We love buying new clothes to bring home and love, but eventually, those cool new clothes get old. After you’ve worn your clothes as much as you want, they start to take up space in your closet and dresser. If you’re not sure what you can do with old clothes in your closet, we can help. Keep reading to get some ideas for giving your clothes a new purpose.
- Make Something New
If you’re bored of wearing your old clothes the same way but don’t have the budget for runway-inspired fall fashions, then you can make something new out of your old clothes. Cropped sweaters are a popular trend this fall, so instead of pinching pennies to afford a new cropped sweater, get out some scissors and sewing supplies and alter an old sweater you already have. DIY sewing projects are a great way to save money, especially when you can so easily turn old clothes into something new.
That something new doesn’t have to be another piece of clothing, either. You can turn gently used sweaters into pillows, old jeans into cleaning wipes, and T-shirts into quilts. You’ll get more use out of old clothes this way and keep the planet a little greener by reducing textile waste.
- Swap or Donate Your Clothes
Your gently used clothes may be old to you, but they can be something cool and new to someone else. If you and your friends are all getting a little bored with your closets, arrange a clothing swap. This way, no one spends unnecessary money, but everyone gets new clothes they can love.
Many charities also take clothing donations if you would rather help people in need. Just remember that most charities have donation standards, so you should inspect clothing for stains and tears and wash it before dropping it off.
- Sell Your Old Clothes
Many people also sell their gently used clothes as long as they’re in good shape. You can sell your clothes directly to consignment shops or use various apps that connect sellers and buyers. However, some consignment shops are picky, and listing clothes online often doesn’t result in immediate sales. If you’re looking to quickly clear the clothes from your closet, you may want to try another method.
Green Possibilities
Depending on the type of clothes you have, you can either recycle or compost them. There are various companies that will collect old clothes so that they can recycle them, saving them from ending up in a landfill. If you can’t give your old clothes to one of these companies and they’re too worn for repurposing, donating, or selling, then you can consider composting them. However, you can compost only all-natural textiles without buttons, zippers, or synthetic stains from something like paint.
There are a lot of options for what you can do with old clothes in your closet, but using them to make something new, swapping or donating them, selling them, and taking advantage of green possibilities, like recycling and composting, are some of the best options. Cleaning out your closet gives you room to create a new wardrobe for yourself and help other people or the planet, sometimes even both.
