Recycling worn-out or stained clothes

[melpomene]

I've got a couple of carrier bagsful of clothes which are too worn out or stained to be worn again. All of the clothes recycling bins that I have seen specify "clothes in good condition". My local council has told me that I can put worn-out clothes in the recycling bins anyway, but that doesn't seem right when the charities specify good condition. It seems a bit of a waste of time to make the charity sorters go through a load of manky stuff, or possibly a hole or stain could go unnoticed and the clothes could end up being sold by mistake.

What does everyone else do with worn out or stained clothes? (don't say use them for dusters, because I still have loads of muslins for that purpose)

[LittleMyDancing]

The charities sell the ones that aren't usable for rags, so they still make money from them, so I would pop them in the recycling or to a charity shop anyway.

[choccypig]

Oxfam definitely will take almost anything; they send them off for mushing up to make paper etc.

[notcitrus]

The Scope recycling bin in my local Sainsburys accepts any 'textiles' and clothes are sold in the UK or sold in bulk for recycling. Took me a long time to find that, though - most of the local textile recycling bins now specify 'saleable condition only'.

I wouldn't give them to a shop though as they have to pay for excess stuff to be taken away and they have more junk to sift through than they can cope with. Perhaps label your bag 'not good enough to sell' to save the sorters going through it, before putting it in the recycling bin?

[sophy]

What can I do with two cashmere sweaters which are not wearable because one has a small stain on and the other has a small hole in?

Not saleable condition but too good to be turned into rags.

[3Ddonut]

pet bed? scruffs? I know what you mean, but I can't think of anything better!

[Flamesparrow]

cashmere could probably be turned into wool wraps - a nappy addict would relieve you of em!

[NumberJill]

Pull and roll the wool.

[expatinscotland]

sophy, why not advertise those jumpers on here in FFP?

there are many knitters and spinners on here who will happily recycle cashmere jumpers.

[misdee]

i think puddlepants uses old wool jumpers for wraps.

[Pavlovthecat]

I use them to clean the floor. Seeing as DH does it with non-soiled clothes, stained ones are perfect!

[misdee]

i should never look at this site, so many pretty fabrics

[Flamesparrow]

Ooh Misdee... can I interest you in any flexitots or did they take too long to arrive and you went elsewhere ?

[misdee]

oh you could, but not this week i'm afraid. we have a festival thingy at the weekend and am saving my money.

whats the sizing like? SGK has given me loads of weeny little nappies for size 1 and loads of wraps, so will have to look at them for size 2+

[Flamesparrow]

they seem quite big on the leg holes - can't try them due to my pants wearing dude , but they feel lovely. I'm not an aplix person though so it is probably just where i am used to complete adjustability iyswim

[misdee]

hmmm prefer nippers myself to aplix,but get £40 grants from the council for cloth nappies, so may as well use it.

do u think ME airflows will fit fone over them? was never fond of tots bots covers.

[sorry for hi-jack]

[Flamesparrow]

yup airflows would be fine

They look lovely nappies, but people seem scared of em

[misdee]

have heard they g0ot fab reviews so am interested. will bookmark your site again for a few weeks time

[Flamesparrow]

[solo]

I use them for my lettering on my blankets. I like the clothes with motifs on and pretty fabrics for the girls ones, nice patterns for the boys ones. I never throw anything out! total recycling here in the solo household!

[Madlentileater]

jumpers, if wool could be boil washed to make felt, then into bags etc.
Some people use some fabrics for rag rugs (it's quite easy I think, you could give it a go)
failing that anywhere like a garage might need rags for wiping hands etc.

[Lastyearsmodel]

Would cashmere jumpers make nice cushions? I have a couple made from old favourite cardis I couldn't bear to part with. Not cashmere tho.

[Lalisa]

maybe try them on freecycle. I can see someone with some time being happy for bits of fabric for making stuff with, and it sounds like there are plenty of uses for old cashmere...