Instead of chucking your old underwear into the general waste bin and calling it a day, try out some of these ideas to make sure you aren't contributing to the pollution-causing landfill sites.
Even if you don't recycle underwear or upcycle it into a scrunchie, purse or clean the corners of your house with DIY dusters, you can donate used underwear to those less fortunate. What better way to make someone's day and save our beautiful earth?1. Donate to BreastTalk
BreastTalk takes old bras (surprise, surprise) and uses them to raise money for breast cancer research. However, it is a United Kingdom-based charity.
2. Donate to Bras For The Cause
This charity puts on their very own celebration called The Bras for the Cause Gala. They raise cash for breast and cervical cancer in the state of Iowa.
However, they won't just take your plain old bra. You'll have to get a bit crafty!
Adorn your old underwear with clay, fabric, bits-and-bobs, sequins, stickers and anything else you can think of before sending it off. You never know, your creation could be featured at their gala.
Want to know what happens to your decorated bras after the party? Well, they're auctioned off and all the earnings are given to cancer research.
3. Donate to Free the Girls
Women from around the world are involved in gruesome acts of sex slavery. Trying to break free from this and gaining control back is a huge feat so this charity distributes donated bras to those who have been freed.
Free The Girls does not stop there. They help survivors build secondhand clothing companies in their villages, towns or cities so they can achieve financial security.
4. Donate to Bra Recycling Agency
The Bra Recycling Agency's mission is to stop all bras ending up in a landfill site. To do this, they accept old, worn-out bras and recycle them (hence the name). Your bra could end up being turned into a carpet cushion for all you know!
The company makes it super simple to donate your unwanted bras. You just have to order an e-kit and they sort out the rest.
5. Donate to Planet Aid
While a lot of donation places don't accept underwear (thongs, boxers, etc.), Planet Aid does. Just make sure to wash them before sending them in.
6. Compost Them
If you're lucky enough to have a garden, composting your old underwear is an effective, eco-friendly way to say goodbye to them.
Of course, this won't work for all materials but if you have 100% silk or cotton undies then you are good to go. Just make sure you remove the elastic from the waistband first!
7. Recycle Them
The next time you take a trip to the recycling plant (hopefully that will be soon), take your tired undies with you. You can then throw them in the designated clothing bin and you're done! It really is that simple.
8. Turn Them Into Wash Rags
For a drama-free, zero effort, eco-friendly way to get rid of your old underwear, use them as washrags. Not only will this save you money, but it will also save you time since you don't need to rush off to a donation centre.
9. Create a DIY Sponge
Turning your worn-out underwear into a DIY sponge is incredibly easy. All you need to do is bundle up a few pairs into an onion or garlic sack (the netted bags) and secure it by tying a knot. Tough stains, begone!
10. Make Pillow or Teddy Stuffers
If you have pillows or teddies that need a bit of extra plump, cut up your underwear into little pieces to use as a filler. It's just as comfy as the stuff you can buy in craft stores.
11. Use Them as Plant Ties
Believe it or not, your old thongs are strong enough to tie plants to support sticks. Seriously, give it a go!
12. DIY Duster
Since dusters are supposed to be gentle on your walls, surfaces and windows, underwear fabric is perfect for this.
All you need is a rubber band, plastic or wooden stick, scissors and some old underwear.
13. Save Elements for Projects
Crafters love to use anything and everything for their projects so saving cute elements like zippers, buttons or bows from your undies is key. Even if you aren't especially creative yourself, you probably know a few people who would use them in magical ways.
14. DIY Purse
For those of you who want to carry their bra with them, creating a cute purse is the way to go. Not to mention that ladies have been using them to promote breast cancer awareness for years!
To make it, you'll need some ribbon, hot glue, scissors and your unwearable bra. Then, cut the straps off, glue the cups together for the pouch, attach the straps back on for handles and there you have it. Afterwards, you can decorate it however you like (we suggest ribbon, buttons and sequins).
15. DIY Quilt
So, for this DIY idea, you need a lot of old panties (depending on how large you want your quilt to be).
If you decide you do have enough, then cut them into squares (or any shape you fancy) and stitch them up. Totally unconventional yet totally cool.
16. Rag Rug
Much like our DIY quilt, you will need a ton of undies for this to work. But, if you do have a load and find that you aren't too handy with a needle and thread or a sewing machine, making a rag rug is the way to go.
17. Hair Bands
With a little sewing machine use and one pair of old underwear, you can create a cute scrunchie in no time.
All you need is your underwear, a sewing machine, seam ripper, an iron, some pins and thread. Plus, the project will only take around 10 minutes (maybe less if you're an experienced sewer).
Since everyone is all about saving the planet now (although this should have started a long time ago), we know you'll delight in these 17 eco-friendly ways to get rid of old underwear.
