10 Creative Uses for Your Old Carpet (Don't Toss It!)

Congratulations on upgrading your carpet! As you stand looking at those large, bulky rolls of material, your first thought is probably the landfill. But hold on! Your old carpet is a highly durable, versatile material that still has a lot of life left in it.

Before you send those fibers to the curb, check out these ten brilliant ways to give your old carpet a new purpose around the house and garage.

The Sustainable Solution

1. Recycle Your Old Carpet

Carpet fibers are notoriously bulky and do not break down in landfills. Luckily, almost all carpet materials can be recycled, and doing so helps reduce unnecessary waste.

• Start with Your Dealer: Your local carpet dealer is a great place to begin. Often, the installers who put in your new carpet will also offer to take away and recycle the old material for you.
• Find a Local Resource: Look up the Carpet America Recovery Effort (CARE). This non-profit organization is dedicated to building the infrastructure needed for carpet recycling. You can use their online locator tool to find a local recycling facility near you.

Hacks for Moving and Traction

2. Furniture Moving Gliders

Say goodbye to scratched hardwood floors! Cut squares out of your old carpet. Place them pile-side down under the legs of heavy chairs, sofas, and tables. The carpet’s backing will allow the furniture to slide effortlessly across hard floors, eliminating the need for lifting.

3. Emergency Car Traction Strips

Keep a few wide strips of carpet (wider than your tire width and several feet long) in your car's trunk, especially during winter. If you get stuck on ice, snow, or mud, wedge the strips under the slipping tires. The carpet fibers and backing will give your tires the crucial grip needed to get unstuck.

Protection, Padding, and Noise Reduction

4. DIY Kneeling Pad

Cut a medium-sized rectangle out of your carpet (about the size of a doormat). Fold it in half or thirds, keeping the pile side out. You now have a thick, cushy, waterproof pad perfect for:

• Gardening and yard work
• Cleaning low areas or baseboards
• Working on your car or bike
• Any task requiring you to kneel on hard or rough surfaces

5. Muffle Your Washer and Dryer

Washing machines and dryers can create a lot of noise, especially on hard surfaces or if they are slightly off-level. Place small, dense squares of old carpet scraps underneath all four corners of your appliances to quiet them down and reduce vibration.

6. Door and Wall Bumpers

• Garage: If your garage is snug, glue or hang a strip of carpet where your car doors routinely hit the walls. This protects your car's paint from dings and prevents damage to your drywall.
• Indoors: For heavy doors without doorstops, use a few small carpet scraps to protect your walls from doorknobs. This saves you from having to patch and paint unsightly holes later on.

Cleaning, Comfort, and Convenience

7. Instant Doormats and Floor Protectors

Cut scraps of carpet to size to create immediate, durable doormats. These are perfect for back porches, entryways, workshops, or garages where shoes are often wet or muddy. The carpet will absorb water and trap dirt far better than a hard surface. If desired, you can contact a professional to bind the edges for a clean, store-bought look.

8. Pet Padding and Play

• Comfort: Line the inside of a dog crate or doghouse with old carpet. It will stay warmer and more comfortable for your furry friend, and it carries the familiar scent of home.
• Scratching Post: If you have cats, create a durable DIY scratching post by wrapping a 4x4 post with a thick strip of carpet and securing it with staples or glue.

9. Catch Nasty Garage Drips

We all have a leaky piece of equipment—a lawnmower, car engine, or gardening tool—that leaves permanent stains. Place a section of old carpet underneath it to catch those oil, fuel, or chemical drips before they stain your cement floor forever.

10. Clean Window Screens

A small, clean scrap of carpet, dipped in soapy water, is surprisingly effective at cleaning screen doors and window screens. Gently rub the pile side onto dirty screens to quickly lift off caked-on dust, lint, and built-up residue.

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