How to Get Rid of Old Undergarments Ethically & Sustainably

Co-authored by Emily Zahniser and Dev Murphy, MA

Last Updated: December 16, 2024 Fact Checked

It’s finally happened: that pair of underwear you’ve had for years is now hanging on by a single thread. It’s time to get rid of them, but simply chucking those old undies and sending them to a landfill can’t be the answer, right? So how can you dispose of your old underwear and bras in an ethical and eco-friendly way? Turns out, there are lots of ways! Read on: we’ve compiled a thorough list of ideas for sustainably disposing of your old undergarments, from donating to recycling to repurposing.

Things You Should Know

Donate your old underwear and bras to nonprofits or recycling programs.
Use old underwear as cleaning rags or pillow stuffing, or repurpose them into dog toys.
Shred and compost underwear that are made of natural fibers like cotton, hemp, or silk.

1

Donate your underwear and bras.

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Give your secondhand items to someone in need. Even if you think an item has fulfilled its use, there are many organizations that want your used clothing, and that includes underwear and bras! Contact donation organizations to see what they’re looking for.^{[1]
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- Donate used or new bras to Free the Girls, The Bra Recyclers, or I Support the Girls.
- Organizations that take used bras and underwear include Donate Your Bra, USAgain, and Planet Aid.
- Some thrift stores may accept used underwear, but many, including Goodwill, will not. If you go this route, you may want to call ahead and find out what the store accepts.

2

Use a brand’s donation or recycling program.

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Many clothing brands will accept your old clothes to recycle or donate. These brands don’t simply make your undergarments—they take them back once you’ve gotten your wear out of them and turn them into new clothes or give them to people in need.
- And most participating companies don’t limit the clothes they accept to their brands—so even though you didn’t buy your underwear from Knickey, The North Face, or hanky panky, they’ll take your old undergarments anyway.

3

Recycle those babies.

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Take your unwanted undergarments to a textile recycling center. Textile recycling centers are dedicated specifically to recycling old clothes and other textiles and turning them into new products (sometimes even brand new underwear!). Contact your local council to find out if you can recycle your textiles locally, or bring your unwanted garments to a national or global textile recycling organization.^{[2]
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Multinational environmental advocacy group focused on grassroots activism and legislative action

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- Textile recycling centers that will take your old underwear and bras include Planet Aid, the Bra Recycling Program, Terracycle, and many others.

4

Compost your undies.

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Shred ’em and toss ’em in the garden. Any clothing made from 100% natural materials such as cotton, hemp, bamboo, silk, or linen can be cut into tiny pieces and added to your compost pile or bin.^{[3]
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- Make sure to remove any synthetic materials from your undergarments first, such as tags, elastic waistbands, or synthetic decorations.

5

Host a clothing swap.

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It’s the Tupperware party of sustainable living. If your undergarments aren’t too worn and torn, invite a group of friends over for a fun night of food, music, and new-to-them clothes. Who knows, an article of clothing you’ve gotten tired of might just be exactly what your friend is looking for.^{[4]
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- Of course, your friends might not want to wear your used underwear (although who knows, your mileage may vary), but an old bra can find a second life in the hands—erm, on the chest, technically—of a new owner.
- A clothing swap acts as a win-win-win: you’ve not only disposed of your unwanted items in an environmentally responsible way, you’ve made someone else’s day and saved money you otherwise might have spent on new clothes.^{[5]
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6

Sell bras and unused underwear online.

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Many virtual retailers accept unused or gently used undergarments. Before you pitch your unwanted underwear or bras, check to see if you can make a bit of money off them—while helping save the planet.^{[6]
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- Check the store’s guidelines before trying to sell your used underwear. Some may only let you sell underwear with tags on them, or no underwear at all.
- Certain online thrift stores like Poshmark or Vinted accept gently used bras, but they only sell unused underwear with tags attached.
- Thredup, another popular secondhand online retailer, doesn’t accept underwear at all, but they do take bras.

7

Patch your other clothes with old undies.

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Give your floral panties new life by using them to patch your other worn clothes. Reluctant to let go of your lucky underwear? If you repurpose them into a patch for another article of clothing, you won’t have to.^{[7]
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- (Clean!) underwear can be repurposed into patches, bags, handkerchiefs—the list is endless, and it’s easy to do.

8

Make reusable menstrual pads.

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What better material to use as a pad than your old underwear? Create your own reusable sanitary napkins using old cotton undies, a few extra household objects, and a bit of sewing. Just make sure your underwear is 100% cotton (or another natural material), as synthetic material could cause itching or infection.
- Making your own pads is better for you than buying disposable pads. Disposable pad manufacturers use potentially harmful chemicals in their products (and this includes menstrual products labeled "organic," "natural," or "for sensitive skin"). When you make your own reusable pad out of your old underwear, you know exactly what's in it.^{[8]
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- And it's not only healthier to use reusable pads (just make sure you're washing them well!), it's cheaper in the long run, and better for the environment, as reusable menstrual pads cannot be recycled.

9

Use them as pillow or blanket stuffing.

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Your old underwear can be cut up and used as cushioning. Stuff it into a pillow that’s gone a little flat, re-stuff a plush toy that’s losing its shape, or use it to add an extra layer of insulation to a blanket.^{[9]
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- Or forget insulating a blanket—why not save up a bunch of old underwear and make a quilt?

10

Shred them for dusting or cleaning rags.

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Don’t just keep the planet clean—keep your house clean. You can shred your old underwear and make it into a duster. Just cut your old underwear up into ribbons and tie them to a plastic or wooden stick. Voila!^{[10]
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- Or keep things simple and use your old underwear as a wash rag.

11

Sew potpourri sachets.

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Make a small pouch out of your favorite floral undies. Stuff the sachet with dried flowers, close it up, and toss it in your underwear drawer to keep your new undergarments smelling fresh and clean.^{[11]
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- Try lavender or rose for a strong, long-lasting floral fragrance.

12

Repurpose them into a dog toy.

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Make your dog happy by blessing her with a new chew toy. Just cut your undies into strips, braid them together, and Spot has a new rope toy to tug on.^{[12]
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- This project is simplest to make with boxers (or old T-shirts), but as long as you have enough fabric, it doesn't really matter what underwear you use.

13

Turn elastic undies into hair scrunchies.

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Your favorite underwear makes a great hair tie. All you need to create your own scrunchie is a bit of underwear fabric, a bit of elastic, a little sewing, and you've got an adorable accessory.
- You can adjust the length of the elastic and fabric as needed to fit your wrist or hair, or to give your scrunchie a bit more (or less) scrunch.

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Tips

Some people recommend tossing out your underwear after 6 to 9 months to avoid contracting infection, but medical professionals have debunked this idea. Clean your underwear thoroughly and with non-irritating detergent, and your undies should be good for a long time.

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If possible, invest in high-quality, slow-fashion underwear that will last a while. Slow fashion is usually pricier than fast fashion, but the amount of use you get out of a single pair makes it worth it in the long run—both for your bank account and Mother Nature.

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