Article: How to Recycle Those Old Towels
Archived on 06/12/2009
By Teresa Higginbotham
I look at our old towels and start to see the telltale strings at the side. I know it's time to throw them out. I certainly can't use them for guests but I can see a perfectly good towel still in the center. To throw this towel out now would be a waste of money and resources. Here are a few ways to keep using that towel, but in a different form.
First of all look at the savable areas of your towel. Can you reuse almost all of it or does it have thin spots throughout. If you can hold up the towel and see through it, it may be time to toss it. But, if you can see usable squares then try converting the towel to one of these items.
1. Washcloths: The average washcloth is 10x10 inches. So cut your towel into squares of 10 1/2 x 10 1/2 inches and sew a double hem around them. If you have a serger then you just need to serge around the edge cutting off the inch.
2. Rags: This is the easiest part. You can convert the towel into cleaning rags by cutting it into 12 x 12 inch squares. You can hem the squares as for the washcloths or just leave it.
3. Washing Mitts: Measure around your hand or your child's hand. Add a 1/2 inch seam around the outside of your drawing and then cut two pieces of towel in that pattern. Sew around the edge 1/2-inch seam and hem the bottom.
4. Apron: You can make a half apron by draping the towel around your front and cutting accordingly. Attach pieced strips to make the ties or use material scraps. You can also piece together more than one towel and make a full apron. You just need another smaller square for the top half and pieces for neck strap.
5. Make dishtowels: Cut the towel in a rectangle 25x16 inches and hem.
6. Make into a hair cap for after the shower. You know when you get out of the shower and wrap that towel around your head and you look down and it falls off. Why not make a fitted cap and wear it everywhere. Put the kids on the bus, go to the store, attend church...maybe not.
7. Make a dog bed liner. Piece together pieces of towels and either sew them into a dog pillow or make a washable blanket for the dog bed.
8. Cut into smaller towels to use in the car for kid messes.
9.Cut them into 6 1/2 x 6 1/2 inch pieces and put some filler between them to make potholders.
10. If enough of the towel is reusable cut it into a large bag to store wet swimming suits. If it is not large enough them piece several towels together. Put a seam at the top and draw through a rope or tie. There are plenty of ways to reuse old towels. Pretty soon you'll just be waiting for one to fray!
If you would like to read more of Teresa's articles as well as other great articles on frugal living and family life visit her website, Tightwad Tess, at http://www.tightwadtess.com">http://www.tightwadtess.com">http://www.tightwadtess.com">http://www.tightwadtess.com or subscribe to her newsletter to find articles, recipes, frugal tips and freebies by sending a blank email to tightwadtess-subscribe@tightwadtess.com (05/13/2005)
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Tip: Recycle Old Towels, Uses For Old Towels
Archived on 06/12/2009
Tips for reusing towels that are past their prime. Post your ideas.
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RE: How to Recycle Those Old Towels
A local SPCA or animal shelter and even your veterinarian would probably love to have your old towels and washcloths. These are almost always needed to clean the animals and the cages. Old towels make good dog and cat bedding, too, and if you are a whiz at sewing, consider making a Snuggles cloth bed for an animal in a shelter. These can be donated to the shelter of your choice, and are much in need. Info can be obtained at: http://www.h4ha.org/snuggles/ (06/02/2004)
By Ness
RE: How to Recycle Those Old Towels
If they're just stringing out on the edge,just turn under the edge and sew them down. Also cut them down a size or 2 if a bad hole cant be fixed. Several of ours have been turned into bath mats from this. Mama cats love old soft towels for bedding and I suppose mama dogs would too.
One thing I do with good heavy towels is I put them on the hangers with clips on them and hang them in front of the bathroom window in winter to cut down on drafts. I 'm thinking of trying this to cut down on heat in summer too. I also turned an edge down on one with a crazy picture on it and just ran it on a tension rod across the window. It worked better as the tension rod was on the top of the window and hangers tend to drop a couple of inches. Aha,an idea. I will stick a push pin in above the window for the hanger. No more 2 inch droop.
I run quilts on tension rods for my bedroom windows. Keeps out cold and heat, just turn a casing down like on the towel or sew on some Wide bias tape on the back for a casing. Easy ,decorative and it works. (06/02/2004)
By Linne
RE: How to Recycle Those Old Towels
My husband uses our old towels for drying our car after it has been washed. (06/06/2004)
By rhonand
RE: How to Recycle Those Old Towels
Humane Societies love those old towels and blankets, as well. They're used for sick and/or abused animals, that need a little extra TLC to ease the pain. They're also used for critters ready to give birth, or babies that have already arrived.
Call and ask what sizes the cages are, cut the fabric accordingly, sew the edges so they don't ravel and donate! You'll get rid of the old stuff, the animals will be happier and the H.S. will be grateful.
I also recently discovered some also need bird cages. I just donated 3 after my three "oldsters" died over a 7 year period. They took their leftover food.
(06/14/2004)
By Elisabeth
Making Washrags Out Of Old Towels
Make old towels into wash rags after cutting to size and stitching edges with zig zag stitch.
By Sharon (05/13/2005)
By ThriftyFun
RE: Recycle Old Towels, Uses For Old Towels
I use cloth nappies on my baby. I cut the towels into 4 overlock the edges and zippo, you have excellent, absorbent nappy boosters. I have a boy, so I lay the liner flat, fold the top down 1/3 of the way, then fold each side into the middle so that it is a narrow pad, with less bulk at the back and more absorbency at the front. I then just fold them into the regular nappy. (05/14/2005)
By Bron
RE: Recycle Old Towels, Uses For Old Towels
If you like to sew, the terry cloth from old wash cloths is great for the lining of a pot holder. Use 2-3 layers. It doesn't matter is they are stained or not. (10/12/2005)
By Sherri
RE: Recycle Old Towels, Uses For Old Towels
Zigzag those edges before you start using the towels, it will prevent the edges from fraying and will extend the life of the towels.
Instead of buying expensive swimming towels (although they are so beautiful, it's always a temptation!) use your old towels for swimming towels. Then, if they get lost, it will not be such a damage to your budget. (03/29/2006)
By Carol
RE: Recycle Old Towels, Uses For Old Towels
An old neighbor of mine used to make terrific bath cover-ups. She'd take two frayed bath towels and sew them together at the edges, leaving one end open for the legs, a space open on the opposite end for the head, and two armholes on the sides. It looked like the kind of makeshift poncho that you can make out of a large trash bag. It works great for when the kids get out of the tub and are freezing. (08/31/2007)
By Joann
RE: Recycle Old Towels, Uses For Old Towels
Use as liners for making bibs for the kids to use at your house, grandchildren/great nieces and nephews argue over who gets which one. Their parents used to do the same thing.
Also, assisted living housing units also use bibs and the local ones always look for someone willing to make them. I cut a shape of the towel, then 2 outside fabrics and sew. Can use ties, velcro, snaps, buttons for the finishings.
Also, making potholders--we always used to use old bathtowels to be the inside.
Fisherpersons are always taking the older towels with them camping, in the boat, etc so if they DON'T GET THEM HOME, not a big deal.
I will zig across a larger towel cut in half so that they don't fray in the wash IF they bring them home.
Most importantly, donate them to places. Mission boxes at churches will take them if decent shape.
Also, vet clinics, humane societies ALL need towels of all conditions. (09/17/2008)
By TandT Grandma
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