What To Do With Your Old Clothes
By carrie1390
@carrie1390 (157)
United States
July 25, 2009 5:59pm CST
So you've just lost a ton weight, won that shopping spree or maybe you just have a ton of old clothes you don't need anymore. What do you do with them? Of course you could just throw them away, but I have a few ideas to get the most out of your old clothes.
1 Donate them to the Salvation Army. There are plenty of other people out the who are less fortunate and would appreciate the clothes you no longer want.
2 Sell them in a yard sale. I know I talk about yard sales in a lot of my other blogs, but they're a great way to get rid of things you don't need anymore and make some extra cash at the same time.
3 Modify them. This could mean taking your old pair of jeans that don't fit anymore and turning them into a skirt or taking an old t-shirt and making it into a cute tank top. Usually this doesn't take much sewing experience and you can make an old worn out outfit into something new and exciting.
4 Make them into cleaning rags. Cut up old shirts and use them for working on the car or cleaning around the house. It might seem silly, but they might as well be put to good use.
5 Make old jeans into a purse. Cut the jeans all the way down so they look more like a mini skirt and sew the seam strait across. You now have a cute little bag or purse to carry around.
6 Make old shirts into unique throw pillows. If you have some cute t-shirts that aren't really worth wearing anymore you can cut them out and make them into throw pillows.
7 Make memorable outfits into a quilt. Sometimes you have outfits that have special significance to you, but you'll never wear again. Cut a few swatches out of each of these outfits and sew them into a quilt that is uniquely you.
These are just a few ideas, but there is no limit to what you can do!
2 people like this
26 responses
@rosepedal64 (4188)
• United States
26 Jul 09
I have been in this situation before. I had gained some weight. I kept telling myself that I was going to lose that weight. Two years later I was moving and found all of those clothes that I still can't wear. The first thought was to have a yard sell. Then I had a heart. I knew a family that didn't have much for their daughters for school. I loaded up the clothes and dropped them off to them. You would have thought I gave them a million dollars. The feeling that I experienced from that was far more touching than having a yard sell. I now give any extra clothing to needy families of my choice.
1 person likes this
@carrie1390 (157)
• United States
26 Jul 09
That's great that you were able to help a family in need. It's always best if you can give your old clothes to someone who really needs them.
@carrie1390 (157)
• United States
26 Jul 09
It doesn't seem like anyone really read my discussion...I'm not asking for ideas on what to do with old clothes I'm giving ideas. Not to mention everyone just seems to be repeating what I said in the post! Number one in my list is to donate them!
@puddytat101 (657)
• United States
26 Jul 09
If I don't want to make something out of my old clothes, then I donate to Goodwill or convert to cleaning rags if they are bad enough! Jeans really do make great homemade purses and handbags. The pockets on them hold cell phones just right!
@carrie1390 (157)
• United States
26 Jul 09
That's true, they're also great for holding pens and other odds and ends.
@Trinquette (156)
• United States
26 Jul 09
These are all very good ideas. Somewhere on the internet there is a how to on turning old clothes into something new like a purse or other useful item. You could also save a pair and keep it in the closet to keep one on the right track to healthy living and making sure they don't return to that size... since their new wardrobe would be in smaller sizes and thats what they want to stay at ... but a reminder is always good and sometimes important.
@carrie1390 (157)
• United States
26 Jul 09
That's true, but I think that getting rid of all of the big clothes is a great motivator for keeping the weight off. If you keep all your old clothes than it's just that easy to get back into them.
@grace118224 (1038)
• China
26 Jul 09
i don't buy a lot of clothes as most of women do so it won't bring me any trouble to deal with the old clothes . i will buy clothes for each season and then i will keep old ones in my drawer until they get old enough to be thrown away. I also will send some to my relatives if they are interested. Actually it's good to donate them to people they want. But we don't find a good and easy way to do so.
@carrie1390 (157)
• United States
26 Jul 09
Well if you can donate them it's much better than throwing them away so at least they can go to good use.
@bluesinjid (658)
• Canada
26 Jul 09
As with the other people that suggested it, i would recommend giving away your old clothes to people who need them the most, or to family. You will be surprised at how unfortunate people are today, especially here in the Recession. I would recommend finding a Goodwill in your area and donate yours clothes there, or as you suggested, recycle them into new clothes!
