Menage a Towel … one towel, DIY’d three different ways!! Get your mind out of the gutter guys …

In the spirit of being “green” and trying to recycle or up-cycle old items to make them new again, I’m going to show you how to create three things you will love out of old towels you have laying around your house.  They say “One man’s trash is another man’s treasure”…I say “One gal’s trash can be turned into that same gal’s treasure”… And you don’t have to leave the comfort of your own home!

I am going to show you how to take those old bath towels and turn them into a bath mat, a doggie chew toy and a stiffer cover … that is washable and reusable.

Here’s how to get started …

You Will Need:

• Old towels – the more colors, the better!
• Rubber gridded mat (or non-slip mat for under rugs)
• A Swiffer (or floor mop)
• Fabric Scissors (good ones….the towels are a bit hard to cut through!)
• Self-adhesive Velcro (you can get strips and cut them or smaller pieces already cut)

Bath Mat

How-To:

1. Choose the size of bath mat that you would like. They range in size, so pick the best size for your bathroom.  I’ll be doing 24” x 40”.
2. Cut the non-slip mat in the size you want.
3. With your scissors, cut the towels into thin strips…thinner is better! I cut mine about a ¼” inches wide, and about 5” long (remember these will get smaller once put through the mat). Use can use one color, or alternate colors to give the mat a more textured (and expensive) look.
4. Put each strip through a hole in the mat and knot each one equally. Depending on how thick your towel was, you can do this for every hole in the mat, or you can skip ever other one.  Either will look great!
5. Complete this step until the entire mat is done.
6. Voila! Lay it in your bathroom and enjoy your new bath mat!

Doggie Chew Toy

How-To:

1. Choose the size of chew toy you would like. If you have a small pup, consider making a thinner, shorter toy. If you pups are big like mine (2 labs 80 lbs each), then go big or go home!  I’ll be making mine 24” long out of three different color towels.
2. Cut three strips (one of each color of towel) about 2 ½” wide.
3. Start by making a knot at one end connecting all three pieces of towel. Double knot this so puppy pulling won’t damage the structural integrity (yes…even in chew toys this is important!)
4. Using a simple, regular braid technique, braid the three strips tightly all the way until the end.
5. Tie a similar knot on this end of the toy.
6. Voila! Play with  your pup with their new toy….out of your old towels!

Swiffer Cover

How-To:

1. Using the diagram above, cut your towel fabric to size.
2. Add Velcro to the designated side like the diagram.
3. Wrap your current swiffer and enjoy your new washable and affordable swiffer cover!

So next time you’re cleaning out the linen closet see if you can repurpose those old towels.

Do you have a fantastic idea to turn something old into something new? Share with us in the comments below and remember we want to see your DIY’s on Instagram and Twitter  so make sure you follow @paigehemmis & hashtag #DIYfengshui #DIYplay

If you missed the episode check it out by heading over to Home & Family!

XOXO,

Paige