What To Do With Old Towels? (Recycling Ideas)
There always seems to be an endless supply of old towels in my home and we tend to run through them quite a bit. This usually means, there are plenty of old towels that I have no use for.
If your first instinct, like mine, is to trash the old towels, I would say it would be a good idea to hold off on that one.
However, since you’re already here to discover new ways to reuse old towels, I think you’re going to love this one.
This article will show you the best ways to repurpose and upcycle old towels by transforming them into useful items for your home.
To give you a quick idea, the best things you can do with old towels are turning them into a stunning bathroom mat, making a bath pouf, cleaning rag, dish towel, mop cover replacement, beach bag, spa slippers, dog toy or donating them to animal shelters.
A lot of these suggestions are great for everyday use and you’ll definitely be pleased to discover a few quirky ideas as well.
So, whether you have bath towels, hand towels, or even pool towels, you can turn any of them into something handy.
To explore these ideas in further detail, here are your best options:
Table of Contents
Best Things To Make With Old Towels
Bathroom Mat
Believe it or not but an old towel can make an awesome bathroom mat that is absorbent and stylish.
Simply cutting the towel into strips and weaving them together or making a shag rug will create a great mat for your bathroom.
There are plenty of tutorials and designs you can choose from when making the mat using an old towel.
However, a particular one that I highly recommend trying is this tutorial from Buzzfeed Nifty which will show you the process in detail:
Bath Pouf
For personal use, you can definitely recycle and transform an old towel into a bath pouf.
This will make a great shower essential that will help you scrub away dead skin.
It may seem a tad bit strange to make one but hey, if you’re looking for something to make from an old towel, this is a quick and easy project.
You will need a sewing machine to make this but all it involves is cutting two circles and a few strips and then stitching them together in a spiral shape to make the pouf.
If you’re interested in a written tutorial, head over to Rufflesandstuff for a guide.
It’s a cute little project but if you feel uneasy about using an old towel, just grab a brand-new towel if that makes you feel better.
Cleaning Rag
Making a cleaning rag out of old towels is the perfect way to use them.
Cut down an old towel into various sizes and transform them into cleaning rags that can be washed and reused.
This is also great if you’d like to get more involved in zero waste and having these towels to clean kitchen spills or other messes is better in the long run.
You can save a lot of money using these old towels as a rag and this way you don’t have to use your pretty rags.
Dish Towels
Another great way to use old towels is to turn them into dish towels. These towels are absorbent; all you really need to do is cut them into an appropriate size and sew the hems for a neat finish.
I wouldn’t recommend using old towels for drying dishes but they can still be great for wiping up the sink and counters.
Mop Cover Replacement
Looking for a cheap mop replacement? Then grab an old towel and turn it into a mop cover that works great for smooth tiles.
This is a budget-friendly method and it’s a great way to reuse old towels. It’s also washable which means you’ll get quite a few uses out of it.
Perfect for steam mops and you can cut the towels down to size.
Beach Bags
Quit buying another expensive beach bag and turn an old towel into any sized beach bag.
This is ideal if you want to carry the essential items and anyone can sew this in just a few minutes. You don’t need to be a pro to transform an old towel.
Alternatively, consider using towels that are in decent condition and make a large beach towel or picnic blanket.
Spa Slippers
Now here’s a really exciting project you can try and this is turning the old towels into a spa slippers.
This is really fun and great for after you’ve stepped out of the shower or can be used on those self-care days.
The great thing about this idea is the low cost. All you will need to make spa slippers from old towels is a pair of flip-flops, board, or eco-leather, and the towel.
For a full step-by-step process, check out this tutorial from Two Strands:
Choose a towel that is still soft and in decent condition for a satisfying end product.
Dog Toy
Make an awesome toy using old towels for your pet. You can save money and recycle the towels for a cheap chew toy your dog will love.
The process is relatively simple.
All you need to do is cut an old towel into 3 strips and tie them together at one end. Then braid the strands and tie the end.
If you’d like to make this toy look really pretty, have each strand in a different color. If you’re looking for the full tutorial, head over to Goodhousekeeping.
Donate To Animal Shelters
The next best thing you can do with old towels is to donate them. Plenty of pet shelters will be happy to receive supplies that can be used for the animals.
There’s always a need for extra towels whether that’s handling the animals, bathing them, or making a comfortable spot for them to sit and this will be a really good deed for you.
If the towels are still in good condition, you can easily find a place to donate them by doing a quick search ‘donate towels near me and this should find you the closest location to give the towels away.
Water Leaks
So, technically this isn’t an item you can make with the old towels but it’s a pretty handy item if you ever have a water leak in the bathroom or kitchen. Use a towel to soak up the water or contain the mess.
Conclusion
Repurposing old towels is a great initiative and I’m really pleased to share the wonderful ways you can take an old towel and actually turn it into something practical and functional.
Personally, I tend to use the cleaning rag and mop replacement option quite often and this definitely has helped me save a couple of bucks.
All in all, I think all of these ideas can be done by literally anyone and they’re a fun project for the weekend or if you have a couple of spare minutes. The majority of them are easy and quick to make.
So, before you throw those old towels again, revisit this article whenever you need to repurpose and make something great from an old towel.
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