11 Useful Ways To Repurpose Old Towels For Cleaning

If it's been a couple of years since you've taken inventory of your linen closet, it may be time to scope out the condition of your towels. Any kitchen, bath, or beach towels that are thinner, stained, or less absorbent, ought to be replaced. This doesn't mean you should automatically throw them out, though. As you consider some of the signs that it's time to replace your old towels, you can also decide if they might be repurposed. Old towels can easily be used as cleaning rags to tackle a variety of jobs around your home, such as dusting furniture, keeping your shower dry, and cleaning a variety of surfaces around your kitchen.

There's some caveats you'll want to keep in mind before using old towels to clean your home. First, all towels ought to be washed before cleaning with them, even if they're retiring from their original purpose. A stained towel with small holes is generally okay to use for most home cleaning jobs, but it must have some level of softness to prevent scratches on delicate surfaces. Never use a scratchy towel on glass or stone. It's also best to recycle towels that are visibly falling apart and spreading lint everywhere. Finally, consider the size of the cleaning job you want to repurpose your old towels for, as you might need to cut them into smaller rags. While a worn-out bath towel might help you dry a large surface like a bathtub, this isn't practical for drying dishes. With these tips in mind, you're now ready to explore the different ways you might use repurposed towels for your home cleaning projects.

One of the easiest ways to repurpose older towels is by converting them into dust cloths. Old washcloths can do the trick, but you can also cut larger bath or kitchen towels into smaller rags for the same purpose. If you happen to have sewing skills, you can stitch the cut edges together so they don't fall apart when you wash them. Be sure to wash these newly repurposed dust rags after each use to ensure they're ready to go for your next dusting session.

When it comes to using old towels for dusting, these don't have to be exclusively used on furniture around your home. If you have a flat dry mopper, consider ditching the expensive disposable cloths and place old towels in the fitted holes or clamps instead. This will take a bit more preparation up front because of the need for cutting and fitting the towel to the mop head. Over time though, you'll appreciate the decreased amount of waste the towels can save you from store-bought mopping cloths.

Old towels can also come in handy when cleaning painted surfaces, such as baseboards and cabinets. A small amount of mild dish soap and warm water can remove grease, dirt, and scuff marks from these types of surfaces. Apply this solution to the towel directly, or have a bucket handy for larger cleaning jobs. Just be sure you follow up with a separate dry towel, as water can damage the wood. Over time, you'll find this technique will save you money on buying disposable cleaning cloths.

If you have old washcloths or tea towels that have seen better days, you can repurpose them into dishwashing accessories. An old towel with a coarser texture can work well for scrubbing dishes, while a softer one can dry them. You'll also want to use softer towels for cleaning and drying anything delicate, such as glass. As a bonus, cleaning dishes with old repurposed towels might reduce your reliance on that germy sponge in your kitchen, and they can be washed and reused. Use this along with other strategies to make washing the dishes more efficient and less miserable.

After cleaning dishes, it's time to wipe down your kitchen countertops to keep them in good shape. Most types of countertops can be cleaned with a basic solution of dish soap and a small amount of warm water. You may certainly utilize repurposed towels for cleaning and drying your countertops, but grab ones that are on the softer side if you have stone, stainless steel, or any other type of scratch-prone surface. Dry your countertops with a separate towel that's not abrasive and still has some absorbency.

Water around your tub and shower is inevitable, but keeping these surfaces as dry as possible is ideal in between uses. Rubbing clean towels around the surfaces can help keep these spaces clean and dry, but you certainly don't want to use your plush bath towel for such purposes. This is also where old, repurposed towels are a better fit, so long as they are still absorbent. Plus, keeping your shower dry in between uses can cut down on mildew and mold buildup.

Paper towels are not ideal for cleaning mirrors and other glass surfaces such as windows. If you happen to have older microfiber towels, you can use them to clean glass over buying new ones. Make these are still soft and lint-free before use. You'll also need multiple towels — one as a dry duster, and then another to use with the desired cleaner you have on hand. Follow up with one last soft towel to dry the window as the final step in the process, and pair with other best practices for streak-free windows.

Removing dust from ceiling fan blades is another opportunity to put old towels to good use. Use small dry towels as light dusters, or dampen them with water to help remove thicker dust accumulation. Work through one blade at a time, and ensure the fan is turned off and has stopped spinning before getting started. As a bonus, you can use an old large towel as a drop cloth placed directly underneath the fan to help catch any dust that flies of the blades during the cleaning process.

When you have pets, it's inevitable for occasional accidents to occur on flooring and furniture. While you'll still need to use a cleaning product for addressing urine, feces, or vomit, the first step always involves picking up any solids and blotting up liquids as much as possible. You certainly wouldn't want to use a good towel for this chore, and you don't want to waste dozens of paper towels, either. You can use old towels to blot up the mess instead, and then discard them when you're done.

Whether you're dealing with rusty old tools, dirty lawn equipment, or you just need a towel to wipe your greasy hands, there's a variety of uses for old towels around your garage. Consider having a stack of repurposed towels on your work bench for these messy occasions. You can even have a few old towels in your car in case of food spills, coffee mishaps, or mud from dirty footwear.

If you have leather furniture or upholstery in your car, you already know that these surfaces require delicate care. Such attention to cleaning doesn't mean you have to waste paper towels or buy new cloths, though. As long as you have old towels that are soft and clean, you can use them to clean and condition leather surfaces around your home. Remember to have a clean towel handy for buffing away excess product residue so the leather looks its best.