What To Do With Old Towels: 5 Ways to Reuse & Upcycle

If you’re wondering what to do with old towels, don’t worry. You’re in safe hands, as we’re here to tell you ways to reuse and upcycle your old towels without chucking them in the bin. 

Simply throwing away old towels can create a lot of damage to the environment. Materials such as cotton and polyester, which are commonly used in towels, account for over 85% of global fibre production. 

Instead of discarding your old towels, consider giving them a second lease of life. There are plenty of ways to recycle old towels, including crafts, upcycling, and donating, many of which we will reveal in this guide. 

Put your feet up and settle down as we tell you what to do with old towels.

Turn them into cleaning rags 

One of the things you can do with your old towels is turn them into dish towels or washcloths. There’s no denying that old towels make great cleaning rags, especially if they are still in relatively good condition. 

To do this, take some sharp scissors and cut your towels into smaller pieces, making sure they’re not too big. Use them in the sink as washing up cloths, or use them to clean surfaces and dust furniture. Because of their absorbency and quick drying nature, they make for a perfect cleaning tool. 

This is a great way to reuse old towels and stop yourself from spending too much money on new cleaning materials. 

Reuse them as dog towels 

If you find that your towels aren’t in a good enough condition to reuse as practical items, then you can always pass them on to your furry friends. Having a towel in the back of your car or by your back door ready to give your dog a good clean is always handy. 

You could even donate your old towels to a dog's home or shelter, as they are always in need of old towels to act as bedding or cleaning fabrics. Your old towels can provide soft, comforting bedding for dogs in need, a much better use than throwing them in the bin. 

It doesn’t matter if they don’t look or feel brand spanking new as they will probably get dirty very quickly anyway. Plus, they will still have the function of drying and being able to provide some comfort. 

Turn them into reusable face cloths

This is a great way to save yourself money as well as avoiding the job of throwing out your old towels. By replacing them this way you’ll also have complete control over the design choices and size. 

If you’ve got an old bath towel or hand towel, you will be able to make a good handful of washcloths from this size. Simply cut your towels into small squares, ensuring that they are clean enough to wipe your face with.

We advise that you choose the correct towel material when using them as face cloths as you don’t want to cause any unnecessary harm to your skin. 

You can recycle the good parts of old towels by DIY’ing them, even if the majority of the towel is stained or in poor condition. To update your washcloths, gather some bold binding to add a pop of colour and provide some jazz. 

Repurpose them into a beach bag 

If you’re crafty, you might want to turn your old towels into something a bit more creative. A beach bag is a perfect idea to reuse old towels and create a product fit for beach life.

This idea might be best with an old beach towel, or a towel with a fun, bright pattern. You might need to test your sewing machine skills to bring this one to life, but the extra effort is worth it as you get a gorgeous new beach bag at the end of it. 

Simply cut your towel to your required size, stitch the edges together and add handles of your choice. This is a great practical way to make the most of old towels. 

Use them as a bath mitt 

This is a great way to reuse the good parts of any old towels. Measure out the size of your hand and cut out two pieces of your towel. Stitch these both together, and viola! You have an easy to use bath mitt, perfect for bathing young children or scrubbing away dead skin. 

Bath mitts are also great at saving soap, or even better, acting as a soap holder. This upcycle is very simple and requires minimal effort. 

Out with the old and in with the new 

Whether you choose to upcycle, reuse, or donate, each one of these decisions is better than letting your towels end up in a landfill. 

If you’re shopping for new towels, then say hello to luxurious, thick, fluffy towels, crafted by the skilled experts at Christy’s. With over 170 years of towel crafting experience, we create products to turn your bathroom into a sanctuary-like spa with sumptuous towel bundles and accessories.