Open your dresser drawer. If you are like most people, you have a stack of t-shirts you haven’t worn in five years. They are faded, maybe have a small hole, or are souvenirs from an event you barely remember. Instead of throwing them away or letting them collect dust, you can turn them into one of the most useful household items: durable, absorbent, and washable cleaning rugs and mats. If you are looking for how to repurpose old t-shirts effectively, the best direct answer is to process them into “t-shirt yarn” and then use a no-sew braiding technique or a hula-hoop loom to create thick, cushioned mats. In this guide, I will show you exactly how to transform your fabric waste into functional home decor and cleaning tools.
As a Life Solutions expert, I despise waste. T-shirt material (cotton jersey) is essentially gold in the cleaning world. It is absorbent, it doesn’t fray easily, and it is soft enough to polish delicate surfaces but tough enough to scrub a floor. Just as we discuss strategies for smart grocery shopping: how to avoid impulse buying to save money on food, repurposing what you already own is the smartest way to save money on household supplies. Why buy a $20 microfiber mat when you have the materials to make a better one for free?
Table of Contents
- The Preparation: Making “T-Shirt Yarn”
- Project 1: The No-Sew Braided Door Mat
- Project 2: The Hula Hoop Weave (Round Area Rug)
- Project 3: The “Draft Stopper” Energy Saver
- Project 4: The Ultimate Absorbent Cleaning Rags
- Project 5: Packing Protectors
- Maintenance: Caring for Your T-Shirt Rugs
- Troubleshooting Sticky Situations
- Conclusion
The Preparation: Making “T-Shirt Yarn”
You cannot simply sew whole shirts together and expect a good rug. The secret to a professional-looking DIY rug is creating “plarn” (plastic yarn) or, in this case, T-Shirt Yarn. This continuous strip of fabric is the building block for all the projects below.
Step-by-Step Instructions
1. The Wash: Ensure the shirts are clean. If they have old stains, that is fine, but they shouldn’t smell. If you are dealing with accidental marks on the shirts before you start, use my tips on how to remove ink stains from clothes to ensure your yarn is relatively clean.
2. The Cut: Lay the t-shirt flat. Cut off the bottom hem and the top part (under the armpits). You should be left with a large tube or rectangle of fabric.
3. The Spiral: To make a long continuous strip without knots, cut the tube in a spiral fashion. Start at one edge and cut a strip about 1 to 1.5 inches wide. Keep cutting around and around until you reach the center.
4. The Tug (Critical Step): Once you have a pile of strips, pull them tight. The jersey fabric will naturally curl in on itself, creating a smooth, round “yarn” that won’t fray. Ball this up, and you are ready to weave.
Project 1: The No-Sew Braided Door Mat
This is the heavy-duty option. These mats are thick, cushiony, and perfect for the kitchen sink or the back door. Because they are thick, they are excellent for standing on while you wash dishes.
How to Build It
1. Start the Braid: Take three balls of your t-shirt yarn (mixing colors looks great). Tie the ends together. Start braiding them just like you would braid hair. You want a very long, consistent braid.
2. Coil the Center: Lay the start of the braid flat on a table. Coil it into a tight spiral (like a cinnamon roll). This is the center of your rug.
3. Lace it Up: You don’t need a sewing machine. Thread a smaller strip of t-shirt yarn onto a large tapestry needle (or just use your fingers). As you coil the braid outward, “lace” the new loop to the previous loop. It is similar to lacing a shoe. Keep the tension tight so the rug stays flat.
4. Finish: When the rug is the size you want, taper the end of the braid (cut the strands shorter) and tuck them underneath, sewing them fast.
These rugs are virtually indestructible. If you drop a greasy slice of pizza on it in the kitchen, don’t worry. You can spot clean it using the same methods for how to remove old sticky oil stains from kitchen tiles without chemicals—a little baking soda and vinegar works wonders on these cotton mats too.
Project 2: The Hula Hoop Weave (Round Area Rug)
This is a fantastic project to do with kids. It is faster than the braided method and creates a beautiful, wheel-spoke design.
What You Need
- A Hula Hoop (the size of the hoop determines the size of the rug)
- About 10-12 old t-shirts
The Process
1. Create the Spokes: Pull loops of t-shirt yarn over the hula hoop, crossing in the center like a bicycle wheel. You want an odd number of spokes for the weaving to work (e.g., 11 loops creating 22 spokes).
