Can I recycle stained clothes instead of disposing in trash?

Answer 1

Stained clothing, especially if it's of a natural fiber can be dyed. You can even use Tea, to stain clothing, and give it an old or vintage look.

It can always be used for the "ick" jobs, like cleaning gutters, painting, gardening, ect.

They can be cut up, and new things can be made from them. Toys for cats are supper easy to do, and just stuff with a bit of cat nip, along with the stuffing.

If the clothing was pretty, like a nice dress, it can be cut up, and a dress for a little girl can be made, or doll clothing.

Jeans should always be saved, to be cut up, and make fabulous jeans quilts. They are easy to make, very durable, and a great way to recycle old jeans.

Even stained clothing can be donated to thrift stores however. Many people do not know this, but thrift stores make money selling clothes they are unable to sell to rag dealers. Some of this is turned into fine paper, but much of it is simply cut up, and sold as rags, by the HUGE boxload. Things like helicopters use enormous numbers of rags, in the maintenance of the helicopters.

~Garnet
Homesteading/Farming over 20 years
Living frugal but not cheap over 30 years.

Answer 2

You could freecycle them, use them as rags for cleaning, or try and look up a place that makes clothes from recycled cotton.

I mean, how bad are the stains? Couldn't you just keep them as scrubby clothes? Like for laundry day or if you're going to be painting?

Answer 3

See http://www.recycleyourjeans.com for sandals made from donated old jeans.
Otherwise creating cleaning rags.
Depending on the location of the stain, you could alter your clothes (e.g. changing long sleeved shirt into short sleeves, jeans into shorts).
Kids like dressing up in old clothes, and a stain will not make it any less fun.

Answer 4

You can usually use for household projects - in many different ways ie - socks for cleaning, tshirts work great on mirrors to reduce the streaking, etc. Also if it is a simple stain or just a bit worn usually you can find someone from freecyle to use it! www.freecycle.org

Answer 5

We donate our used cloths to needy people through organisations world wide. There are many needy persons globally. Who knows there are needy people around you also, who are shy not to ask anyone. Cool.

If the clothes are torn, we still use many of our cloths for cleaning windows, households, car and even in kitchen instead of kitchen towel. Wash the cloths well and keep for re-reusing them. We do not beleive in trashing clothes until thery are really useless to us.

Answer 6

You don't need to get rid of them just because they're stained, keep them to wear around the house or working in the yard or shop or where ever.

Answer 7

Use them for rags for cleaning. They can be used for many months and years and are better for the environment than paper towels and sponges. We use them to wash down the walls and wipe up major spills in the house.

Answer 8

Maybe you could dye them so you won't see the stains. T-Shirts are good for washing cars. Thats about all I can think of.

Answer 9

You might try contacting the paper manufacturers, since paper that has rag fibers is stronger than pure wood pulp paper.

Answer 10

We use them for rags. Also several schools ask for old shirts for art classes.