What Can You Do With Old Fabric?

Is It a Good Idea to Give Away Our Outdated Clothes?

It's commonly believed that giving used or damaged products is the best, simplest, and greenest way to get rid of them. Almost everything sent to donation centres is accepted, but not everything ends up being put to good use by the groups who receive it.

The Council for Textile Recycling estimates that only approximately 20% of donated apparel is actually sold. That leaves the remaining 20% for Goodwill to handle.

And if the charity doesn't sell 80 percent of it, what happens to it? One billion pounds, or over half of all donated clothes, is shipped to developing nations and sold in "bend over" markets.

Though the long-term repercussions of this practise are up for debate, there is no doubt that it has had a significant, and frequently detrimental, impact on the economies of these nations. Rwanda, Burundi, Kenya, Uganda, South Sudan, and Tanzania are just some of the East African nations that have considered outright prohibiting the importation of previously worn apparel.

Donating to Goodwill is a great way to get rid of outdated clothing; however, before you do, it's a good idea to sort through everything you plan to donate and choose the most recent items that are still in good condition.

For the rest of the puzzle, what's the deal? Read on for some suggestions.

Methods for Disposing of Outdated Garments

Outdated, Unwearable Clothing

Modify and Repurpose Into Something New

Donating soiled, torn, or otherwise unwearable clothing to textile and fabric recycling (see below) is one option, as is repurposing pieces of such clothing to make things like face masks, chair and car seat cushioning, cleaning rags, and industrial blankets.

Explore Areas Near You That Accept Recycled Fabrics and Textiles

Donating unwanted garments to a clothes bank gives them a second chance at being worn. Donation bins for clothing and textiles are frequently located in supermarkets and public parking lots.

Inquire Within Your Government Regarding Textile Collections

It's always a good idea to double-check with your city or town hall to see whether they have a clothing and textiles collection programme. These aggregations are simple to access, free, and useful.

Donate to an Animal Shelter

Most animals housed in shelters have to make do with secondhand bedding, blankets, and clothing. They clean with them, build beds and blankets with them, and utilise them to make the shelter feel more like a home for the animals. If you have any gently used sweaters or t-shirts lying around, you might want to bring them in to assist out a furry buddy in need.

Good-Condition Used Clothing

Donate To A Good Cause

Donating gently used clothing to local charity shops is a great option, and many organisations also conduct clothing drives. It may be more difficult to get rid of uniforms and other company-branded gear, but it's still worth asking your employer about. Both 'old school uniform' and your local school uniform store may feature a secondhand rail for donated uniforms.

Donate Or Hand Down

The environmental friendliness and long-term financial savings of hand-me-downs make them a great choice as children age. If you've outgrown your clothes but still want to give them a good home, consider giving them to a buddy who now wears the right size. Be forthright about any flaws, confirm their acceptance, and wash the items before giving them away.

Clothing Rentals

If you're in need of some extra room but aren't quite ready to say goodbye to your belongings, renting them out is a perfect compromise. Share the delight of a stunning outfit with others and make some money at the same time. Similarly, if you don't have room in your closet but need a special costume for an occasional event, renting may be your best option.

Do a Clothes Swap

Check in with your closest friends, family members, and roommates to see if anyone is interested in making a few swaps so you can all get some free new stuff. Making trades with people you already know and get along with is simpler. In addition, you can have a get-together in the open air and have everyone contribute something.

Sell Your Clothes and Get Paid

You can easily and with a variety of choices  make money from your used clothing. You can still make a sale even if the item has minor flaws (such a missing button or a dropped hem). When advertising the item, be sure to include a thorough description of any flaws or signs of use.

It may seem like your child is outgrowing their clothes quicker than you can replace them, leading to a significant pile of gently used items that have outlived their usefulness.

Repurposing Outdated Garments

Donated items must be clean and in excellent shape. If you're rummaging through your closet and finding items that aren't in wearable condition, you may be at a loss as to what to do with them. Maybe you have resolved to declutter your life this New Year, or maybe you have just inherited a lot of junk.

Clothes that aren't in pristine condition can be used in a variety of ways. We've compiled a comprehensive list of options for repurposing your unwanted clothing, from textile recycling to t-shirt tote bags.

Hand-Me-Downs 

Donating or receiving a hand-me-down is a win for the economy and the planet. Hand-me-downs are great if you have friends or family with younger children.

Expensive clothing for infants and toddlers can sometimes be sold even if it is in "play condition." All you have to do is post a picture of the item, be forthright about any flaws, and send it around to someone else.

Creative Efforts

Make a patchwork poster or a painting by stretching out old garments on a canvas. Frame the design after cutting it out of an old shirt. Make cute sock monkeys out of socks. Use your imagination; the opportunities are limitless.

