How To: Recycled Bath Mat

This is one of those great kill-two-birds-with-one-stone projects. Got lots of old towels kicking around that are too ratty to donate but you don't want to dump them in the landfill? Got a child (or better yet, children) with busy little fingers? Have we got the perfect rainy day activity for you.

We spotted this fabulous little how-to on Ecologue by way of Cookie's Nesting blog a few months back, and we bookmarked it in anticipation of Kitchens and Bathrooms Month. All you need is a bunch of old towels (old t-shirts will also do) and gridded matting that you should be able to find at most craft stores.

The instructions are pretty straightforward. Read them in their entirety -- and watch a helpful video -- at Ecologue.

Comments (7)

how cute! great idea!

posted by ellehudson on March 30th 2009 at 2:02pm
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I like this idea - I was already toying with the idea of cutting up old bathtowels with frayed edges into 12" squares and making my own washcloths...

posted by bepsf on March 30th 2009 at 3:16pm
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Old terry cloth bath towels would make a terrible mess if done this way. Old tee shirts---that would work nicely. But I save old bath and kitchen linens, and old tee shirts for disasters, and cleaning, painting, car-washing, et cetera.

posted by SunnyBlue on March 30th 2009 at 3:49pm
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Sunny is right - I sew a lot, and cutting terrycloth is the most god-awful mess ever. It gets on everything, and doesn't stop - the cut terry sheds bits for weeks after cutting!

You'd need to do this in a small area, to keep the mess contained, then wash it a few times to clear all the shedding terry before use.

But it looks great!

posted by brenjay on March 30th 2009 at 4:20pm
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This reminds me of those old latch hook yarn pictures and things that you did as a kid. I wonder if you could use the latch hook for this project or would the fabric be too thick?

posted by farleece on March 30th 2009 at 8:43pm
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I could see doing it with old tee shirts- but terry cloth? Only if I want to kill my dryer!

Hmmm... I might have to save this project yet ;)

posted by SeattleMama on March 30th 2009 at 11:49pm
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just a note that another great way for keeping old ratty towels (and blankets) out of the landfill is to donate them to your vet or animal shelter for bedding.

posted by wndl on April 2nd 2009 at 10:19am
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