| How to Recycle Textiles Posted: 27 Aug 2018 05:00 PM PDT No matter how well you take care of your clothes, eventually some items become stained, torn, or just worn out. The same is true of towels, linens, and other textile products. Rather than let these things end up in a landfill, you can donate items in good condition to a thrift store and give the rest to textile recycling programs. With a little effort, you can even turn your old textiles into something new! EditDonating Reusable Textiles - Make sure your textiles are in good condition. Most thrift stores only accept clothing and linens that are free of stains and tears. Look through the textiles you plan to donate and determine whether they are fit to be resold.[1]
- A little wear is fine, but if you notice any stains, rips, or holes in your clothing, or if any part of the item is discolored or extremely worn, it may not be accepted as a donation.
- If you plan to write off your donations for tax purposes, you will also be able to make larger write-offs for items in better condition.[2]
- Find a thrift store near you. Check your Yellow pages or look online to see what thrift stores are in your area. Arc Thrift and St. Vincent de Paul are 2 common thrift chains that may be in your area.
- Call to ask whether the store is accepting textile donations. Even if the thrift store carries textile products, they may not be accepting donations at this time. It's a good idea to call ahead and check whether they need the type of items you have, and whether they have a limit for how much you can donate.
- You should also ask when their donation hours are and where exactly you should drop your items off.
- Wash and dry the textiles you plan to donate. Even if your items seem clean, it's a good idea to wash them one more time before donating them. You should also make sure they are thoroughly dry before packing them up to donate, as moisture can cause mildew and mold in textiles.[4]
- Gather everything you will donate in bags or boxes. Depending on what kind of donation receptacle the thrift store has, you may have to leave the bag or box there, so don't put your items in anything you want to keep.
- Drop your items off during donation hours. Double check to make sure you know the correct hours for donation drop-offs, then take your items to the thrift store. You may be able to bring your items directly into the store, but most thrift stores have clearly labeled donation receptacles outside the store or a donation drive-through area.
- Pay attention to any signs that are posted around the donation area. Some thrift stores do not want donors to leave their items without a staff member being present to receive them.
- Get a receipt if you want to write your donation off on your taxes. If your items are in good condition, you can write the donations off when you fill out your tax forms. Ask the thrift store staff if they can print or write you a receipt, and keep it for your records.[5]
EditRecycling Damaged Textiles - Check to see whether your municipality offers textile recycling. While it's still fairly uncommon, a few cities and municipalities do have textile recycling programs. Check your city's official recycling website for information.[6]
- New York, NY, Greenwich, CT, Montgomery, MD, and Clifton, NJ all have post-consumer textile recycling programs.[7]
- Look online for local programs that recycle textiles if your city doesn't. There may be independent textile recyclers operating in your area that will accept donations. The Council for Textile Recycling, a nonprofit that works to reduce textile waste, has an online locator tool that will help you locate any recycling programs in your area. Go to http://www.weardonaterecycle.org/locator/index.php.
- Recycle your clothes through the manufacturer if possible. Some brands, such as Patagonia, Levi's, and H&M, allow consumers to return their old products at store locations to be recycled. Look at your clothing tags to see what brands you have, and check the website of each brand to see if they have any information about recycling.[8]
- You can also call the store where you bought them, or a store location near you, and ask if they recycle used products.
- Compost your textiles if they are 100% wool or cotton. Cotton and wool are biodegradable, so they can safely compost along with other organic matter. If you don't compost, look for a local farm or garden that might accept donations for their compost.[9]
- If there are farmer's markets or Community Supported Agriculture (CSA) groups in your area, check to see if they have websites that list their participating farms. You can then contact the farms to see if they will take compost donations.
- Do not compost any materials that have been used with toxic substances, such as rags that have been used to clean up engine oil.
- Donate by mail if you can't make it to a recycling drop-off. If you can't find any textile recycling programs in your area, you may be able to mail donations to some recycling programs. Use an online recycling locator to find out if there are textile recyclers in any of the major cities in your state, and contact them to see if they accept donations by mail.
