September 3, 2009
New Uses for Your Old Linens
If you’re like a lot of my clients, some of the precious storage space in your linen closet is probably taken up by towels, blankets and sheets that you don't use. Here are some possible recycling options that will help you to free up that space but not waste items that just never seem to make it into your weekly linen rotation.
1. Use towels or blankets as padding for breakables if you plan to move soon, are staying put but packing fragile items away for future use or are transporting fragile items, like a big birthday cake for a friend’s party. They’re a pliable and soft way to create vibration-free rides.
2. Cut up towels and sheets and use them as cleaning cloths and rags. It saves on having to go out and buy them and is more eco-friendly than using paper towels and disposable sponges. Use old non-flannel sheets as rags for cleaning glass surfaces. They won't leave lint like paper towels and terry cloth can.
3. Make new ironing board pads and covers from old sheets and blankets. For the pad, cut a thick blanket to the size of the ironing board top. For the cover, lay the old one down on your sheet and use as a pattern to cut out the new one. Remember to cut extra fabric to cover the sides of the board. Place the blanket pad underneath the new sheet cover, fit them to the ironing board and you’re good to go!
4. Save a few old sheets to use as drop cloths for the next time you paint, the kids have a messy school project to do, etc. You can even wash them after and re-use!
5. For an easy and practical way to cover your windows, think about turning your sheets – if you still like them and they’re in good condition – into curtains and/or linings for curtains or use them to make window shades, backed with blackout fabric.
6. If you have a garage, old towels are great for clean-ups!
7. If you have a car, keep an old sheet or some towels in the trunk for unexpected spills or to put on a child’s lap when they’re eating messy food. Use them as beach blankets or for protecting car seats after a swim or during a dusty road trip. Use them as an impromptu picnic blanket, floor mats or even for first aid purposes.
8. If you sew or repair your own clothes, use your old sheets to make linings, replacement pockets, etc. Use them to make gift or shoe bags. Cut out the size you need, sew a one-inch seam for the drawstring top, sew the bag together and voila! Or make drawstring laundry bags, which are great going-away gifts for travelers. Sew old single sheets down the side to make sleeping bag sheets for camping or to make suit or dress covers to fit over coat hangers to protect clothing from sun and dust. Turn your old sheets into tablecloths, table runners, placemats or napkins. Use an old towel or sheet to make an apron. Turn old towels into face clothes, coasters, hand towels, rag dolls, rag rugs, bath slippers, hot pads or bibs and diapers for babies.
9. Use them as bedding for sick or injured pets. Even if your pets aren’t injured, they’ll find them cozy to sleep on and changing them weekly will keep their beds - and your home - less covered in their hair. Cut towels in half (or thirds) and use them as doggie dish place mats. Just toss them in the wash when Spot dribbles on them! Use old towels for your dogs post-swimming and to dry them off after a bath.
10. Make knot toys from your old towels for your dog(s). Cut them into strips lengthwise about five inches wide. Tie knots close together along the length of the towel. Your pooch will have a great time chewing on it! Note: if your dog is prone to eating things like, this take it away when you're not in the room to make sure he doesn’t get sick from ingesting the fibers.
11. Donate used linens to a local animal shelter. Most shelters are in need of these kinds of items and your donations will be greatly appreciated. They’ll use them for cleaning up messes, drying off wet animals, lining pet cages, providing warm bedding and covering kennel doors to give the animals a rest from the light.
12. If you’re lucky enough to have a patio or deck, cover or recover the pillows on your furniture with old sheets. Since the fabric's already broken in so, it won’t feel scratchy!
13. Use sheets to make pajama pants and tops or summer dresses and skirts.
14. Yoga anyone? If your towels are too short to cover your yoga mat and you find yourself slipping, sew some old towels together to cover the entire mat.
15. If you have towels and sheets that are still in good or unworn condition, donate them to a local homeless shelter. With the usage they get there - more frequent washings than in the average household - they get worn out pretty quickly, so there is an ongoing need for them.
16. If you’re a quilter, use your old sheets for quilt linings or, if they’re big enough, for no-sew quilt backings.
17. If you color your hair at home, using an old towel will prevent possibly damaging a good one with dye!
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MILLER ORGANIZING. All rights reserved.
14 Stuyvesant Oval
NYC, NY 10009