12 Ways to Reuse and Repurpose Old Clothing

I am in the midst of moving so am downsizing my closet (well, I’m trying to at least!). As I’m purging a number of items, I have been wanting to make sure they stay out of the landfill. This got me thinking of ways to upcycle or repurpose my unwanted or unusable clothing. Read this week’s post for inspiration on a sustainable way to clean out your closet.

As you clean out your closet, this post might be helpful to guide that journey: Questions to Ask Yourself When Clearing out your Closet

What to Do With Wearable Clothing

Some clothing items will still have various amounts of life left in them and can be passed on to others for use.

Here are some ways to pass on your useable clothing:

1. Host a clothing swap – check out this post for how to host your own! How to Host a Clothing Swap

2. Donate your items to charity shops

3. Post your items in your Buy Nothing Group

4. Sell your items online or at a garage sale – Check out our how-to guides here: Garage Sale or Sell Online

5. Consign your clothing – Check out our tips for consigning and a list of consignment stores in the Lower Mainland: How to Consign your Clothing

What to Do With Unwearable Clothing

Some clothing items are well loved and at the end of their wearable use, but that doesn’t mean they have to be thrown in the garbage! There are a number of ways old clothing items can be repurposed into new things.

Here are some ideas for upcycling old clothing:

1. Make rags – chop up your old clothing and use the fabric pieces for cleaning.

2. Make handkerchiefs – clothing made of softer fabrics are great for cutting up and making into handkerchiefs.

3. Create a T-shirt rug – collect all of your well loved t-shirts and turn them into an area rug. This post has all the details! Homemade T-shirt Rug

4. Make a reusable bag – rugs aren’t the only thing a t-shirt can be turned into. Check out this post for inspiration on making a bag out of a t-shirt: No Sew Reusable Bag

5. Make Dryer sheets – reusable dryer sheets for the win! This is a great project for keeping clothing out of the landfill and for reducing our dependence on single use items. Check out this post for a how to guide for making your own: Homemade Dryer Sheets

6. Donate to organizations for various uses – some organizations, like pet rescues, may take certain unusable clothing and materials for rags, bedding, or other purposes. Make sure you ask before dropping off any items at your selected organization.

7. Use as stuffing – shred your clothing into smaller pieces and use them as stuffing for other projects.

Reducing Waste and Helping our Planet

Giving our clothing a second chance at life–whether that’s with someone else to wear or as a complete repurpose into a non-clothing item–helps reduce the amount of waste created on our planet. It’s also a great way to save money and even make a little bit if you can sell items.

In what ways do you reuse and repurpose your old clothing?

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