How to recycle old towels.

If your family is like ours, you have a closet full of everyday towels and a little drawer for guest towels. Many of our family towels have gotten to the point that they are no longer presentable for even just the family. They do not have stains or anything like that they are just getting threadbare and many of them have threads hanging off the bottom. I hate to just throw them away as some were gifts, some are high quality expensive organic cotton towels, and several were my nana's (who has since passed on) and I just can't imagine throwing them away. Below are some ideas the my friends and I came up with for recycling old towels. I have included some free patterns many of them use standard cotton fabrics, but you could easily substitute the recycled towel fabric. If you have a recycling suggestion, please email me at allisonray@gmail.com. I would love to add them

Recycle old towel idea #1: If you have a serger, you can serge around all four edges of the towel to give it a new finish. If you want to really spruce up the old towels you can use some pretty color threads so it will have a fancy finish.

Recycle old towel idea #2: Cut off the threads that are hanging and take blanket bias tape and refinish all four edges of the towel. You can then use the new towel as a changing pad for your baby when you go out. These also make fantastic gifts for a new mom. You can purchase some gently used towels at thrift stores and finish off the edges. If you have a monogramming machine, you could monogram the baby's name or initials in a corner of the changing pad. If this recycling craft project looks like fun but you do not have a baby or know anyone who is expecting, you could make these and donate them to a local women's shelter or local charity.

Recycle old towels idea #3: Cut up the towel into large squares and use the squares as cleaning rags or dish rags.

Recycle old towels idea #4: Make your own dryer softener sheets. Cut up the old towel into strips approximately 6" wide by 7" long. Put them into a plastic container that has a lid. Pour approx 3 Tbsp of fabric softener onto each of the strips and place them into the container and close the lid. Keep them near your dryer and use them instead of store bought (expensive, throw away after one use) fabric softener sheets. The great thing about these is that you can repeat the process with the same towel scraps as many times as you want to.

Recycle old towels idea #5: Cut the towel into face cloth size and serge the edges. You can never seem to have too many face cloths.

Recycle old organic cotton towels idea #6: How to make organic baby wipes from old towels. Cut the towel into the size of your old baby wipe container. In a separate bowl, combine 2 cups of water, 2 Tbsp of organic baby shampoo, and 1 Tbsp of organic baby oil (I really like Bert's Bees oils). Place the wipes into the container filling it about half way. Pour half of the solution over the towels. Then fill the container with more towels and use the rest of the solution. These make really nice organic baby wipes that can be reused.

Recycle old towels idea #7: Make a dog bed for your dog, a friends dog or donate them to the local SPCA or animal shelter.

Recycle old towels idea #8: Cut two squares approximately 10" x 10" sew them right sides together leaving a small opening for turning right side out. Fill with the stuffing of your choice, I like organic wool stuffing. Whole...you have a soft pillow.

Recycle old towels idea #9: Use the old towels to make baby booties. If you do not have a baby, you could donate them to local charities or hospitals.

Recycle old towels idea #10: Cut into 8 inch squares stitch together on three sides right sides together turn - and now you have a new bath mitt.

Recycle old towels idea #11: Make a spa eye mask.

Recycle old towels idea #12: Make an eyeglass case, scissor case or crochet or knitting needles case. Cut two 10" long by 6" wide pieces. Sew right sides together on three sides leaving open one of the 6" ends. Turn right sides out.

Recycle old towels idea #13: Make a child's or adults shower body wrap. Use the good piece of the towel, if not large enough, quilt together several pieces from towels until the towel piece is large enough to comfortably fit around the adult or child. With a long piece of Velcro- sew the rough side to one of the long sides of towel and the soft side to the matching place on the other side of the towel so that once its wrapped around the Velcro will hold it shut. You may want to put a little piece across the top where the two pieces meet too.

Recycle old towels idea #14: Make burp cloths.

Recycle old towels idea #15: Stitch - Quilt together the good pieces of your old towels to make a large patchwork beach towel.

Recycle old towels idea #16: Make pillow cases -

Recycle old towels idea #17: Make a Childs towel apron -

Recycle old towels idea #18: Make a towel baby bib.

Recycle old towels idea #19: Make a towel hair wrap for after you get out of the shower. I love these. I hate when I wrap the towel on and it keeps falling off.

Recycle old towels idea #20. Make a curling iron caddy. Use the scraps of the old towel to make a holder to keep your curling iron in.

Recycle old towels idea #21. Make a head band to keep the sweat out of your face when you are working out. The towels are so absorbent that these are really great to have. You can wear them by them selves or under ball caps or under bicycle helmets.

Recycle old towels idea #22. Make a soda can or water bottle wrap. These are great if you are working out or out on a hot day. The wraps will absorb the condensation from the container. Cut a piece of your towel wide enough and tall enough to wrap around the container. Approximately 5 to 6 inches by 11 inches. Serge all for edges or fold over and topstitch. Where the two long sides meet to wrap around the bottle sew the rough side of the Velcro on one piece of the towel wrap and the soft side to the other so that your bottle wrap will fit snug.

Recycle old towels idea #23. Make a wrist rest to use when on the computer. for a free rest pattern free click here.

Recycle old towels idea #24. Make rice bags that you can use to comfort sore muscles. Click here for a free rice bag pattern.