Comments on: How can I reuse or recycle old tableclothes and runners?

By: Medeea

Medeea — Tue, 06 Sep 2011 23:05:11 +0000

They would make good napkins, shopping totes, kitchen towels (instead of paper towels)
Also, the animal shelters could use them.

By: Leah

Leah — Sun, 05 Oct 2008 17:17:50 +0000

give it to a local school so they can make play costumes or use it as a prop or just a dress up cloth

By: Gulia

Gulia — Fri, 25 Jul 2008 00:31:32 +0000

Cut them in smaller pieces to wash dishes, or use as sanitary napkins, etc.

Hospitals in poor countries would happily use them for different purposes. I know that in Russia women after giving birth get sanitary napkins that are hard as a log, because they have been in a wash so many times after being soaked with blood of hundreds of women, that they are as hard as cardboard, and hardly absorb anything at all, and cause scratches and rash. Out there donations of used fabric would be appreciated.

By: Jim

Jim — Fri, 20 Jun 2008 21:06:27 +0000

I also saw on the new green channel on cable that when you donate old clothing to large companies like Goodwill, the items they can’t resell goes to a place where they recycle the cloth and make soundproofing for cars…the stuff that goes in the doors etc so you don’t hear road noise while driving. What a cool idea!

By: Jim

Jim — Fri, 20 Jun 2008 21:04:37 +0000

I use old clothing, sheets, towels, etc for packing when shipping items in the mail. The new “flat rate Priority” boxes are perfect for this as the added weight is not charged.

By: jack

jack — Sun, 04 May 2008 09:56:53 +0000

wot a great site! heres a few more suggs….
they could be used for cushions to be popped inside a cover.
cut them into squares,use a laundry marker to write on them to make prayer flags……..or dye triangles,stitch em to bias bindind for bunting
pillow cases
aprons
sun hats
lavender/cedar bags [add sequins,buttons etc
dust sheets!!??!!
if all else fails …. cotton is quite good for starting a fire

By: Jennie

Jennie — Fri, 02 May 2008 17:12:43 +0000

Here are some more ideas for you

i) if you have a pet use it as a blanket/bedding

ii) rip it up into iddy bitty pieces and use it as a filler for a cushion

iii) make it into a tote bag for shopping.

By: Chile

Chile — Fri, 04 Apr 2008 00:07:33 +0000

Drape over plants on freezing winter nights.

By: Elliott

Elliott — Sun, 30 Mar 2008 02:30:08 +0000

braided rag rug

By: sho

sho — Wed, 12 Mar 2008 06:18:44 +0000

Local animal shelters could take these to wrap the puppies and kitties in. :-)

By: fuchsoid

fuchsoid — Sun, 09 Mar 2008 12:39:03 +0000

Cotton or linen damask looks great dyed in bright colours. It hides the fainter stains, and then they can be re-used like any other fabric, in patchwork or even clothes.

By: Bobbie

Bobbie — Wed, 05 Mar 2008 15:17:14 +0000

Almost any reuse requires some refitting of the original item. I’d sew them together to make a large bedspread. White ones would possibly make great baby diapers if soft enough. Or even take two or more tablecloths to sew back together into one useful one.

By: Tamara

Tamara — Wed, 05 Mar 2008 14:54:38 +0000

compost them if they’re natural fiber.

oh, i hate to say that1 i love to sew!

By: louisa

louisa — Wed, 05 Mar 2008 13:38:48 +0000

Oooh, thanks for reminding me Scott – furoshiki bags are awesome

If you don’t know what they are, check out this really simple video tutorial – http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=NC7MH3EzBWM&e you can make a few different bag shapes with just a piece of square cloth and three knots.

By: Scott Wells

Scott Wells — Wed, 05 Mar 2008 13:23:43 +0000

I use old tablecloths to wrap large Christmas presents. Square ones are about the right size for a robust furoshiki.

By: Malva

Malva — Wed, 05 Mar 2008 13:18:27 +0000

Turn them into cloth napkins!