You have to use cloth-like paper towels - Viva is the best for these. Cheaper ones fall apart. Cut it in half. I use the large size red plastic coffee containers, they're the perfect size.
For baby wipes, I use a scant 2 cups hot water, 2 T baby oil, 1 T very mild soap (I use a castile soap) or baby shampoo/wash. Let it soak a while, then the cardboard roll slips out easily. Pull from the middle. After using most of them, the sides will sort of cave it and at that point, I just pull them apart. Easy Peasy.
Lots of people also make housecleaning wipes. I did for a while, but found it just as easy to use a rag and spray bottle.