Reuse Your Old Denim To Make A Kitchen Cleaning Essential

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Throwing away a pair of jeans can feel oddly emotional, especially if they've been your go-to for years, comfortable and perfectly broken in. There's often sentimental value in an old pair of denim jeans, a jean jacket, or kids' overalls, especially if they've been with you for special or memorable events. If they are stained or too worn in areas to donate, you might be considering throwing them away. Not only would you be tossing out old memories, but, since denim has a particularly hefty environmental impact, you would be going against your earth-conscious ethos. There is a solution, though, that will allow you to hold onto your old denim jacket or favorite jeans that no longer fit while also reducing waste — diversify your repurposing of worn-out jeans to make kitchen sponges. The durable, textured surface of denim makes it surprisingly effective for scrubbing dishes and other surfaces. All you need for this hack is some denim, sewing supplies, and mildew-resistant polyester batting.

Not only will this dish sponge alternative alleviate your guilt about tossing out your old denim clothing, but it will save you some money on kitchen sponges, as well. When you have finished this quick and easy DIY, you will have a sponge that's functional, as well as one that's not as much of an eyesore as the store-bought options. Since sponges are relatively small items, a single pair of jeans could produce enough sponges to last you quite a while.

The first thing you need to do for this denim upcycling project is to determine the size you want your sponge to be and cut two pieces of denim that are slightly larger than the size you decided on. Then, place the denim pieces with their right sides touching and pin the edges together. Now, sew the edges, leaving a small gap open. Turn the unit right side out and place your mildew-resistant polyester batting, similar to AK Trading Co. Upholstery Grade Polyester Batting, into the opening you've left. Finally, fold the edges of the open gap inwards and topstitch it closed. At this time, you can also topstitch around the edge of the rest of the sponge. This is an optional step, but it will disguise the small area of topstitching and give your new sponge a nice, finished look.

Before starting this project, you need to determine if the denim clothing you have is too worn to work well as a scrubber. If you have an old pair of jeans, for example, the knee area may not be usable. Choose areas of the fabric that still have somewhat deep grooves. When it comes to caring for your new denim sponge, simply put it in your washer and air dry it as needed. When your sponge starts to show wear or has odors that aren't resolved by your washing machine, it's time to throw out your DIY sponge. Making several sponges at once will ensure you have an ample supply.