50 Uses for Old Towels

When towels become worn or frayed we replace them. But what do you do with those old towels? Here are 50 uses for old towels:

Apron

Use an old bath towel to make a half apron. Just add ties.

Baby Bibs

Cut your old towels and repurpose them as baby bibs. Cut the towels into bib shapes, hem the edges and add strings.

Baby Wipes

Old towels make an inexpensive alternative to expensive a baby wipes. Cut old towels into small squares. Keep them on your changing table. Dip in warm water before using. If you use cloth diapers you can wash the wipes with your diapers.

Bath Pouf

It just takes an old towel and some sewing skills to make a bath pouf.

Bathroom Rug

You will need a rubber gridded mat, three old towels and scissors to make a bathroom rug. Cut towels into thin strips of equal size. Knot each strip on the mat until your mat is completely covered.

Beach Bag

Cut an old beach towel into two squares the size of a beach bag. Sew three sides together. Add handles and you have a beach towel beach bag!

Beach Sarong

An old towel makes an excellent beach sarong. Get a pattern on Pinterest.

Block A Draft

Roll an old towel up and place against bottom of door to block a draft.

Bolster Pillow

You will need some fabric and other supplies, but you can make a bolster pillow and fill it with rolled up old beach towels.

Braided Rug

Fold towel in half and cut into 1.5″ strips. Sew three strips together at the top. Braid the three strips. Sew another set of three strips onto the braid. Continue until all the strips are braided together. Wrap braid around and stitch the rows together.

Car Rags

Cut old towels into smaller rags to wash your car. You can also keep some handy in the car to clean up spills.

Chair Pad Cover

Use an old towel to cover the seat of a chair.

Checking Oil

Tear an old towel into pieces and use to check oil.

Child’s Pool Robe

Use old towels as the fabric and make your child a pool robe that is perfect for after the pool.

Clean Glasses

Cut into hand sized pieces for a non-abrasive eye glass cleaner.

Cleaning Rags

Cut old towels into smaller rags for cleaning. You can wash them and reuse.

Cobwebs

Wrap an old towel around a broom to clean the cobwebs on your ceiling.

Cushions

Sew two old towels together and stuff to create new cushions.

Dog Toy

Make a toy for your dog with three old dish towels. Tie the towels together at one end. Braid the three towels and tie at the end of the braid

Donate

Donate old towels to your local pet shelter. They have many uses for them.

Drawer Liner

Cut an old towel to fit in a drawer and use as a liner.

Dusting Mitts

Trace an outline of your hand. Add 1/2″ and cut out old bath towels. Sew together to create a dusting mitt.

Floor Pillows

Sew two large towels together and stuff to make large floor pillows.

Halloween Decorations

Use white towels to make ghost decorations for your yard.

Head Wrap

You can make a head wrap with an old towel, elastic loop and button.

Hooded Towel

Use old towels to make your own hooded towel. Customize with ribbon or embroidery.

Hot Water Bottle Cover

Make a cozy cover for your hot water bottle from old towels.

Ironing Board Pad

Cut an old bath towel to the size of your ironing board. Then cut an old sheet large enough that you can tuck it under the board. Add a drawstring to the sheet to keep it secure on your ironing board.

Knee Pads

Cut old towels into 6″ squares. Sew four or five towels together. Then sew an elastic to secure the knee pad on your leg. Don’t make the elastic too tight!

Leaky Windowsill

Roll an old towel up and put on windowsill to stop a leak.

Mop Pad

Cut an old towel use it on your Swiffer sweeper instead of buying replacement mop pads in the store. You can either discard it after use or throw it in the wash and use again.

Mop Head

For an old fashioned mop that uses a head. Cut your old towel into equal strips. Tie the strips together and attach to your mop.

Packing Material

Wrap old towels around fragile items to keep them safe during packing. You can also scrunch them into gaps in the boxes to keep items from shifting.

Pet Beds

Use your old towels to make a bed for your cat or dog. Sew two towels together and stuff them with old plastic bags for a comfy, recycled pet bed.

Picnic Blanket

Sew old towels together to make a picnic blanket. Try using four large towels, but you can always add more if you want a larger blanket.

Plants

Place under plants to absorb water when the plant does not have a bottom.

Pot Holder

Cut up a few towels into 8 inch squares and stitch them together for a new pot holder. Three or four towels should be thick enough.

Pot Insulation

Wrap an old towel around a pot to keep it warm at a potluck.

Quilt

Sew a few old towels together to use as the batting for a quilt.

Spa Slippers

You will have to Google the instructions on this one, but you can make a pair of slippers with some old towels and flip flops.

Stuffed Toys

Cut towel into pattern. Sew together and stuff to make a soft stuffed animal.

Sunbathing Companion

With two used bath towels, some stuffing and sewing supplies you can make a sunbathing towel with built-in pillow.

Superhero Cape

Add some ties to the end of an old towel and you have a superhero cape! Let your little superhero decorate their own cape with a logo.

Swim Bag

Convert an old beach towel into a bag to carry your wet swimsuits.

Swim Cover Up

Use old beach towels to make a swim coverup for your kids.

Tea Towel Cupcake

Fold tea towels to look like cupcakes. Wrap with ribbon and place in cupcake holders.

Tea Towel Cake

Create a cake base from cardboard. Wrap in tea towels and fill with kitchen utensils to create a tea towel cake.

Towel Dress

This will take a pattern and some sewing skills, but you can make a cute summer dress out of old towels.

Wash Cloths

Cut old towels into squares and hem the edges to create wash clothes.

Window Valence

convert old tea towels into a window valence.