Other Uses for Frayed Towels

While at the thrift store picking out some "new to me" jeans, I remembered that the bath mat towels were getting frayed around the edges and I wanted to pick up a few more. I found three new looking white ones for 99¢ each and grabbed them up. When I got home I took out the old bath mat towels and had to decide what to do with the frayed ones.

Of course the first idea was using them as rags, but I had quite a few of those and decided it I had to do something different with them. With a little bit of research here are my choices:

• Old towels are good for insulation around hot pots for the potluck
• Cut off the fraying of threadbare areas and make smaller hand towels or washcloths
• Cut them up into a manageable size and use in the diaper bag for messes
• Make a kid’s washcloth mitt by drawing around their hand, cutting out and sewing up
• Use old towels to line a pet bed or to dry your pet
• Toss in the car for cleanup or to hang on the window to block the sun coming in
• Give them away to the humane society
• Donate them to a women’s shelter
• Keep them in the garage for checking oil, drying the car, etc
• Roll it up, rubber-band it and through in front of a leaky door or window sill
• Rip it up (or not) and use as stuffing for a pillow
• Cut them into strips and braid a towel rug
• Hang them in front of a window to provide shade
• Make your own terry cloth can cozy to keep your soda/beer/water cool
• Use them to mop the floor, cut into strips or not
• Cut them to size and use as a baby bib or adult bib
• Wrap around the head of a broom and clean the cobwebs out of the ceiling corners
• Layer a couple of them, tape or sew them and use for muddy shoes/boots
• Use them as shelf and drawer liners. This also cuts down on the noise from banging around cups and plates as well
• Cut them into strips and tie up your hair
• Place under plants when you don’t have a bottom to the pot
• Cut them up into hand size pieces and use to wrap around and clean your glasses
• Stuff them into boxes as packaging material
• A smaller drop cloth for painting/staining
• Make a bag with a couple old towels
• Smaller sizes can be used as handkerchiefs, panty liners, diaper liners
• Use it to patch up something else that is tearing
• Tack onto recliners in areas that are going threadbare- foot rest, head rest
• Make a child’s apron
• Tie up plants and trees
• Wrap around your neck and tuck into your shirt to keep warm in the winter
• Smaller sizes can be placed in a first aid kit
• Sew together for curtains in the kitchen/bathroom
• Emergency toilet paper
• A child’s cape or a fort flag

Essentially, only your creativity stops you.

Any other suggestions I may have missed.... I'm open to more ideas