Friday, June 8, 2012

Cotton Race Shirt Conundrum

I've done quite a few races this year and it seems that most races these days are offering tech or dry-fit shirts in their swag bags. I'm glad this is a popular trend as that means I'll be actually wearing the shirt. However, cotton shirts are still popular at smaller or lower-budget races and my pile of t-shirts continues to grow. I think the main question is, what do we do with these cotton race shirts??

Traditional Uses:

1) Wear while grocery shopping

2) Donate to local charity operation (Salvation Army, Goodwill, Purple Heart Veterans etc.)

3) Collect dust in the bottom of a drawer

I've put on my thinking cap and tried to come up with some creative ways to use those cotton race shirts. As we all know, no one will be running in them anyways.

New & Creative Uses:

1) Make a t-shirt quilt, or have a friend make you one.
I can't even sew a button back on properly so I wouldn't attempt to make one myself, but I know Maggie has a friend that made one for one of her American Cancer Society raffles. If you're interested, her Etsy page can be found here. Also instructions on how to make your own can be found here.
Source

2) Turn into a reusable grocery tote
Source


3) Keep in the car to wipe off your forehead (or body) after a particularly sweaty run
Everyone will marvel at your amazing idea. I always forgot a towel to wipe off myself after sweaty runs. This idea will put you ahead of the curve and the envy of your running friends.


4) Use to help dry your hair after a shower


5) Turn into a rag to clean your house


6) Give to your husband/spouse/father/sibling for "garage" use
Also can be used as rags to clean up dog pee if your dog has an "I'm excited to see another dog" peeing issues. 


7) Make your pet look hip -- Dogs and cats alike!
Special thanks to our cat models, Data (top) and Olive (bottom)
Note: Animals do not like wearing cotton either.

What do you do with your cotton t-shirts? Do you have any additional ideas to add?

31 comments:

  1. I have a whole book that explains how to make old t shirts into sexier/trendier shirts. I love it - I'll have to share a pic with you ;)

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  2. OMG THIS IS AWESOME. Use after a shower. Hilarious! Although keeping in your car as a sweat rag is a great idea. Or often I wish I had something to sit on in my car post-run so I don't get my seats all sweaty (although we keep Febreze in the car now).

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  3. Oh wow. I didn't even think of that option. Nice to know a book like that exists!

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  4. That t-shirt that I posed for the photo is not permanently staying to use after a sweaty run. They aren't good at wicking sweat, but they are good at absorbing it.

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  5. Dying! I actually keep one in my car for sweaty runs. i thought everyone did! We also use them as extra bedding for waffles, and propping up the short leg of the table!

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  6. Such a great ideas! Propping up a too-short-table-leg... GENIUS!

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  7. Michel@BabyWeightMyFatAssJune 8, 2012 at 9:15 AM

    ha! I wear them to bed! I do have a bunch of shirts I should make into bags ala Pinterest. Some ugly wicking shirts too!

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  8. Oh yeah, I forgot about that option too. If they are soft enough, I'll wear them to bed. Let's also include the strange fitting "unisex" dryfit shirts in this t-shirt quilt too. I'm sure we all have enough of them!

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  9. Hahaha!!! Love the dog one! I use mine sometimes to clean. I like the quilt and the tote bag!! I usually donate them or something.

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  10. Yeah, I think most of them end up donated. Even shopping at thrift stores I see them all the time. I like that some races now have the option to not include the shirt if you don't want it.

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  11. Love. this. every word.

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  12. Haha thanks! I had the most fun taking all the random photos. Thank goodness for the self-timer app!

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  13. I usually cut mine up and turn them into dust rags. My husband has his own set of cotton shirts from his car racing hobby so he doesn't want them. But when they give out men's tech shirts I try to get a bigger one so I can give that to him!

    I've also heard that using a cotton t-shirt to dry your hair is better than a towel. So, you've got that going :-)

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  14. Nice to know they are going to good use! My husband needs some tech shirts so I might do that going forward.

    And the t-shirt to dry my hair actually worked out nicely. I might make a habit of doing this going forward!

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  15. I'm going to have to try this. I've been told my hair "holds onto moisture." Takes forever to dry. (So I've stopped blow drying it.)

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  16. hey! Data and I have the same shirt!

    I'm totally putting some in my car. Right now.

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  17. You and Data are totally twinsies!! I'm glad you like the idea!

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  18. If you do this, take a pic. I think I'm going to do a follow-up post, asking people to email me their creative ways of using cotton race tees! :)

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  19. Did you see what The Gap linked to today? Necklaces made out of old t-shirts!!

    http://pinterest.com/gap/t-i-y-project-5-necklace/

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  20. Did you see what The Gap linked to today? Necklaces made out of old t-shirts!!

    http://pinterest.com/gap/t-i-y-project-5-necklace/

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  21. No, I didn't see that. What a great idea! If you end up making one, let me know! I'm going to do a follow-up post with photos of other folks' creative ideas/uses!

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  22. Love this post! Pepper is definitely a better model than Data though!

    Right now all mine are in a drawer (re: #3) but I would like to make a quilt. I know my husband wouldn't let me have it out though. So maybe I should use some of the other ideas. I also don't clean my house often. Ha ha.

    Love all the pics!

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  23. I usually wear mine around the house too, but if they're cotton and "ugly" I'll wear them as throw-aways to races with a cool start. (which means they end up being donated)

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  24. Britt @ Chicago Runner GirlJune 8, 2012 at 4:45 PM

    never thought to turn them into a tote. i have boxes and boxes of races tees dating back to my hs days in my closet that i have every intention of repurposing once the hubby and i have a bit bigger of a living space. no idea what i'll do with them yet, but some of them are actually really neat shirts so i just can't let them go quite yet.

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  25. The tote idea is great! I actually like them for sleeping or around the house. Sometimes the cheap tech tees aren't a great fit either and I end up donating them or using them for throw aways at cool starts.

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  26. Yeah, I wear them as pajamas frequently. I don't know how I forgot to add that into the "traditional uses" section? I had a post about Unisex tees a little while ago. Women are a big part of the racing community and race directors need to recognize that. I'm willing to pay the extra $2-$3 if I can get a shirt that actually fits me.

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  27. I only have a few shirts from the HS days, one of which I wear to bed all the time. I am a total pack rat and completely understand what you mean about keeping those shirts. Hopefully you can come up with a cool idea for all of them! Thank goodness for Pinterest! :)

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  28. Ah yes, a throwaway shirt is another great option! If you have a photo of this idea, save it! I'm going to do a post about other uses for cotton tees from all the reader suggestions!

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  29. I tried to clean my house this weekend. I did about 3 of the 15 things on the checklist. I'll get there eventually.... eventually.... Haha.

    Thanks! I had so much fun taking these pics. Thank goodness for the self-timer app!

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  30. I was thinking about this last night in bed... use them for pillow cases?

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  31. That would be a cool idea too! Especially if you have an extra loud or bright one.

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