How to Recycle Old Towels

Getting New Life from Old Rags

Almost everyone has some nasty, ratty old towels lying around their home. You could donate them to charity or to the Salvation Army, but if they are too ratty, they will probably not be able to sell them. Instead, save those old towels and try some of these neat ideas.

Dog Toys

I make all types of dog toys from old towels. You can cut them into different animal shapes and sew them together, then stuff them with the towel scraps and remnants that you have left over. I like to make little cats that my dogs can rip apart. It's much cheaper than buying new dog toys, especially when they are just going to rip them apart.

Another fun dog toy that can be made from recycling old towels is a knotty rope. Cut the towels into strips lengthwise about five inches wide. Tie knots all along the length of the towel close together. Dogs will have lots of fun tugging and chewing on these. Because the towels already smell familiar to your dogs, they will feel more comfortable playing with them.

Donate to Animal Shelter

Animal shelters are in constant need of old towels, so donate any that you do not plan to use. Recycled towels can be used for lining pet cages, cleaning up messes, drying off wet dogs, and providing warm bedding for unwanted pets. If you are crafty, you can even make the towels into dog toys and donate those to the animal shelter as well. The dogs would really appreciate it.

Baby Quilt Batting

When looking for something to use as batting in my handmade baby quilts, I found that towels make the best lining. Use them as you would use regular batting by placing the cut piece of your towel in the middle of the two layers of quilt and sew the whole thing together.

Pot Holders

You can recycle towels into pot holders as well as cold drink coasters in the same way that they can be used as quilt batting. Cut several layers of towel to use in a pot holder to provide enough insulation. Cold drink coasters, on the other hand, only require one layer of towel.

Cleaning Rags