Before you throw away your old jeans, cleaning experts say you can try these tips and tricks to turn them into household essentials - life hacks on how to reuse denim jeans

That old pair of jeans sitting in your closet may still have plenty of life left in it. Instead of throwing them away, cleaning experts say denim can be reused for a variety of household cleaning tasks due to its durable, long-lasting fabric.

From scrubbing stubborn grime to protecting surfaces during painting projects, old denim can handle jobs that require a tougher cleaning material. Before putting your jeans to work, however, experts recommend taking one important step.

Why you must wash old denim before using it

Cleaning experts say old jeans should always be washed before being reused around the house, especially if they are made from dark denim, as per a report.


Steve Evans, owner of Memphis Maids, and other experts recommend washing them in hot water with detergent to remove excess dye that could transfer onto surfaces, as per The Spruce report.

While jeans are normally washed in cold water to preserve their color, hot water helps remove leftover indigo dye when the fabric is used for cleaning instead.

Ryan Knoll, owner of Tidy Casa, notes that raw denim often releases blue dye when first washed. Before using old jeans for cleaning, make sure the fabric no longer bleeds color and test it on an inconspicuous area to ensure it doesn't leave residue or scratch the surface, as per The Spruce report.

Experts also caution against using denim on delicate materials, since its textured weave can be too abrasive for soft plastics, polished glass or certain screen coatings.

Use old jeans as heavy-duty cleaning rags

According to Steve Evans, denim works especially well for cleaning tougher messes.

Its sturdy fabric can be used to wipe up paint spills, scrub away dried cement, or tackle other heavy-duty cleaning jobs where a regular cloth may not be strong enough, as per The Spruce report.

Protect surfaces while painting

Instead of buying disposable drop cloths, old jeans can help protect furniture and floors during painting projects.

Evans recommends laying the fabric over surfaces to catch paint drips and also using denim scraps as reusable paint-cleaning rags.

Put denim to work during car maintenance

Old jeans can also be useful in the garage. Evans pointed out that denim absorbs oil well, making it helpful when working underneath a vehicle or cleaning greasy parts without staining clothing, as per The Spruce report.

Knoll also recommends using denim to wax a vehicle and wipe down mirrors because, unlike some microfiber towels, it doesn't leave lint behind.

Turn old jeans into a durable apron

If you enjoy sewing, Evans suggests giving old denim a second life by turning it into a work apron.

The thick fabric provides a protective barrier against grease and cooking stains, and the original jean pockets can even be reused as storage pockets on the apron.

Make a reusable scrubbing pad

Karina Toner, operations manager at Spekless Cleaning, recommends stitching several layers of denim together to create a heavy-duty scrubbing pad, as per The Spruce report.

The rough texture provides enough friction to clean stubborn grime from stovetops, ovens and bathtubs without damaging most surface finishes.

Sew a DIY dusting mitt

Old denim can also be transformed into a reusable dusting glove.

According to Toner, a denim mitt works well for wiping blinds, vents and railings because the thick fabric helps collect dust while standing up to repeated use, as per The Spruce report.

Replace disposable mop pads

Knoll says denim can even be attached to flat mops that use Velcro-style cleaning pads.

The fabric grips the mop securely, absorbs cleaning solution well and helps polish floors thanks to its slight abrasiveness and durability.

Create reusable pet paw wipes

Small pieces of denim can also be used to clean muddy paws after pets come inside.

Toner recommends using the softer inner lining of the jeans, slightly dampened, to remove dirt from dogs' and cats' paws. The fabric is durable enough to lift dried dirt without shredding like paper towels, as per The Spruce report.