Reusing old towels is smart, sustainable, and saves money. This page gives many ideas for what to do with old towels.
Here are some reasons why you definitely should reuse them.
Great for the Environment
Old towels usually end up in landfills where they take years to break down. Reusing them reduces textile waste and saves water and energy used to produce new fabric.
Reusing old towels cuts down on microfiber pollution from washing synthetic textiles.
Saves Money
Why buy new rags, cleaning cloths, pet bedding, or even mop pads when you already have the perfect material?
Useful Around the House
Old towels can become cleaning rags since they are absorbent and durable. They are also great for dusting cloths by cutting them into small squares.
In one tutorial below from Frugal and Thriving, learn how to create practical, reusable, homemade, two-side cleaning cloths by upcycling an old towel.
Reuse old towels for mop heads, especially for flat mops. Towels also work great if layered and sewn together to make a lush bath mat.
Scroll down to see a link to the directions to make a soft bath mat brought to you by BuzzFeed.
Animals don’t care if the towels are worn out. Use them for pet towels or bedding. Below you will find a link to a cute pattern for a cat hammock by Settle Down Slinki.
Perfect for DIY Projects
Crafters love to reuse and repurpose old towels into something new. Towels make great material for reusable makeup pads, kitchen hand towels, baby bibs or burp cloths.
Sew up a beach or picnic pillow or make a towel tote bag with them. Scroll down to find a way to upcycle an old beach towel into a beach bag to carry beach or pool supplies from A Shade of Teal.
Great Fabric for Learning to Sew
Because towel material is thick and forgiving, it is perfect for practice or beginner sewing projects.
Help Shelters and Charities
Donate old towels if you aren't going to craft with them. Animal shelters love donations of old towels for bedding, bathing, or clean up. Nursing homes and homeless shelters often take them too.
Vet clinics. churches, as well as Goodwill and Salvation Army will also take towel donations.
Scroll down to find the many links to tutorials showing how to repurpose or recycle old towels. You will be surprised at all of the amazing things to make!
For more recycling crafts, check out our Miscellaneous Recycling page.
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Here is a blog post on transforming old towels into a soft bath mat.
BuzzFeed
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Repurpose and recycle old towels by making bath mitts using the free bath mitt template and this tutorial.
A Rose Tinted World
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Recycle old towels into bath poufs
Ruffles and Stuff
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Upcycle an old beach towel (or purchase a new one) into a beach bag to carry beach or pool supplies.
A Shade of Teal
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Recycle old towels into a braided rug by following the instructions in this blog post.
Sisters Of The Wild West
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Learn how to sew a cat bed quickly with these few simple steps from an old towel (or two if you want a cat bed large enough to fold).
Easy Peasy Crative Ideas
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In this tutorial, learn how to create practical, reusable homemade two-sided cleaning cloths by upcycling an old towel.
Frugal and Thriving
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Make a DIY dish drying mat from a repurposed old towel. With a pretty binding, the dish drying pad will look so nice on the counter!
Needlepointers.com
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This tutorial will instruct you on how to make a no sew dog bed from old towels and old pillows. Eco-Friendly Idea!
Mom's Best Nest
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Here is a free easy-to-follow tutorial on how to make a drawstring bag from a old towel in about 30 minutes.
Everything's Famtastic
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This DIY gardening kneeling pad uses recycled material such as old towels for the stuffing for extra softness and support.
Homespun Seasonal Living
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Here is a free pattern and step-by-step guide that shows you exactly how to make a hair towel wrap with old towel or a purchased towel.
Christine's Crafts
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Breathe new life into your worn bath towels by transforming them into smaller hand towels using this tutorial.
Make It Or Fix It
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This easy sewing project transforms old dish towels into stylish kitchen decor.
Melly Sews
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How to make washcloth or dishcloth by repurposing old towels. Recycle old towels with this idea. A serger can also be used for this project.
Needlepointers.com
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Why be throwing away cotton wool pads or even worse using disposable wipes when there is a better and possibly zero waste makeup pads.
A rose Tinted World
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Upcycle towels into reusable rounds for makeup removal and skin care with this tutorial.
Southern Mom Loves
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Learn how to make eco-friendly quilted pocket potholders from old towels in this DIY tutorial. Upcycle and create useful kitchen accessories!
Needlepointers.com Associate
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Make a super cute drying mat from an old towel and fabric remnant.
Shannon Fraser Designs
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Don't toss old towels! With this tutorial, learn the best way to turn them into cleaning rags.
Seam Whisperer
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The perfect eco-friendly alternative to disposable paper towels.
Reduce, Reuse, Recycle! Learn how to recycle an old towel into reusable un-paper towels that can be used instead of paper towels.
Needlepointers.com
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These shower poufs are made from old towels.
A Rose Tinted World
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By using these instructions, an old bath towel + old flip flops can become slippers.
Crafty Nest
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This guide will show you three different ways to make a DIY soap holder - with old towel, with washcloth, with fabric.
A Rose Tinted World
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With this tutorial, make a fun, cute ribbon toy for a baby using terry toweling or an old towel or face cloth.
So Sew Easy
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Upcycling a towel and a little cutting, a little turning and little buttons hold this this cover on the Swiffer.
Berlin'sWhimsy
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Make your own reusable Swiffer pads with this easy DIY and an old towel.
DIY Everywhere
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With this tutorial, learn how to make a beach towel kids' swimsuit cover-up by upcycling an old towel (or purchase a new one if you wish).
Polka Dot Chair
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Use old and retired towels to make baby bibs.
Bloesem Designs
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You can make dog toys for free by using old tattered bath, dish or beach towels.
By Stephanie Eckelkamp on Good Housekeeping
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Cut up an old towel and make it into a cover for a pillow to decorate your home or outdoor furniture.
DIY Everywhere
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Learn how to create a DIY travel toothbrush holder using an old hand towel! This project helps you upcycle a towel while keeping your clothes dry when you're on the go. It makes for a thoughtful gift for someone who loves to travel and takes 30 minutes or less to complete.
Swoodson Says
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In less than 20 minutes, you cut and sew a cute beach bag using an old threadbare towel and a cute fabric belt.
By Brookelynn Morris at Makezine
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This is a simple and easy project which upcycles towels into cotton pads.
This Blog Is Not For You
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