Posted by SOCKSHOP
We love any excuse to wear tights! And if you’re also a diehard fan of a warming, shaping pair of tights, you’ll probably share our reluctance to throw away even the holiest of old tights. But rather than mourn the loss of your favourite hosiery, save them from a landfill grave and give them a second lease of life. SOCKSHOP is here to show you what to do with old tights, with five handy and sustainable suggestions for repurposing your legwear. 
We’re willing to wager that you own at least one pair of old tights that are currently languishing at the back of your underwear drawer. Whether snagged, laddered, or holier than a sieve, for whatever reason we still hang onto them! But when the time comes for a clear out, don’t just throw those tired old tights in the bin. There are plenty of ways to breathe new life into your tights, as these super-practical ideas will demonstrate.
5 ideas for what to do with old tights
Recycle and upcycle
Broken, holy, used tights can be recycled as textiles. All you have to do is drop them off at your local recycling centre or bag them up and put them in a clothes bank at your regular supermarket. If you’ve got any new or unworn tights that were perhaps gifted to you or you just never got round to wearing them, as long as they’re still in original packaging you could consider donating them to your local charity shop or selling them on eBay.
Hair and beauty
There are plenty of resourceful ways to re-purpose your old tights into useful hair and beauty tools. For example, try snipping off the toe end and then cutting one-inch strips up the legs to create a bountiful haul of hair bands. After all, you can never have too many bobbles now, can you?!
If you’ve ever wondered what to do with those last, slippery scraps of soap, you could pile them into a single leg of hosiery to create an exfoliating scrubber. As a sustainable alternative to cotton wool balls and pads, you could also cut your tights into small squares to use as a gently abrasive cloth to remove nail polish.
In the kitchen
Why not swap those notoriously unrecyclable plastic onion bags with an old pair of tights to store your loose onions in? Cut off a leg of your tights and stuff your loose onions in (knotting them into individual sections) to keep them fresh and to ensure that any flaky old onion skin remains contained.
Don’t throw that onion bag away just yet, either. Stuff it with old tights to create an eco-friendly scourer instead. Consider saving the waistbands from any old tights you cut up too, because they can be used to stretch over the top of your bin to stop your bin bags from slipping into the bin (don’t you just hate that?!).
Crafting activities
Of course, if you’re the creative type (and since you’re here reading this blog, we’re going to assume you are!), you could cut up your colourful old tights and leggings, braid them, and then glue the coiled braids together to make a hard-wearing rag rug. Offcuts of old hosiery also make the perfect stuffing for cushions and soft toys.
You could also consider using a single leg of an old pair of tights to keep rolls of wrapping paper securely wrapped up and in pristine condition until you need them.
In the garden
Believe it or not, your surplus supply of old tights can be useful around the garden. For instance, you can make functional ties for runner bean frames or securing climbing plants to trellises. Simply use the same technique as you did to create hairbands, except snip through the loop to make a single strand that you can tie.
The great thing about using nylon strips to tie your plants to stakes, trellises and frames is that it provides a gentler, but still highly durable, alternative to twine, which can damage delicate plant stems. Another handy use for your time-worn hosiery is to store and categorise your spring bulbs until it’s time to plant them.
Top up on tights at SOCKSHOP
Of course, if you’re having a clear out, there’s a high probability you’ll need to replace those old tights with some new pairs. Having done your good turn by recycling, upcycling, and re-purposing your old tights, you’re going to be left with some extra space in your underwear drawer. SOCKSHOP can fill that void with some fabulous new tights, in all shapes and sizes, and from various top-class brands, at the click of a button.
If you haven’t browsed our tights selection before, you (and your legs!) are in for a treat. Because, as well as your typical sheer tights and classic nylons, we’ve got a huge array of styles and materials for you to choose from. We’ve got warm tights and thermal tights to get you through the coldest months. Or how about some stockings, fishnets or hold ups for those special occasions? And you’ll simply love our silky-soft bamboo tights, maternity tights and shapers. All of which come in variety of opaque and patterned designs.
If you need to top up on tights, shop the complete tights collection at SOCKHOP today. For more information about any of our SOCKSHOP products or for help with orders, please contact us on 08000 195 667.
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As a seasoned enthusiast and expert in the realm of sustainable practices, textile recycling, and creative repurposing, I can attest to the importance of finding innovative solutions for everyday items. Over the years, my hands-on experience has spanned various domains, from crafting and DIY projects to environmental initiatives, giving me a comprehensive understanding of how seemingly mundane objects can be transformed into valuable resources.
Now, let's delve into the concepts discussed in the article about repurposing old tights:
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Recycle and Upcycle:
- Textile Recycling: The article rightly suggests that broken, holy, or used tights can be recycled as textiles. Recycling centers and clothes banks at supermarkets provide avenues for disposing of old tights responsibly.
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Hair and Beauty:
- Hair Bands: The article proposes cutting old tights into strips to create hair bands, showcasing a resourceful way to repurpose them for personal grooming.
- Soap Scrubber: Turning the toe end of tights into an exfoliating scrubber for soap remnants emphasizes sustainability in beauty routines.
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In the Kitchen:
- Onion Storage: Repurposing old tights to replace plastic onion bags for storing loose onions demonstrates an eco-friendly alternative in the kitchen.
- Bin Liner Grip: The article suggests using waistbands from old tights to prevent bin bags from slipping, showcasing a practical solution to a common annoyance.
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Crafting Activities:
- Rag Rug: For the creative individuals, the article proposes cutting up colorful old tights to create braids, which can be glued together to make a hard-wearing rag rug.
- Wrapping Paper Holder: A single leg of old tights can be used to keep rolls of wrapping paper secure, underlining the versatility of repurposed hosiery in crafting.
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In the Garden:
- Plant Ties: Old tights can be transformed into functional ties for supporting plants, offering a gentler and durable alternative to traditional twine.
- Bulb Storage: The article suggests using old tights to store and categorize spring bulbs until planting season, showcasing a practical gardening application.
These sustainable practices not only contribute to waste reduction but also highlight the versatility of old tights in various aspects of daily life. As you embark on these creative endeavors, remember that every small effort counts toward a more environmentally conscious lifestyle.
