How to Recycle Old Jeans

A good pair of old jeans can tell a story on its own. Frayed bottom cuffs can tell how you walked in them, a faded “wallet” square in the back pocket can tell how you shopped in them, and worn holes in the knees say how you played in them. Jeans may look the same when they are brand-new on the shelves, but as time goes by, no two pair are alike.

If you’re like most people, you probably have a few pairs of old jeans in the bottom of your drawer that you never wear. Perhaps they don’t fit anymore or they’re just getting a little rough around the edges— maybe they just have some level of sentimental value. Regardless of the reason, they’re taking up valuable space in your dresser or closet because they “might be handy someday”. Hopefully, after reading, you’ll see that the day might have finally come.

Denim is very durable and easy to work with, thus making it the perfect fabric for recycling. The first and most obvious use for old jeans is to wear them as “work clothes” for those projects that are extra messy, such as painting and yard work. It’s always a good idea to have a few spare pairs laying around for those jobs.

But what next? You could sell or donate them, but considering how it took so long for your beloved pair of jeans to develop all of that character, why not turn them into something else and give them a new life? Depending on your skill level with scissors, a needle or sewing machine, the possibilities are only limited by your imagination (and of course your supply of extra jeans).

• Simple ideas such as hot/cold rice packs, door draft stoppers, and sleeves to store rags and grocery bags in, can be easily made from cut off pant legs sewn at one or both ends. Sew in a drawstring, hang with a belt loop, even utilize a zipper if you’d like. 
• Denim is the perfect material for making totes or backpacks out of. Take advantage of the built in pockets, buttons, snaps and zippers to make your creation even more versatile and unique. A simple tote can easily be created by cutting off the pant legs as high as possible, sewing the holes shut and attaching a strap (fashioned from the leg material). The pockets are built right in!
• Picture frames can be made from pockets.
• Cover an old bulletin board with a layer of denim and make it unique. Use pockets, zippers and loops for even more options.
• For the more ambitious folks who have access to multiple pairs of old jeans, there have been slipcovers for chairs and sofas (even automotive seat covers!) created out of denim.
• The remaining pieces can be cut into squares for a truly unique quilt, or made into dog toys, potholders, or simply use as patches for other pairs of jeans.

Once you’ve made the most out of your old jeans, there’s still one last thing that you can do: Insulation. Habitat for Humanity participates in a program called the “Cotton. From Blue to Green Initiative”, created by Cotton Incorporated. They collect donations of denim from a network of clothing retailers, student organizations and community groups. The donated jeans are recycled into Bonded Logic’s Ultratouch insulation, which is a batt insulation made from 90% recycled denim and 10% binding materials. It is just as resistant to mold, fungus, pests and fire as fiberglass insulation. It takes five hundred pairs of jeans in order to insulate one home.

Recycling your old jeans is a very “green” thing to do. You’ll reduce the burden on landfills, while at the same time, save money. Once you’ve created a few projects, you may find yourself “rescuing” old jeans just so that you can create more!