Top 10 Ways to Reuse Old Towels and Sheets

I recently cleaned out my linen closet only to realize that a good chunk of valuable space was being used up by old towels or sheets that no one ever uses anymore. A lot of them are still in really good shape.

Since I am still frugal at heart I hate to just throw them away. So, I did a little research and found out there are some really cool uses for old towels and sheets! Check out a few of my favorites.

What to Do with Old Towels and Sheets

1. Cleaning Rags

This is my favorite ways to reuse towels. I always need rags for those nasty jobs around the house, washing the car, or other unpleasant tasks that you don’t want to use a nice towel for. It is so easy and economical to just cut up and old towel into several smaller towels and store them in a drawer or bin.

2. Dishtowels

I had a few towels that were so cute but the material they use to line the towels had shrunk making the towel look deformed. So, I cut them into dishtowel sizes, and hem the edges. Or it is really cute to sew some bias tape around the edges. Plus, these old towels really soak up the water when you’re drying dishes.

3. Ironing Board Pads and Covers 

Thick blankets make ideal ironing board pads but towels and old sheets work great too. For the blanket pad, cut just the size of the ironing board top. Then, lay the old ironing cover down on your sheet and cut out, cutting extra to cover the sides of the board. Place the blanket pad underneath the sheet cover and fit it to the ironing board.

4. Use for Pets

Donate old sheets and towels to local animal shelters. Most shelters will accept old blankets, bath towels, hand towels, sheets, pillows, pillowcases, bathroom rugs, and t-shirts.

Shelters use these for lining pet cages, cleaning up messes, drying off wet dogs, providing warm bedding, and covering kennel doors when pets need a rest from the light. Most shelters are under-served in this area, so any extra help is greatly appreciated.

On that note, if you have a dog, make some thrifty knot toy from your old towels. Cut the towel into strips lengthwise about five inches wide and tie knots along the length of the towel close together. Your dog will love chewing on it.

Photo credit and instructions

5. Picnic Blankets

You could sew a few old towels or sheets together and make a nice picnic blanket or you could just keep an old sheet or towel in the trunk for an impromptu picnic or day at the beach (also good for protecting the car seat after a swim).

Dish mats photo credit and instructions

6. Sewing Projects

Old sheets that are still in good condition especially can be used for other sewing projects. I once had a hole in an almost brand new sheet that made me sick to think about throwing yards and yards of otherwise perfectly good fabric away.

So, I held on to them to make bags, pillowcases, pillows, curtains, so many other items! I have seen old towels made into cute stuffed animals, slippers, baby bibs and more.

7. Door Stopper

Roll an old towel up and use it as a draft stopper in front of a door.

Photo credit and instructions

8.  Rugs

Make a bath mat by sewing a couple of old towels together, or you could cut strips out of old towels and braid the strips into a bath rug, or cut small strips and tie them into a shag rug using a gridded matting.

9. Swiffer Sweeper or Mop Towels

Stop buying those expensive replacement cloths, make your own out of an old towel and two side seams on the sewing machine, easy and practical.  You can reuse them as many times as you like, just throw them in the washing machine when you are done!

10. Donate Old Towels

If none of these ideas were for you, consider that towels and sheets that are in good condition but are no longer your style can be donated to local homeless shelters.

If you are needing some new towels after upcycling the ones you have check out these great deals on towels:

Highly Rated Towel Deals:

Turkish Luxury Hotel & Spa Hand Towel Set of 6 

Pinzon Egyptian Cotton 6-Piece Towel Set, Grey

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