So, uh, towels. Super weird how quickly they go bad? Like, it seems like I just purchased that set six months ago, and they are all scratchy and frayed, and smelling faintly like defeat, even after a wash. At least if you are not spending luxury-spa type of money on the nice ones. It feels like we are just constantly replacing towels. Keeping them and throwing them out feels kind of wasteful—with at least some of the fabric not looking like it a raccoon chewed it up.
So, the good news is, you don’t necessarily have to throw it out. Old towels can be transformed into all types of strangely functional things, but only if you can commit to a little DIY or, you know, just cutting up stuff with scissors and pretending to be crafty. Here you go, all kinds of ways to repurpose that sad towel pile that you’ve been avoiding in the corner of your linen closet.
1. Tea Towels
So first things first—tea towels. You can never have enough tea towels. I use tea towels for everything: to dry dishes, to dry my hands, and to pretend I clean more than I do. And if you have an old towel or two with a reasonable-looking section, cut it down, hem the edges (or don’t—live your best life), and taha, tea towel. If you are feeling strangely ambitious you could even add some trim or a little loop to hang it, but certainly don’t have to.
2. DIY Bath Mat
This one is actually quite genius! You find some old towels-preferably (to make it look like it was intentional) in a color combination or a pattern (think you might have to get creative with some old butt ugly towels you don’t use anymore)-and sew them up to make a little patchwork bath mat. You can cut them in strips, braid them-whatever. There’s a whole tutorial on how to do it here if you’d like actual instructions vs my half-hearted enthusiasm.
3. Beach Bag
So towels? Check. Already sand-proof. Already quick-dri. Just makes perfect sense to make a beach bag out of one. If you have a bright towel or funky towel that you no longer want to use for your actual body, just sew it into a regular tote bag. Some handles, some lining, maybe a pocket if you’re feeling fancy. There are tons of how-to out there, including this one right here.
4. Outdoor Throw Pillows
Ok, these aren’t going to be like… Pottery Barn cute, but they’re great on the patio or slung on outdoor furniture. Take a couple of towels, sew them together, stuff them with batting (or more old towel scraps, lol), and now you’ve got pillows that hold up to a little rain (forgot the umbrella) or you don’t mind if someone spills salsa on because you didn’t sweat it in the first place (no judgement here). Here’s how to do it if you need a little bit more of a roadmap.
5. Shower Caddy
This one threw me a little-I mean Martha really did have a DIY shower caddy. A hang-it-up-and-stuff-things-in-it kind of shower caddy that is soft, and towel-ish. Super handy if you have limited space or hate those plastic ones that become so gross. It’s one of those “rainy day projects” you always mean to get to. Full tutorial here, if you’re interested.
6. Reusable Swiffer Pads
If you have a Swiffer, you already know how expensive those refill pads are for what they are. But guess what? You can make your own with an old towel and a pair of scissors. Cut some rectangles to the size of the pad, throw them on the Swiffer, wash them after you use them. Super simple. No sewing, no problem, just clean floors and mild self-satisfaction.
7. Baby Bibs
The cost of baby items is so ridiculous, it’s impressive. Bibs included. But taking old towels? Perfect for that. Absorbent, already soft, basically built to make messes easier to deal with. Just some stitching and probably some Velcro or snaps, you’ll have homemade bibs that you won’t cry over when baby ruins it with puree of carrots. Here’s a tutorial if you want one.
8. Spa Slippers
Yes, I know this sounds kind of ridiculous until you actually make them. You’ll need an old towel, very basic sewing skills, and maybe a cheap pair of flip flops as the base. Cut, glue, stitch – simple, and just like that you have cozy absorbent slippers that would make you feel slightly fancy when walking around your house. Full steps here.
9. Stuffed Animals
If you are crafty, or you have children and need an idea for an afternoon activity, stuffed animals are super fun. Old towels = surprisingly great material for DIY stuffed animals. They are soft, durable, and completely washable. You can make them super simple, or try to get more elaborate with your shapes—there’s no right or wrong. They would also make a cute gift if you want to do something sentimental and low budget. Watch the tutorial here.
10. Pot Holders
These aren’t going to be for life, but if you need a back up, I mean?! Or if you don’t want to spend money to make something to grab hot pans with? Cut your towel, sew together a few layers (thicker = safer), maybe add a little loop to hang if you want. It’s weirdly satisfying to use something you made yourself. Instructions here.
11. Bath Scrub
And finally, if you are into those little exfoliating scrubs that you see in bath stores, you can actually make one out of an old towel! There’s one that looks like a rose, if you’re into cute things! You do have to do a bit of sewing, but doable none-the-less. Unless you are wildly patient, you’re going to need a machine, but once you are done you have a reusable scrubby thing for the shower. Here’s the how-to.
So, don’t throw your old towels out just yet. It’s weirdly versatile when you just start cutting it up! Hey, even if it’s not perfect, half the time you’re using this stuff around the house where no one is critiquing your lumpy tea towels anyway.