Rags

A rag can be made from any article of clothing. As a matter of fact, skipping paper towels in favour of reusing old clothing is a fantastic start towards a greener household. Rags have a wide variety of uses, from general housekeeping to spot cleaning and even car washing. The more rags you have, the less laundry you'll have to do, so stock up today!

Donate to an Animal Shelter

The animal housed at shelters are often clothed in donated items such as clothing and linens. They clean with them, build beds and blankets with them, and utilise them to make the shelter feel more like a home for the animals. If you have any gently used sweaters or t-shirts lying around, you might want to bring them in to assist out a furry buddy in need.

Organic Cotton Waste Composting

We have some wonderful news if you happen to have any out-of-date garments that are made entirely of cotton. Cotton fibres can be recycled  into new products. You can compost not only cotton and synthetics, but also wool, cashmere, bamboo, and linen. Composting is the process of transforming organic materials like fabric and paper into a soil-like substance suitable for growing food crops and other plants. If you care about saving the planet, this is the finest choice you can make.

Take to the Store and Present to Receive a Rebate

The likes of H&M and Madewell will gladly accept your gently used clothing for recycling. In addition, you may usually save money on all of your purchases if you make them on that particular day. Every day, more and more businesses join the movement; if you don't see a shop near you here, perform a fast search online to find one.

Create A Memorial Quilt Or Plush Toy

Make a quilt or stuffed toy from old garments that hold special meaning since they were worn by a departed loved one or hold other memories for you. Lovely remembrance mementoes, these. Those precious, hand-me-down baby outfits can be repurposed into lovely plush toys.

Preparing a Costume Chest

Those old garments of yours can be used for something else: amusing the kids. Dress up a wooden box or crate with used garments, accessories, and footwear. The things your kids can make out of old garments will blow your mind. Dressing up in your clothes is the most fun.

Return To The Manufacturer 

Some brands are committed to the whole life cycle of their products and will accept your returned items for recycling. Patagonia is one such company that provides this service and also provides store credit.

Repair Them

Donated clothing that is too worn or lacking a button to be usable should be repaired before being given away. Easy home repairs include fixing a rip, sewing on a new button, or patching a hole in your favourite pair of jeans.

Do not go out and get a replacement of an item already in your closet if you absolutely cannot see yourself without it. Do your best to fix things first. Take it to a tailor or a friend who is handy with needle and thread if you can't fix it yourself. If the garments are in good enough condition after being repaired, you can either wear them again or give them to a charity.

You Can Make Tote Bags Out of Old Tees

Totes made from recycled T-shirts are the cutest thing ever. To reuse old t-shirts in this way is incredibly eco-friendly. Never use the grocery store's plastic or brown paper bags, and save yourself the trouble and expense by not buying reusable bags made of plastic either.

Make Do With Patches From Fabrics

Maybe you've got holes in your beloved pair of jeans, or you just want to give an old pair of pants a new lease on life. Patch your pants with a tee shirt, flannel, or other vibrant fabric.

Make a Scarf or Sew a Handkerchief

Eliminating paper towels and switching to handkerchiefs instead of tissues are both great for the planet. Make trendy pocket squares or functional handkerchiefs by cutting squares from old clothes.

Conclusion

There are an estimated $30 billion worth of unworn garments in American closets, and almost 336,000 metric tonnes of clothing are discarded annually. While 85% of textile waste may be recycled, it is typically sent to landfills instead. One billion pounds, or over half of all donated clothes, is shipped to developing nations and sold in "bend over" markets. Whether you're donating to Goodwill, a clothes bank, or an animal shelter, there are lots of options for disposing of unwanted clothing. Donating soiled, torn, or unwearable clothing to textile and fabric recycling is one option.

It's always a good idea to double-check with your city or town hall if they have a clothing and textiles collection programme. Clothes that aren't in pristine condition can be used in a variety of ways. There are options for repurposing your unwanted clothing, from textile recycling to t-shirt tote bags. If you don't have room in your closet but need a special costume for an event, renting may be your best option. Reusing old clothing is a fantastic start towards a greener household.

You can compost not only cotton and synthetics, but also wool, cashmere, bamboo, and linen. Composting is the process of transforming organic materials like fabric and paper into a soil-like substance suitable for growing food crops and other plants. Some brands are committed to the whole life cycle of their products and will accept your returned items for recycling. Easy home repairs include fixing a rip, sewing on a new button, or patching a hole in your jeans. To reuse old t-shirts in this way is incredibly eco-friendly. Never use the grocery store's plastic or brown paper bags.

