What to do with rags?

meerkatgirl

I've got loads of old clothes that are too holey/messed up to be given charity or sold on ebay etc. and I have more than I need for doing the gardening or painting in. I'm trying to declutter at the moment - so does anyone have a good idea what to do with them, other than throw them away?

Any suggestions gratefully received!

Aidan_Smith

I am a compulsive hoarder with both a degree and OBE in OCD hoarding.
And I second this!

MrsTinks

how about cutting into squares for cleaning? car cleaning, dusters etc?

If some of the material is really nice is there enough for doing quilt cushions?

Jeans can be made into some funky handbags if you're good with a sewing machine (add a zip to the top and cut off the legs and sew them up. Add a liner if you want... The pockets could have zips, buttons or velcro put in to make handy little pockets...)

wishingonastar_3

following on from the above, oxfam (and other charitys i'm sure, just can't think which) use old too tatty clothes to make into new things for third world countries if theres too much to use up.

another idea is i made up just a sausage shape of material and stuffed them with chopped up tatty clothes, makes brilliant draught excluders for bottoms of doors, and they look quite good too.

alternativley, another idea if you have old messed up t shirts, our local nursery school is always grateful for our for the kids to use as smocks for painting in.

hope one of those ideas might help,


woas.

thriftmonster

Quite a few charity shops sell this sort of stuff for rags to specialists - you could check with a few locally in case they don't and would have to dispose of them

frugalfairy_3

We have a Salvation Army clothing bank in our Tescos car park with the rest of the recycling bins - anything too worn out gets taken apart and the fabric recyled so nothing goes to waste. Might be worth having a look to see if there's anything similar where you live?

moggins

Rag Rugs! Kaz and I saw some in the Museum of Welsh Life that were surprisingly simple to make, It was literally just a sack with fabric pulled through and wasn't even knotted.

Tiff_2

Hi angel,
My first thought was making a patchwork quilt to snuggle under for those wonderful couch naps!
How about calling any local animal shelters/vets to see if they could use them for bedding?
Or how about your local primary school? Costumes, collages etc.
Or contact your craft shop/college arts courses to see if they could use them as they hold classes in many things - could be useful - collages, costumes etc.?
Or take any large enough pieces and cut out the good parts to make cushion covers?
Hope this helps

Lillibet_2

Make handbags from the jeans as suggested by Tine, but cut the buttons off other clothes & cover the denim with the buttons (I mean really cover it) then sellt them on ebay. Mmy friend made a few of these a couple of years ago & was selling them for £20 a go & they flew out the door! Then you really are turning your rags into £riches£:D

thriftlady_2

Our council takes fabric with the paper recycling. that's where I put holey socks and other clothes beyond repair. I'm not sure how they are recycled.

liz.._4

I cut old t shirts into long strips and wind them into a ball, then I knit into a huge square and use them as bath mats. Or you could crochet them.