EditReusing Old Textiles - Cut old linens and T-shirts up for rags. Textiles that are very old, worn, or stained can be very useful for cleaning up around the house. Cut your textiles into squares, and use them instead of paper towels to clean counters and other surfaces.[11]
- Textured fabrics, like terry cloth towels, can make good rags for washing dishes.
- Use colorful fabric scraps for jewelry and art projects. If you're the crafty type, you may want to save any old textiles with attractive patterns and reuse the parts that are in good condition. Keychains, handkerchiefs, and phone cases are all simple projects that can be made with fabric scraps.[12]
- Make a quilt using pieces of old textiles. Quilting is a great way to use up fabric scraps of any size, especially if you have old items that have sentimental value. If you don't have any experience quilting, consider taking a class and starting with a very simple pattern.[13]
- Turn old clothing into pet bedding. This is a convenient use for any textiles that are too worn or stained to be presentable. You can put them in shallow cardboard boxes to create pet beds, or add them to the pet beds you already have for extra padding.
- Make napkins out of an old sheet or tablecloth. If you have a sheet or tablecloth that is still in good condition but has a tear or stain that makes it unusable, cut out the damaged part and turn the rest into napkins. Cut squares out of the sheet and make hems on the edges.[14]
- You can make a simple hem by folding each edge of the square back about and sewing it in place. This will keep the edges from fraying.
- It can be helpful to iron the fold so it stays in place while you sew it.
- Cut an old T-shirt into a halter top. Start by cutting the sleeves off, making each cut from the armpit to the collar. You should leave about of collar when you cut.
- On the back side of the shirt, cut a straight line across between the armpits.
- Fold the remaining piece of collar under about , then sew it in place.
- The collar will now have a small hem that you can run a string or cord through, which you can tie around your neck to hold the shirt in place.
- Turn ripped jeans into shorts. If the hems or knees of your jeans have worn out, but they still fit well, they can be used as shorts. Put the jeans on and look in a full-length mirror to determine how long you want the shorts to be, and mark the length with a pen so you will know where to cut.
- Use fabric scissors to make clean cuts.
- It's a good idea to use a ruler or measuring tape to make sure your shorts are the same length on both legs.
- Make tote bags out of old T-shirts. Cut the sleeves and collar off of your shirt and turn it inside out. Sew a straight line along the bottom, then sew over the line again to reinforce it. You can then turn the T-shirt right side out and use it as a tote bag, with the shoulders of the shirt acting as handles.[15]
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| How to Make a Bow out of Your Hair Posted: 27 Aug 2018 09:00 AM PDT A hair bow is a chic style that looks impressive, but it is actually quite simple. Sported by Lady Gaga, it looks like a bow made entirely out of hair. The basic style pulls all of your hair up into the bow, but if you prefer a more romantic style, you can try a half-up bow instead! Your hair must be long enough to pull into a looped bun in order for this to work. EditCreating a Basic Bow - Brush your hair to remove any knots or tangles. This technique will be easier on straight hair, but you can do it on wavy or curly hair too. It is more important that your hair is nice and smooth, as it will be easier to work with.
- If you have wavy or curly hair, you can also blow dry it straight.
- Pull your hair into a high, looped bun on top of your head. Gather your hair and start to pull it into a high ponytail on top of your head. Wrap a hair tie around your ponytail however many times it is necessary to keep it secure. On the final wrap of the elastic, however, pull your ponytail only halfway through to create a looped bun.[1]
- Make your bun tight against your head, but not so tight that it causes tension.
- Split the bun in half to create 2 loops. Find the middle of the bun, then divide it in half to create 2 loops. Pull the left loop towards the left side of your head, and the right loop towards the right.[2]
- Don't pin the loops down yet, or you'll have a harder time completing the following steps.
- Pull the rest of the ponytail over the center of the bow. Gather the rest of your ponytail and smooth it as much as possible; use some water or hairspray, if necessary. Pull the ponytail up and over the top of your bow. Position the ponytail right between the 2 loops.[3]
- This will create the center part of the bow.
- This part of your ponytail consists of the few inches of hair sticking out of the bun.