Content Summary

• There are an estimated $30 billion worth of unworn garments in American closets, and almost 336,000 metric tonnes of clothing are discarded annually.
• The good news is that you can do a number of environmentally friendly things with old garments that don't involve tossing them away, regardless of the condition they're in.
• The Environmental Protection Agency estimates that in 2017, 16.9 million tonnes of textiles and fabric were discarded, making up 6.3% of total municipal solid trash.
• This means that every year, Americans discard approximately 100 pounds of apparel.
• Only around 11 million tonnes were diverted from landfills out of nearly 17 million tonnes of textile waste, the vast majority of which is outdated garments.
• Worse, while 85% of textile waste may be recycled, it is typically sent to landfills instead.
• In fewer than 20 years, the amount of clothing discarded by humans has doubled from 7 million to 14 million tonnes.
• It's commonly believed that giving used or damaged products is the best, simplest, and greenest way to get rid of them.
• The Council for Textile Recycling estimates that only approximately 20% of donated apparel is actually sold.
• One billion pounds, or over half of all donated clothes, is shipped to developing nations and sold in "bend over" markets.
• Though the long-term repercussions of this practise are up for debate, there is no doubt that it has had a significant, and frequently detrimental, impact on the economies of these nations.
• Donating to Goodwill is a great way to get rid of outdated clothing; however, before you do, it's a good idea to sort through everything you plan to donate and choose the most recent items that are still in good condition.
• Donating soiled, torn, or otherwise unwearable clothing to textile and fabric recycling (see below) is one option, as is repurposing pieces of such clothing to make things like face masks, chair and car seat cushioning, cleaning rags, and industrial blankets.
• Donation bins for clothing and textiles are frequently located in supermarkets and public parking lots.
• It's always a good idea to double-check with your city or town hall to see whether they have a clothing and textiles collection programme.
• Most animals housed in shelters have to make do with secondhand bedding, blankets, and clothing.
• Donating gently used clothing to local charity shops is a great option, and many organisations also conduct clothing drives.
• Both 'old school uniform' and your local school uniform store may feature a secondhand rail for donated uniforms.
• The environmental friendliness and long-term financial savings of hand-me-downs make them a great choice as children age.
• If you've outgrown your clothes but still want to give them a good home, consider giving them to a buddy who now wears the right size.
• If you're in need of some extra room but aren't quite ready to say goodbye to your belongings, renting them out is a perfect compromise.
• Share the delight of a stunning outfit with others and make some money at the same time.
• Check in with your closest friends, family members, and roommates to see if anyone is interested in making a few swaps so you can all get some free new stuff.
• You can easily and with a variety of choices make money from your used clothing.
• Donated items must be clean and in excellent shape.
• If you're rummaging through your closet and finding items that aren't in wearable condition, you may be at a loss as to what to do with them.
• Clothes that aren't in pristine condition can be used in a variety of ways.
• We've compiled a comprehensive list of options for repurposing your unwanted clothing, from textile recycling to t-shirt tote bags.
• Donating or receiving a hand-me-down is a win for the economy and the planet.
• Hand-me-downs are great if you have friends or family with younger children.
• Make cute sock monkeys out of socks.
• Use your imagination; the opportunities are limitless.
• A rag can be made from any article of clothing.
• As a matter of fact, skipping paper towels in favour of reusing old clothing is a fantastic start towards a greener household.
• The more rags you have, the less laundry you'll have to do, so stock up today!
• The animal housed at shelters are often clothed in donated items such as clothing and linens.
• If you have any gently used sweaters or t-shirts lying around, you might want to bring them in to assist out a furry buddy in need.
• We have some wonderful news if you happen to have any out-of-date garments that are made entirely of cotton.
• Cotton fibres can be recycled into new products.
• If you care about saving the planet, this is the finest choice you can make.
• The likes of H&M and Madewell will gladly accept your gently used clothing for recycling.
• In addition, you may usually save money on all of your purchases if you make them on that particular day.
• Every day, more and more businesses join the movement; if you don't see a shop near you here, perform a fast search online to find one.
• Make a quilt or stuffed toy from old garments that hold special meaning since they were worn by a departed loved one or hold other memories for you.
• Those precious, hand-me-down baby outfits can be repurposed into lovely plush toys.
• Dressing up in your clothes is the most fun.
• Some brands are committed to the whole life cycle of their products and will accept your returned items for recycling.
• Donated clothing that is too worn or lacking a button to be usable should be repaired before being given away.
• Easy home repairs include fixing a rip, sewing on a new button, or patching a hole in your favourite pair of jeans.
• Do not go out and get a replacement of an item already in your closet if you absolutely cannot see yourself without it.
• Do your best to fix things first.
• Take it to a tailor or a friend who is handy with needle and thread if you can't fix it yourself.
• If the garments are in good enough condition after being repaired, you can either wear them again or give them to a charity.
• Totes made from recycled T-shirts are the cutest thing ever.
• To reuse old t-shirts in this way is incredibly eco-friendly.
• Maybe you've got holes in your beloved pair of jeans, or you just want to give an old pair of pants a new lease on life.
• Patch your pants with a tee shirt, flannel, or other vibrant fabric.
• Make trendy pocket squares or functional handkerchiefs by cutting squares from old clothes.