2. The Weave: Tie a piece of yarn to the center. Go Over, Under, Over, Under. Repeat this in a spiral. Push the fabric down toward the center frequently to keep the weave tight.
3. Color Changes: When you run out of one color, just tie on the next color with a simple knot and keep going. The knots will be hidden in the texture of the rug.
4. Release: When you reach the edge of the hoop, cut the spokes and tie them off in pairs. This creates a fringed edge.
This is a great creative outlet. If your kids get bored of weaving, you can switch gears and teach them how to make a paper airplane that flies far—both activities teach patience and engineering on a small scale.
Project 3: The “Draft Stopper” Energy Saver
Not all mats are for walking on. You can use old t-shirts to create a rolled “snake” mat that sits at the base of a drafty door or window.
Roll several t-shirts together into a tight cylinder, or stuff a long t-shirt sleeve with scraps of other cut-up shirts. Sew or tie the ends shut. Place this at the crack under your door.
This simple repurposing project acts as insulation. We talk extensively about sealing gaps in our guide on how to lower electricity bill in summer. A t-shirt draft stopper prevents cool air from escaping or hot air from entering, making your home more efficient for zero cost.
Project 4: The Ultimate Absorbent Cleaning Rags
Sometimes, you don’t need a pretty rug; you just need a rag that actually absorbs water. Old t-shirts (especially 100% cotton ones) are superior to paper towels because they don’t leave lint behind.
The “Un-Paper” Towel System
Cut your t-shirts into 12×12 inch squares. Do not hem them; jersey knit does not fray, so the edges will just curl slightly. Keep a basket of these under your sink.
Uses for T-Shirt Rags:
1. Polishing Shoes: They are soft enough to buff leather without scratching. Use one to apply the baking soda paste when following the best way to clean white shoes at home.
2. Dusting Screens: Because they are lint-free, they are perfect for TV screens and monitors.
3. Sticky Messes: If you are scrubbing a surface to figure out how to remove sticker residue from plastic, use a t-shirt rag. It holds the oil or alcohol well and provides just enough friction to lift the glue.
Project 5: Packing Protectors
If you have t-shirts that are too stained to be rugs, use the scraps for travel.
When you are preparing for a trip, wrap your shoes in large squares of old t-shirt fabric before putting them in your suitcase. This prevents the soles from touching your clothes. It is a key step in the best way to pack shoes in a suitcase. The fabric breathes, unlike plastic bags, and you can toss the rag in the wash when you return.
Maintenance: Caring for Your T-Shirt Rugs
The beauty of these DIY rugs is that they are machine washable. However, they can get heavy when wet.
Washing: Wash on a cold cycle. If the rug is large, take it to a laundromat with large machines.
Drying: Air drying is best. Lay them flat in the sun. If you put them in the dryer, the heat can sometimes shrink the cotton unevenly, warping your rug.
While we are discussing laundry, keeping your linen closet organized is essential. Once your new rugs are clean, store them neatly. Using the same principles found in how to fold a fitted sheet perfectly will help you fold and stack these heavy rugs so they don’t topple over.
Troubleshooting Sticky Situations
Since these rugs are often used in high-traffic areas like entryways or kids’ rooms, they will encounter messes.
Gum: If someone tracks gum onto your beautiful handmade rug, do not cut the rug fibers! Use the ice cube technique detailed in how to remove gum from hair. Freeze the gum on the rug, and it will chip right off the cotton.
Wrinkles: If your woven rug curls up at the edges (tacoing), it usually means your knitting was too tight. You can try to relax the fibers using steam. Use the passive steam method described in how to iron a shirt without an iron—hang the rug in a steamy bathroom, then lay it flat with heavy books on the corners.
Clogs: Be careful when washing t-shirt rags. If small scraps come loose in the washer, they can clog your drain. If you accidentally wash a rag that disintegrates and causes a backup, refer to how to unclog a sink with baking soda to clear the pipes without harsh chemicals.
Conclusion
Repurposing old t-shirts is more than just a craft project; it is a mindset of resourcefulness. You are taking something destined for a landfill and giving it a second life as a functional tool in your home.
Whether you weave a colorful mat for your bathroom, braid a sturdy rug for the back door, or simply cut a stack of unbeatable cleaning rags, you are saving money and reducing waste. So, grab your scissors and that pile of old shirts—your home is about to get a little cozier and a lot cleaner.