From Cleaning Tools To Paint Projects, Here’s How To Give Your Towels A Second Life
Old towels seem to pile up faster than we know what to do with. They may be frayed, faded, maybe even holey, but they still have life left in them. Instead of throwing them in the trash, try looking at them as free materials for all kinds of useful projects around the house. With a little creativity, those worn-out towels can become cleaning workhorses, handy helpers, and even smart storage solutions. Here are some clever ways I’ve reused mine, and saved a few bucks in the process.
Turn Them Into Heating Pads
You can easily sew or fold old towels into simple DIY heating pads. Fill the towel with uncooked rice, tie or stitch the edges shut into a little pouch, and microwave for a minute or two. These heating pads hold heat surprisingly well and are a great comfort on sore backs or cold feet. You don’t need to be good at sewing, mine are pretty lopsided, but they work just fine. I’ve even made smaller versions to use as hand warmers in the winter.
Line Your Tool Drawers
If you’ve ever opened a toolbox and had everything slide around or clatter, try laying an old towel along the inside. Cut the towel to fit the drawer or shelf, and it’ll help keep tools from shifting or getting scratched. Bonus: the towel can soak up a little oil and grease too, which keeps the bottom of your toolbox from turning into a mess. I also use a couple of towels at the bottom of the drawers in my work bench. It’s one of those hacks that just works.
Wrap Up Paint Supplies
When I’m doing paint projects, I use old towels as drop cloths under small pieces or to line my work surface. The thick fabric soaks up drips without sticking to whatever you’re working on like newspaper does. You can also wrap brushes and rollers in damp towel pieces between coats of paint to keep them from drying out. It’s a quick trick that keeps things from hardening before you're done with the job. Just toss the towel when you're finished or wash it for next time.
Create a Cozy Pet Blanket
If you’ve got pets, chances are they love having something soft to lie on. Fold an old towel into quarters and you’ve got an instant bed liner, crate cushion, or car seat cover. Our dog has one in his bed and another in his crate. Towels are warm, washable, and just absorbent enough to handle wet paws or the occasional accident. Plus, you won’t feel bad tossing it once it gets a little too torn up. It’s a nice little way to upcycle with love, and your pet will love that the towels smell like you.
Cut Them Into Shop Rags
This is the easiest place to start. Just take a pair of scissors and cut your old towel into smaller, usable squares. I keep a stack of cut-up towels in the garage, under the sink, and in the trunk of my car. They’re great for wiping down garden tools, cleaning up spills, or drying off muddy boots. You don’t have to worry about staining them either because, well, they’re already halfway to the trash anyway. Let them get dirty, and don’t feel guilty about throwing them away or washing and reusing them. That’s the whole point.
Make Reusable Mop Pads
Instead of buying those pricey replacement pads for your floor mop or Swiffer, consider sewing, or even safety-pinning, a towel scrap to fit over the pad. It’s especially helpful for wood or tile floors, where you want a softer fabric that still has some scrub to it. I made one with Velcro strips sewn-on once and it’s still going strong. You can toss it in the washer and reuse it over and over, which is not only thrifty but good for the environment too.
Use Them for Window Cleaning
Glass and towels don’t always seem like a great match, but hear me out. A towel that’s been washed enough times gets softer and loses some of its lint. These are perfect for drying windows after wiping them down with a homemade window cleaner. Old towels don’t leave streaks like paper towels can, and you can reuse them as many times as you want. Keep a softer one dedicated just for windows or mirrors and it’ll become your new go-to.
Protect Plants from Frost
Towels are handy in the garden too. On cold fall nights, I throw one over my tender potted plants to protect against frost. They’re easy to grab, don’t blow away like plastic, and provide just enough warmth to keep your plants going for a little longer. And if they get muddy, it’s no big deal. Just wash or repurpose them again. It’s a simple thing, but it really can extend the life of your fall flowers by a few valuable weeks.
Try a No-Sew Storage Bin Liner
You know those plastic bins we all use to organize stuff in the garage or attic? Lining them with a towel can help cushion delicate items or tools with sharp edges to prevent damage. Just drape or fold the towel in the bottom of the bin and around the sides. No sewing needed! It’s a great use for the towels that aren’t in great shape but still have some value left as padding. And your bins will be way easier to clean too.
Related Articles
- 4 Smart Ways You Can Reuse Paper Towel Rolls
- How Often Should You Really Wash Your Towels? The Definitive Answer
- How To Make Your Old Towels Absorbent Again
There’s something satisfying about giving an everyday item a second life. Old towels might seem like junk, but with a little creativity, you can transform them into solutions for a ton of different, common household problems. From cleaning to pet care to garden hacks, these little cloths have more to give. So before you toss them out, think about where they could still be put to good use. It’s good for your wallet, good for the planet, and honestly, just kind of fun.
Bliss Donahue-Power
