Clothing is undoubtedly one of our basic necessities. That’s why we buy new ones every now and then. It would definitely be a whole lot better if our clothes would last forever. But unfortunately, that’s not really the case.
After multiple wears, tears, washing and drying, the fabric will eventually lose the qualities that make it wearable. But what happens to your clothes when it’s time to buy a new one? Do you throw them away or just leave them in some isolated box?
If you’re looking for better ways to get rid of old clothes and accessories. Here are some ways you can try:
Use them as rags
If you think the suggestions above are way too much work, you can just use old clothes as rags. Just cut them up and sort them according to their use. This way, you won’t have to go out of your way just to get rid of clothes you’ll no longer wear!
If you have a lot of them, bear in mind that some companies even sell cleaning rags in large amounts or in bulk to earn money.
Donate old clothes
As the saying goes “One man’s trash is another man’s treasure”. That couldn’t be truer, especially in the case of old clothes. There are lots of people out there who may be complete strangers to you but would really appreciate the clothes that you no longer don’t.
Gather up all your unwanted clothes. Make sure they’re all clean and ready to be worn. Then, put them all in one box. You can choose to donate the old garments directly to the people who need it in your area. You can also donate them to your chosen organization.
They will be responsible for handing them out to the people they think that needs it. Some organizations even gather donations and send them to other parts of the world. So you may not realize it, but your old, tacky sweater can actually keep someone else warm.
Turn it into compost
If you haven’t heard of it yet, old fabrics can actually be turned into compost. This is according to RecycleBank. According to them, cotton fabric, as well as other natural fibers, make good compost. You just need to keep in mind a few things.
First is that the garments shouldn’t be blended or made with synthetic fibers. So polyester shirts are out of the question. Second, make sure you remove any buttons, zippers and unnecessary accessories. Lastly, shred the fabric into fine pieces.
Let bigger companies recycle them
If you think your old clothes are no longer practically “wearable”, donating might not be the best solution. In some cases, the fabric in old clothes is so torn up that it can no longer be worn. If you donate these to charity, they may end up getting thrown away.
The best thing to do with these types of old clothes is to have bigger companies to recycle them for you. There are clothing brands and companies that accept their own garments back for recycling while some clothing and fashion retailers accept worn-out textiles regardless of the brand.
These days, paper and plastic bottles aren’t the only materials that can be recycled. Rather than storing old clothes in boxes to rot, why not try these tips instead? They won’t only be put into good use; you’ll also free some space in your home.
