How to Reuse Old Clothes

Don't want those sweaters? Turn them into mittens.

It doesn't take much effort to reuse old clothing. By simply taking the time to sort your own clothing at the beginning of a season, you will be able to donate, gift or repurpose items that would otherwise hang unused in your closet. You'll welcome the extra space and free hangers, and you'll feel good about reducing your household's waste.

Instructions

1. Repurpose your old clothing. Do you have a stack of old jeans that you don't use? Why not use them for patches in a jean quilt --- or how about turning them into a purse? Your stack of old sweaters could be shaped into mittens if you're willing to spend a little time and hunt down a pattern. If you think of your clothing as material instead of a finished project, it will be easy for you to use it to create new items.

2. Start a clothing swap group with your friends and family. Instead of tossing out your old garments, trade them to your friends. The clothing will be reused by others, and you will gain additions to your own wardrobe. Simply set aside clothing that you do not wear, but that is still in good condition, and have the rest of the group do the same. Meet with the group and start swapping. Take turns trading garments to avoid the chaos of an entire group madly digging through bags for clothes.

3. Give your clothing away. While you will not be reusing it directly, the clothing is still being reused. You can give the item to a local charity to sell to raise funds to support those in need, or you can list the items for donation using online resources like Freecycle or Craigslist. Remember to only give away clothing that is still in good condition. If you don't want a garment because it is stained and full of holes, don't expect others to.

References

• Huffington Post Green: Green Cleaning: 37 Reuses for Old Clothes
• The Good Human: How and Where to Recycle Your Old Clothing

Resources

• The Freecycle Network: Changing the World One Gift at a Time