Learn how to do anything: How to Recycle Textiles

No matter how well you take care of your clothes, eventually some items become stained, torn, or just worn out. The same is true of towels, linens, and other textile products. Rather than let these things end up in a landfill, you can donate items in good condition to a thrift store and give the rest to textile recycling programs. With a little effort, you can even turn your old textiles into something new!

EditSteps

EditDonating Reusable Textiles

Make sure your textiles are in good condition. Most thrift stores only accept clothing and linens that are free of stains and tears. Look through the textiles you plan to donate and determine whether they are fit to be resold.^[1]
- A little wear is fine, but if you notice any stains, rips, or holes in your clothing, or if any part of the item is discolored or extremely worn, it may not be accepted as a donation.
- If you plan to write off your donations for tax purposes, you will also be able to make larger write-offs for items in better condition.^[2]
Find a thrift store near you. Check your Yellow pages or look online to see what thrift stores are in your area. Arc Thrift and St. Vincent de Paul are 2 common thrift chains that may be in your area.
- Many thrift stores donate their profits to charitable causes, like animal shelters or hospices, but some do not. You may be able to learn more about whether a certain thrift store donates to any causes through websites like http://www.CharityWatch.org or http://www.CharityNavigator.org.^[3]
Call to ask whether the store is accepting textile donations. Even if the thrift store carries textile products, they may not be accepting donations at this time. It’s a good idea to call ahead and check whether they need the type of items you have, and whether they have a limit for how much you can donate.
- You should also ask when their donation hours are and where exactly you should drop your items off.
Wash and dry the textiles you plan to donate. Even if your items seem clean, it’s a good idea to wash them one more time before donating them. You should also make sure they are thoroughly dry before packing them up to donate, as moisture can cause mildew and mold in textiles.^[4]
Gather everything you will donate in bags or boxes. Depending on what kind of donation receptacle the thrift store has, you may have to leave the bag or box there, so don’t put your items in anything you want to keep.
Drop your items off during donation hours. Double check to make sure you know the correct hours for donation drop-offs, then take your items to the thrift store. You may be able to bring your items directly into the store, but most thrift stores have clearly labeled donation receptacles outside the store or a donation drive-through area.
- Pay attention to any signs that are posted around the donation area. Some thrift stores do not want donors to leave their items without a staff member being present to receive them.
Get a receipt if you want to write your donation off on your taxes. If your items are in good condition, you can write the donations off when you fill out your tax forms. Ask the thrift store staff if they can print or write you a receipt, and keep it for your records.^[5]

EditRecycling Damaged Textiles

Check to see whether your municipality offers textile recycling. While it’s still fairly uncommon, a few cities and municipalities do have textile recycling programs. Check your city’s official recycling website for information.^[6]
- New York, NY, Greenwich, CT, Montgomery, MD, and Clifton, NJ all have post-consumer textile recycling programs.^[7]
Look online for local programs that recycle textiles if your city doesn’t. There may be independent textile recyclers operating in your area that will accept donations. The Council for Textile Recycling, a nonprofit that works to reduce textile waste, has an online locator tool that will help you locate any recycling programs in your area. Go to http://www.weardonaterecycle.org/locator/index.php.
- Earth911 also has a recycler location tool at https://earth911.com/recycling-guide/how-to-recycle-clothing-accessories/.
Recycle your clothes through the manufacturer if possible. Some brands, such as Patagonia, Levi’s, and H&M, allow consumers to return their old products at store locations to be recycled. Look at your clothing tags to see what brands you have, and check the website of each brand to see if they have any information about recycling.^[8]
- You can also call the store where you bought them, or a store location near you, and ask if they recycle used products.
Compost your textiles if they are 100% wool or cotton. Cotton and wool are biodegradable, so they can safely compost along with other organic matter. If you don’t compost, look for a local farm or garden that might accept donations for their compost.^[9]
- If there are farmer’s markets or Community Supported Agriculture (CSA) groups in your area, check to see if they have websites that list their participating farms. You can then contact the farms to see if they will take compost donations.
- Do not compost any materials that have been used with toxic substances, such as rags that have been used to clean up engine oil.
Donate by mail if you can’t make it to a recycling drop-off. If you can’t find any textile recycling programs in your area, you may be able to mail donations to some recycling programs. Use an online recycling locator to find out if there are textile recyclers in any of the major cities in your state, and contact them to see if they accept donations by mail.
- To use the Council for Textile Recycling’s locator, go to http://www.weardonaterecycle.org/locator/index.php.
- The recycling group Donate Stuff will send you pre-paid UPS boxes which can be filled with donations and sent back. Their website is https://donatestuff.com/.^[10]

EditReusing Old Textiles

Cut old linens and T-shirts up for rags. Textiles that are very old, worn, or stained can be very useful for cleaning up around the house. Cut your textiles into squares, and use them instead of paper towels to clean counters and other surfaces.^[11]
- Textured fabrics, like terry cloth towels, can make good rags for washing dishes.
Use colorful fabric scraps for jewelry and art projects. If you’re the crafty type, you may want to save any old textiles with attractive patterns and reuse the parts that are in good condition. Keychains, handkerchiefs, and phone cases are all simple projects that can be made with fabric scraps.^[12]
Make a quilt using pieces of old textiles. Quilting is a great way to use up fabric scraps of any size, especially if you have old items that have sentimental value. If you don’t have any experience quilting, consider taking a class and starting with a very simple pattern.^[13]
Turn old clothing into pet bedding. This is a convenient use for any textiles that are too worn or stained to be presentable. You can put them in shallow cardboard boxes to create pet beds, or add them to the pet beds you already have for extra padding.
Make napkins out of an old sheet or tablecloth. If you have a sheet or tablecloth that is still in good condition but has a tear or stain that makes it unusable, cut out the damaged part and turn the rest into napkins. Cut squares out of the sheet and make hems on the edges.^[14]
- You can make a simple hem by folding each edge of the square back about and sewing it in place. This will keep the edges from fraying.
- It can be helpful to iron the fold so it stays in place while you sew it.
Cut an old T-shirt into a halter top. Start by cutting the sleeves off, making each cut from the armpit to the collar. You should leave about of collar when you cut.
- On the back side of the shirt, cut a straight line across between the armpits.
- Fold the remaining piece of collar under about , then sew it in place.
- The collar will now have a small hem that you can run a string or cord through, which you can tie around your neck to hold the shirt in place.
Turn ripped jeans into shorts. If the hems or knees of your jeans have worn out, but they still fit well, they can be used as shorts. Put the jeans on and look in a full-length mirror to determine how long you want the shorts to be, and mark the length with a pen so you will know where to cut.
- Use fabric scissors to make clean cuts.
- It’s a good idea to use a ruler or measuring tape to make sure your shorts are the same length on both legs.
Make tote bags out of old T-shirts. Cut the sleeves and collar off of your shirt and turn it inside out. Sew a straight line along the bottom, then sew over the line again to reinforce it. You can then turn the T-shirt right side out and use it as a tote bag, with the shoulders of the shirt acting as handles.^[15]