It’s pretty easy to toss an old towel once it starts looking worn out. Maybe it’s lost its softness, has a few stains, or just doesn’t feel nice enough to use after a shower anymore. Before throwing it in the trash, though, take a look at what it can still do.
Towels are thick, absorbent, and surprisingly durable. A towel that has reached the end of its bathroom life can still be useful for cleaning, pets, gardening, moving, and plenty of other jobs around the house.
If you’re trying to spend less and get more use out of the things you already own, those old towels are worth keeping around.
Here are 14 practical ways to reuse them.
Donate Them to Animal Shelters or Vets
Animal shelters, rescues, and veterinary offices go through towels quickly. Clean, older towels can be used for bedding, cleaning, lining kennels, drying animals, and caring for pets after medical treatment.
Call ahead before dropping them off since each organization has its own donation rules. If they accept them, a towel you no longer want could still be useful to an animal that needs it.
Related: 12 Reasons Thrift Store Prices Keep Climbing
Turn Them Into Bath Mats
A towel that’s too worn for regular use can still make a perfectly good bath mat.
Fold it into a few layers and place it outside the tub or shower. It will soak up water from wet feet and can go straight into the washing machine when it gets dirty.
This works especially well in a kids’ bathroom or guest bathroom where you might not want to spend money on a new mat.
Related: I Stopped Using Dryer Sheets in the Dryer—Here’s Where I Use Them Instead
Use Them as Pet Bedding
Pets aren’t nearly as concerned about whether a towel looks old.
Lay one inside a crate, carrier, pet bed, or the back seat of your car. Towels are also handy for drying wet dogs, wiping muddy paws, or giving a pet something soft to lie on.
You can layer a few together if your pet needs more cushioning. When they’re dirty, wash them and put them back to work.
Make Kitchen Drying Mats
An old towel can take the place of a dish drying mat beside the sink. Lay it flat and put freshly washed dishes on top to catch the water.
They can also come in handy for drying produce or placing underneath a bowl while you’re working with dough.
Once the towel gets damp or dirty, throw it in the wash and grab another one. There’s no reason to buy a special mat if you already have a stack of old towels.
Sew Them Into Tote Bags
If you know your way around a sewing machine, an old towel can become a useful tote or beach bag.
The thick material works well for carrying damp swimsuits, towels, picnic supplies, or pool gear. You can also make the bag whatever size works for you.
This takes a little more effort than some of the other ideas, but it’s a fun way to turn an old towel into something you can actually use.
Use Them as Moving or Storage Padding
Old towels are great for protecting breakable items when you’re moving or packing things away.
Wrap them around dishes, mugs, picture frames, small appliances, or other items that could get scratched or damaged. You can also put folded towels between boxes or around furniture corners.
They give you padding without having to buy rolls of bubble wrap or packing paper.
Related: 5 Reasons Professional Organizers Love the Reverse Decluttering Method
Create Reusable Cleaning Rags
This might be one of the easiest ways to reuse an old towel.
Cut it into smaller squares and use the pieces for wiping counters, cleaning appliances, dusting, washing the car, or tackling messy jobs in the garage.
You can keep some for general cleaning and save the dirtier pieces for jobs like wiping up spills, cleaning outdoor furniture, or working in the garden.
Once you’re done, wash them and use them again.
Related: Here’s a simple pillowcase trick that can make cleaning dusty ceiling fans less messy.
Make DIY Mop Pads
If you have a flat mop that uses washable pads, an old towel can make a great replacement.
Cut the towel to fit the mop head and secure it with Velcro, snaps, elastic, or whatever works with your particular mop. When you’re finished cleaning, toss the towel in the washing machine.
You can make several pads from one larger towel, which means you won’t have to keep buying disposable replacements.
Use Them as Garden Weed Barriers
Old towels can also have a second life outside.
Lay them over bare soil around plants to help block sunlight from reaching weeds. Secure the towels with garden pins, rocks, mulch, or another material so they don’t blow away.
This works best as a temporary solution, since towels will eventually break down. Keep an eye on the area and make sure water can still reach the soil.
Create a Simple Plant Watering System
If you’re leaving your plants alone for a few days, an old towel can work as a basic watering wick.
Cut the towel into long strips. Put one end into a container of water and place the other end into the soil of the plant pot. The fabric can slowly draw water toward the soil.
This isn’t a replacement for proper watering, and you’ll want to test it before relying on it while you’re away. But for some houseplants, it can help keep the soil from drying out as quickly.
Make Soft Plant Ties
Some plants need support, but stiff ties can rub against stems and cause damage.
Cut an old towel into narrow strips and use them to gently secure plants to stakes or other supports. The soft fabric gives the stem some room to move instead of digging into it.
Don’t tie the strips too tightly. Plants grow, and the tie should leave enough room for the stem to get larger.
Block Drafts With Door Stoppers
Got a draft coming under a door?
Roll up an old towel and place it along the bottom of the door. You can hold it together with rubber bands or string if it keeps coming undone.
For something that looks a little nicer, sew a fabric tube and fill it with pieces of old towels. It makes a simple draft stopper without requiring a trip to the store.
Keep Clean Towel Strips in Your First Aid Kit
Small pieces of clean towel can be useful in an emergency. They can work as temporary padding, a pressure cloth, or part of a makeshift sling while you get proper medical help.
If you want to keep them in a first aid kit, wash them first and store them in clean, sealed bags.
For serious bleeding or injuries, use proper first-aid supplies and seek medical care. Old towels are a backup, not a substitute for medical treatment.
Turn Them Into Rugs or Floor Mats
If you have several old towels, you can turn them into a small rug or floor mat.
Cut the towels into strips and braid them together, then sew the pieces together to form the size and shape you want.
They’re especially handy near an entryway, laundry room, bathroom, or pet area where floors tend to get wet or dirty.
A worn-out towel doesn’t have to go straight into the trash. With a little creativity, it can become a cleaning cloth, pet bedding, garden helper, floor mat, or something else you actually need around the house.
