De-mist your car
Yes, you can use old tights to help tackle the condensation in your car. This is one of my personal favourites that I’ve been using for a while as my old soft top vehicle is terribly prone to damp and fogged up windows. It’s incredibly simple, and all you need is an old pair of tights and some cat litter. Simply cut off the bottom half of one of the legs, fill with cat litter, tie securely at the open end and leave on the parcel shelf or the dash board of your car. The absorbent litter draws moisture from the air and helps keep the condensation levels in your vehicle low.
Lavender Sachets
Lavender is heavenly. The smell immediately takes me back to warm summer evenings and its relaxing properties can have you feeling calm and peaceful in no time. It’s a great aid for a restful sleep, so before you throw away that pair of tights that you managed to ladder on their first outing, why not use them to make a lovely lavender sachet? You can source dried lavender online or from your local florists, or you can even grow and dry your own if you’re feeling green fingered. Then all you need to do is cut the feet off that old pair of tights, fill them with lavender, hang them on your bed post, and then let the wonderful scent lull you to sleep. You could also finish off with ribbon by tying the sachet shut with a pretty bow to make you sachets look more pleasing. Similarly, a sachet stuffed with pot pourri and hung in your wardrobe can help keep your clothes smelling fresh.
DIY Temporary Tattoo Sleeve
This is a fun one. Have you ever wanted see what it would be like to have a tattoo without the commitment? Well, your old tights can help. This works best if you pick a pair that has a nude, transparent background with a bold design over the top.
Gabriella’s ‘catty’ design (https://www.uktights.com/product/7242/gabriella-caty-tights) with its striking leopard print or Trasparenze’s ‘Durian’ with its catchy stars (https://www.uktights.com/product/7262/trasparenze-durian-tights), both on a nude background, would work well. All you need to do is cut out a section of the leg long enough to cover as much of you arm as you desire and there you have it, an instant rock star look. This is great for fancy dress or even for kids.
Finding Small Objects
There’s nothing more annoying than when you drop something small; a screw, a drawing pin, or your favourite earring perhaps. You find your self on your hands and knees, scouring the floor, certain it can’t have gone far, but alas it seems to have vanished forever, never to be seen again (except the drawing pin, that one is guaranteed to resurface days later when you stand on it in your bare feet). But here’s a handy way to ensure a quick retrieval of the item in question. Grab your vacuum cleaner and an old pair of tights, put the tights over the end of the vacuum hose and secure them with an elastic band to form a tight seal. Now you can turn on the vacuum and pass it over the floor where it will suck up the dropped item in no time, while the tights will ensure it doesn’t disappear into the dust bag.
Protecting Hair Pieces
Do you ever use hair extensions or wigs? I know I have a few gorgeous wigs that have been bought when I needed a particular look for a say, a halloween costume, or just for when I wanted a dramatic change that wasn’t permeant. The trouble is, the hair can become very easily tangled when not in use. The old legs of tights make excellent storage for hair pieces. Cut a length from the leg to match the length of your wig and pull the piece through inside the tights until it is completely contained. After this you hair pieces can be tossed in a draw and they won’t become tangled. This really saves you from having to have your wig collection stored on multiple mannequin heads!
Draft Excluder
In the winter months, you often loose precious heat from your home because of drafts sneaking in under doors. We’ve all seen those sausage dog draft excluders that used to be so popular, but you don’t need to shell out when you can make your own. This works best with an old pair of tights that’s very thick and opaque so that you won’t see the filling. If you have a pair like this with an attractive design or a bright colour that matches your room then all the better. Something like Trasparenze’s ‘Sophie’ range would be ideal as they come in 23 different colours and are a nice thick 70 denier (https://www.uktights.com/product/500/trasparenze-sophie-70-denier-opaque-tights). Cut of a leg from the old pair and stuff it with any old scraps of fabric you have. Hey, you could even use other old pairs of tights for the filling! Tie at either end with a coordinating ribbon and lay along the bottom of doors to keep your room toasty.
Kitchen Aids
The legs of old tights are great for storing onions and garlic. You can slip the veg into the legs, tie a knot between each piece and they can then be hung in the pantry. Also, tights can be used as a makeshift strainer, soap on a rope, or even as dish cloths!
There you have it. There are countless ways you can re-use your old tights, and these are just a few examples. You absolutely can give them one final shot at life before they become entirely useless. So what are you waiting for? Go and empty that bursting drawer and give some of these a go, or get creative and come up with some of your own. Every little thing we can save from going into the landfill is a good thing, so have a think before you bin your next pair: is there a clever way you could up-cycle them?
