Old clothes can pile up with time and make it difficult for us to decide what to do with them. Most of the clothes that we forget about end up in dumping bags months later. Throwing away your favorite shirt may not feel that good once you know how you can recycle and repurpose them. There are multiple ways to recycle your old clothes. Here are some dos and don’ts you would like to know before deciding what to do with your used clothes.
Recycle old clothes
The best way to repurpose your old clothes is to give them away for recycling. Only 1% of the clothes get recycled today. Not every cloth that you can be recycled easily. If the clothes you send for recycling are difficult to manufacture, they can get disposed of later. However, if you have clothes made entirely from cotton, you can send them to the right places around your city for recycling.
Upcycle used clothing
Upcycling is a popular trend that people are following these days. It is a process where you take an old product and no longer use it and add a new purpose or identity to it. Upcycling your clothes will give them a new life and purpose. You can refer to an online platform to learn how to use old clothes to make new things. Some upcycling ideas include t-shit frames, tote bags, pet tents, soft toys, etc.
Donate to a charity
Another great way of utilizing your old clothes is to give them away to a charity. If the clothes are in good and wearable condition and do not have any dirt or tears, you can find local charities that accept old clothes. Make sure that the charity you approach is accepting clothes donations before you reach their place with a bag of clothes.
Do not throw the clothes away
95% of the clothes that go to dumping yards are recyclable and can be reused. The fashion industry is responsible for 10% of global carbon emissions. Throwing away our clothes for dump yards is only adding more negative effects on our climate. There are several organizations that address this problem in the fashion industry. More people understand the need to recycle clothing, which is leading to a positive change.
Do not use clothes for cleaning
Avoid using your t-shirts for cleaning places. It may seem like the best use of old clothes, but it will not make anyone comfortable if they know you are using your old t-shirts for wiping their plates at the dining. Avoid using t-shirts for making pillow covers, table cloth, and napkins. Even if you clean them completely before converting them into practical items, they will look odd to anyone else using them apart. You also do not want someone wiping spilled food with your favorite old t-shirt.
