Bringing New Life to Cotton

Looking for cool ideas on how to bring new life to your old cotton items? Some of our visitors may be able to inspire you with practical ways to recycle your cotton. These creative tips are sure to make you look at worn and pre-used items in a new light.

I am able to get the most from my vitamins and save money, which is valuable in these tight times. Each bottle is packed fully with cotton padding to prevent breakage and movement during shipping. I used to throw this away, which turned to composting it, and most recently I had this epiphany. “Why continue to buy cotton balls, when I am already buying them with another item I purchase?” Now when I open a new bottle, I take out the cotton padding and put it into my beauty jar. Each morning and evening when I need a cotton ball for my cleansing routine, I just pull a little piece of cotton from my jar and apply my cleanser, and then it gets composted. One little extra step and now not only am I saving on purchasing cotton balls, I am also reducing my waste. Outstanding! - Cheryl, CA

I needed a gift bag for a baby girl present. The fire truck gift bag and Happy Birthday paper I had on hand were not options. So, I quickly dashed upstairs to my cotton fabric stash. I folded a large pink printed cotton scrap inside-out, stitched up the side seams, and used pinking shears to give an easy, decorative finish to the top of the bag. I turned the bag right side-out, sat back for a moment, and marveled at how easily I had just created a custom-sized, very cute cotton gift sack. Since then, I have made pillow cases gift bags for kids from cotton prints that match the birthday party themes; I have placed small gifts in the center of cotton bandanas, gathered up the sides, and secured them with ribbons; and I have also wrapped bread loaves in pretty cotton dish towels. With creativity and cotton, we can make any occasion or season one of greener giving. - Ruth, TN

I reuse cotton as much as possible. If you cut and braid and knot strips of cotton, it makes a fun dog toy that they can tug on. You can also make a car seat cover by pulling a t-shirt over the back of the front seats or you can use sheets to cover your car seats and protect them from pet hair or dirt. Old cotton underwear and t-shirts work great as rags and you can make pillowcases and quilts out of old t-shirts with designs that hold special memories—because they are made of cotton, the material is still soft and easily washable. Old blankets and quilts make great dog beds and can be donated to shelters. Not to mention the Halloween uses for repurposed cotton items: pillowcases for trick-or-treating, old t-shirts and jeans for making scarecrows, and old sheets as fabric for costumes, and to lie down or wear as a smock when carving and painting pumpkins. - Cassandra, NJ