Stop wondering what to do with old towels and get creative with them by giving them new life with these lovely and completely functional ideas.
These projects to upcycle towels make the idea of wearing it out and making it do both craft project and frugal functional necessity.
Don’t Forget the Ordinary
Let me be honest in that I most often use old towels for canning projects. I mean, I just put them onto the counter and fill jars to avoid spills on top of the old towels. I also put the jars straight out of the canner onto old towels to cool.
It makes clean-up so much easier later.
Reusing old towels for rags is also super easy and very functional.
However, if you want to find different and more creative ways to use them, we’ve got them for you below.
Frugality for Independence
The idea of using what we have around our homes for frugality is a very old concept. One that many of grandmothers wouldn’t have even given a second thought too and yet many of us in modern times need to relearn this skill.
Reusing old towels for new projects might not seem like a path toward independence or self-reliance and yet is the very basis of such ideals.
Making the most of what is already around instead of buying new helps us in so many ways. It saves us money, teaches creativity, and increases the ‘I can do it myself’ muscles.
Getting Started
Heather from Beginner Sewing Projects joined me for a quick chat about upcycling towels and sewing. Get links to all the projects and complete tutorials below the video interview below.
Projects to Reuse Old Towels
DIY Garden Kneel Pad
Use old towels as filling for a comfortable kneeling pad that makes gardening and other low chores easy on the knees and more comfortable on the body. You can sit on it in bleachers for events too!
Reusable Dryer Sheets
Make dryer sheets to soften your clothes from old towels and vinegar. Super easy to sew and reuse over and over again to avoid waste and toxic chemicals in your laundry chores.
Reusable Makeup Remover Pads
These small pads can be used to remove make-up sure, but the more you have them around the more uses you'll find for them in your home. Using them for make-up remover will save money over the disposable types as well as prevent waste from going into the landfill.
Sew a Hooded Towel for Baby
Keep baby warm and dry after bathing with this easy to make hooded towel that starts with old bath towels. These would make amazing baby gifts for friends and family, too.
Bath Mitt with Soap Pocket
Make a bath mitt with a soap pocket sewn right in. This is perfect for anyone needing a little assistance holding on to slippery soap and is plain fun for folks that don't. If you make handmade soap, put a bar into the pocket and give both as a wonderful gift anyone would love to receive.
Helen
Sunday 12th of July 2020
You have to buy towels that both sides of the towels are the same texture. If the towels had one side smooth it doesn’t absorb the water. You can see and feel the difference.
Kathryn
Sunday 24th of May 2020
I have a hard time buying towels these days. I keep getting ones that don't soak up the water. Do you know how to tell them apart? Old ones worked much better.
Sara
Monday 16th of January 2023
@Kathryn, soak newly bought towel in a big tub with lots of water and 1/2 a cup of vinegar overnight. This will greatly improve their absorption capcity
Lori
Friday 12th of June 2020
I don't know about certain towels, but I no longer use softener or dryer sheets. They leave a coating on your towels, and don't absorb water anymore.