18 Uses for Old Towels
February 15, 2008 by Deborah Ng
Filed under Reusing and Recycling
What do you do when your old towels become worn? Hopefully you can still use them. One thing I’m learning is that old towels still have uses, even those with holes in them. If you’re like me, you probably have a stack of old towels you don’t wish to display. Here are some other uses:
- Make into washcloths. Cut the towel into quarters and sew the edges. Now you have several new washcloths.
- Use for rags.
- Keep in car to clean up spills.
- Use to line pet beds.
- Use when dying or perming your hair.
- Cut into strips to make a rag rug.
- Cut into strips for crocheting.
- Make into dishtowels.
- Use for cleaning pets.
- Donate to your local animal shelter.
- Fold towel in half, sew the ends together and stuff to make a pillow.
- Use as mat for outside of your bath or shower.
- Keep in your mudroom to wipe muddy paws and shoes.
- Make into baby bibs – Cut out desired shape and size and sew around the ages.
- Use over cloth diapers for extra protection.
- Make pot holders – Follow the same instructions for washcloths, bibs and dishtowels.
- Use as bath lather sponge – cut into washcloth sized pieces, take one, sew three ends together, fill with odd soap pieces and sew closed.
- Make a beach bag.
Image via Morguefile.
This gave me a smile. My home-ec project way back in the 70s
involved making a robe out of three bath towels (bath sheet size). One goes vertically in front, one vertically in back, and one horizontally on top, folded in half, with a neckline cut out so the finished robe looks a little like a Native American robe or similar to a geisha robe. It was my mother’s favorite and she wore it all the time. Very 70s, good memories 
I’ve recently moved to a colder climate, and a lot of people here place an old towel on their windshields to keep the windshield from icing up overnight. The ice apparently sticks to the towel and the windshield remains pristine.
To keep it secure, they put the slack inside of the car on each side with the doors/windows op and then close the doors/roll up the windows to keep it secure. I thought it was a very clever idea!
Yes, #10. You can also give them to animal hospitals. So, if your vet visit is coming up…
oh this is fun….
first loved the washcloth, did this as a kid.
You can also make…
blankets, washcloth buddies, puppets, pillow case, etc.
Great list of ideas!!!