Recycling Your Old Curtains
Replacing your curtains is one of the easiest ways to refresh a room. But what happens to the old pair?
Every year, thousands of curtains end up in landfill despite many still being perfectly usable. Whether you’re upgrading to made to measure curtains, moving home or simply changing your style, there are plenty of ways to recycle, reuse or donate old curtains.
At Stitched, we believe beautiful fabric deserves a long life. Here’s how to recycle curtains responsibly and reduce waste along the way.
Can Curtains Be Recycled?
The answer depends on what they’re made from. Natural fibres such as linen, cotton, wool and hemp are generally easier to recycle than synthetic materials. Curtains made from polyester blends can be more challenging, particularly if they’re combined with linings, coatings or multiple fabric types.
Before throwing curtains away, consider whether they could be: Donated to charity, repurposed around the home or recycled through a textile recycling scheme. When buying a new pair of curtains or blinds with Stitched we can arrange a collection to recycle your old pair. These options help keep textiles out of landfill and extend the life of quality fabrics.
Where To Donate Old Curtains?
When purchasing a new pair of curtains with Stitched, if you’re based in London we can make sure your old curtains are picked up and recycled if requested. Alternatively, you could donate your curtains to various charities, such as the British Heart Foundation, The Salvation Army and Cancer Research UK. Some charities even offer free collection services, making it easy to pass them on to a new home. Donating curtains gives someone else the opportunity to enjoy them while reducing unnecessary waste.
Creative ways to reuse your old curtains
Beautiful fabric doesn’t stop being useful once it leaves the window. Depending on the fabric, old curtains can be transformed into:
x Cushion covers
x Café curtains
x Table runners
x Storage bags
x …and much more!
Heavy linens, cottons and wools are particularly versatile and often have years of life left in them. A well-made fabric has already done the hard work. Sometimes it just needs a new purpose.
Choosing More Sustainable Curtains
One of the best ways to reduce waste is to choose curtains designed to last. The majority of our fabrics are made from natural fibres such as linen, cotton, wool and hemp. We avoid unnecessary synthetic materials wherever possible and carefully select fabrics for their quality, longevity and timeless appeal.
We also offer collections made from recycled materials, including:
Recycled Curtains Made From Plastic Bottles
Our Revive collection gives plastic waste a second life, transforming recycled bottles into beautifully textured curtain and blind fabrics.
Curtains Made From Recycled Silk
Our upcycled silk fabrics combine recycled silk fibres with natural materials to create characterful fabrics full of texture and depth.
Hemp Curtains
Hemp is one of the most sustainable natural fibres available. Durable, breathable and naturally beautiful, it’s a fabric that works hard without placing unnecessary strain on the planet.
Can you recycle curtain pole and tracks?
When it comes to recycling your old metal curtain poles or tracks, you can look for a local recycling centre that will take metal. Make sure you take off any plastic that could be present and bear in mind that if your poles or tracks are all plastic then there is little chance of them being recycled. But again, always make sure to contact the local recycling centre first to check they will accept the poles or tracks.
If your curtain pole is wooden or simply in good shape, you can always use it in another part of your interior. For example, you could place it over your fireplace or another desirable place and hang photos and picture frames from the pole. You could also use it to hang pots and pans out of the way in your kitchen. Having a look on Pinterest would be a good idea to get inspiration for upcycling your curtain poles.
Just following one of these ideas will go some way towards saving our planet from plastic waste and pollution. Even though it might seem such a small thing that you will have achieved, think what could be achieved if more people would recycle as much they possibly can. You will feel good knowing you have helped to make the world a better place. If you need a new pole or track, all of our custom poles and tracks are made from metal and wood so again, you can be sure you’re not buying a new plastic item.