@carrie1390 (157)
• United States
26 Jul 09
Donation is a great thing to do with old clothes, that's why it's number one in my list.
@Debs_place (10520)
• United States
26 Jul 09
If there are women's shelters around, they are a good place to donate women and children's clothing and toys. Many women leave with just the clothing on their backs and need everythng.
Old luggage can go to children's homes. Many kids go from home to home in foster care and have nothing but a brown paper bag for luggage.
@SHAMRACK (8576)
• India
26 Jul 09
Dear friend,
That is really good ideas. But in my case I do usually give to orphanages or charity agencies and in rare circumstance I am able to give to thoe beggars who come to my house begging.
@EliteUser (3964)
• Australia
27 Sep 09
Hey,
Whoa, you have some really great ideas, I think that I will make use of some of the ideas you have mentioned. But previously my mother used to always give my good clothes that remained small for my growing body, to various charities. Make sure you have a good day, God bless and Happy Lotting!!
@sblossom (2168)
•
5 Aug 09
it's very good advices. I do have many old clothes i guess i would never have chance to wear them.
before my solutions were give them to my relative. some of them are poor and my clothes usually were expensive, so they would like to accept the free gifts.
sometimes i also chose some clothes to my cleaner when she helped me with my housework.
now I don't have the chance to do it. because i have no close friends who need or can exchange my clothes. so my simple way to throw these old clothes on the local deposit site.
I would learn to do something you mentioned. thanks and happy mylotting.
@smartone2009 (220)
• United States
26 Jul 09
List them on ebay, Or give them away to charity is what i do with my old clothes that are in good condition still.
@mohdehtesham (140)
• India
26 Jul 09
Hey i like you way using old clothes.Your 1st scheme is good to donate old clothes to salvation army.We can also donate our old clothes to our relative who are very poor.Your way of using old and turning them into skirt and making it into cute tank top is fantastic.i like your thoughts.I realy appreciate you.
@KarissaAngel (362)
• United States
26 Jul 09
Twice a year I go through my closet and if I have not worn my clothes for awhile I donate them to the salvation army. But if they are old jeans I will cut the legs off for shorts. I am still into wearing jean shorts although I have some dressy ones.
When I use to sew quilt I would take my shirts and cut them into different size squares. But reading your post and I like some of the ideas that you have mentioned. Thanks for your great thoughts on this discussion you began.
SMILES
@windymyre (210)
• United States
26 Jul 09
Most of my old clothes I do donate to Goodwill or other charities, but the ones that were expensive or in really good condition I take to the consignment shop. They sell the clothes for me & I get 40% of the profit. That way I don't have to use my time to have a rummage sale & I have more money to buy more clothes!
@hendritanbm (131)
• Indonesia
26 Jul 09
These are all some good ideas of what to do with our old clothes. The things that I already did with my old clothes was just give it to my church. My church has one program in helping people that live in the remote places. Of course, the other mission is to spread the Word of God. Every year I always have old clothes that I don't want to use anymore. But I have problems with the clothes that I use everyday as my uniform in my work place. I can't just give it because there is an identity in those clothes. I am afraid if I just give it away, it will be a problem later.
@nitu1952 (286)
• India
26 Jul 09
USually people keep on using their old tor clothes for a longn time. according to me we should give our old clothes to the poor people or at the places of charity. ladies usually relace the old clothes with the household items. everone has the different way of thinking.
@my_name_is_coco (4333)
• Philippines
26 Jul 09
these are good ideas.for me,I usually give those old clothes to charity.I also give some to my cousins and other relatives.there is no point in keeping old clothes that you aren't using anymore.as my motto goes,"one man's junk is another man's treasure".
@Shery32 (423)
• Saudi Arabia
26 Jul 09
Hi Carrie,
These are great ideas I've never thought of most of them :D I think reusing old clothes is a great idea if you dont have a lot of money to buy new things. It is good to know that there are other things to do with old clothes. I'd donate them as they might be very valuable to ppl in need. I usually pass any old stuff to mom to do so as she knows who to give them to.
Thanks and Happy MyLotting
@pranavpillai93 (267)
• India
26 Jul 09
I use my old clothes as carpets in the toilet! I also use them as washing clothes!
