by 16″ and fold it in half.

Sow and Serge

I like to sow an X in the middle of my family cloth to help tac it down, though a single line across would do as well. Then I serge around the outside. You could also do a simple zig zag seam along the edges if you don’t have access to a serger. This keeps the fabric from fraying and keeps it nicer longer.

how to use family cloth

I keep my family cloth in a little basket behind our toilet and then we put the used wipe in a wet bag like one you use for swimming or cloth diapers. Here is a link to one on amazon, or here is a tutorial on how to make your own.

Once the wet bag gets full I put the used wipes in to wash with my rags and towels and wash them like normal. Then I dry them in the dryer. I do like the idea of line drying them, but taking the time to hang every single one gets old. I think I will try putting them in a mesh bag and see how that goes.

So there you have it! How to make family cloth! This is super simple and well worth your time and effort.

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