- Divide the ponytail in half and pull each strand under each loop. Keeping your ponytail pulled over the top of the bow, split it in half. Take the left half and slide it under the left bow loop towards the back of your head. Repeat for the right half of the ponytail and the right bow loop.[4]
- Secure the ponytail strands with bobby pins. Use bobby pins to secure the left and right ponytail strands to your hair. Place the bobby pins right under or just behind the bow loops. Arrange the bobby pins and your hair so that the center part of the bow is nice and smooth.
- Roll and tuck the ponytail strands into the bow loops. This not only hides the ponytail strands, but it helps poof out your bow! Take the left ponytail strand and roll it tightly. Slide it under the left bow loop, then tuck it into the bow loop. Repeat this step for the right ponytail strand and right bow loop.[5]
- Set your bow with bobby pins and hairspray as needed. Use your fingers to fan out the loops until you get the look you want. Pin the edges of the bow down with more bobby pins, if needed. Give your style a light misting of hairspray, then let the hairspray dry before setting out.
EditCreating a Half-Up Bow - Start with smooth, brushed hair. This method will be easier if you have straight hair, but you can do it with curly or wavy hair. Make sure that your hair is smooth and neatly brushed.[6]
- Curl hair hanging out of the ponytail curling iron for a romantic touch. Remember not to curl the ponytail itself.
- Pull your hair into a half-up looped bun. Gather your hair into a tight half-up ponytail, just above the tips of your ears. Wrap a small hair tie around your ponytail. The final time you wrap the hair tie around your ponytail, only pull your ponytail halfway through. This will create a looped bun.[7]
- Make sure that the bun is on top and the rest of the ponytail is under the bun.
- If you have thick hair or want a more delicate bow, gather the strands from the left and right sides of your face, just above your ears.[8]
- Divide the bun in half to create 2 loops. Split the looped bun in half so that you have 2 skinny loops, 1 on the left and 1 on the right. Rotate the loops so that the holes are facing the floor. The flat part of the bun should be facing the back of your head.[9]
- If you were to look at the back of your head, you shouldn't see a sideways 8. You should see 2 solid buns or triangles.
- Fan the loops out and bobby pin them to your head. Working 1 loop at a time, use your fingers to fan the loop out and create a triangle shape. Bobby pin the back of the loop to the back of your head, then repeat the process with the other loop.[10]
- The loop has a front and back. You only want to pin the back. If you pin both the front and the back, the bobby pin will be visible and ruin the effect.
- Create a half-up flipped ponytail. Take the ponytail that's sticking out from under the loops. Create a hole in the ponytail, right between the elastic and your head. Stick your finger up through the hole, catch the half-ponytail, and pull it down through the hole.[11]
- This will make the middle part of the bow. If you want it to be thinner, split the ponytail in half first, before you flip it.
- A flipped ponytail is also known as an upside down ponytail, a topsy-turvy ponytail, or an inside out ponytail.
- Set your style with hairspray. Focus on the bow as well as the top and sides of your head. Once the hairspray dries, you are ready to show off your style.
- For a nicer touch, curl both parts of the half-up ponytail with a curling iron.
- If you are doing this yourself, it may be helpful to work with 2 mirrors; this way, you can see the back of your head.
- You don't have to make the basic bow on the top-center of your head. Try it off-center for a chic look. You can even create 2 looped ponytails and make 2 bows!
- Use bobby pins and hair ties that match your hair color.
- For a fancier touch, braid the ponytail before you pull it over the loops.
EditThings You'll Need - Hairbrush
- Bobby pins
- Hair ties
- Hairspray
- A comb
EditRelated wikiHows EditSources and Citations
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| How to Take Moringa Powder Posted: 27 Aug 2018 01:00 AM PDT Packed with antioxidants, protein, and minerals, moringa powder is a powerhouse herbal supplement. Many people use moringa powder as a nutritional supplement, and believe it has a wide range of health benefits, from reducing asthma symptoms to increasing breast milk production.[1] To get the most out of moringa powder, swallow the powder directly or mix it into your favorite foods or drinks. Just make sure that you don't cook it, as heat can reduce many of its nutrients. EditSwallowing Dry Powder - Ask your doctor if it is safe to take moringa powder. Always talk to your doctor before starting a new herbal supplement. It is not currently known if moringa powder interacts negatively with medications. Your doctor can determine if moringa powder is safe for you.[2]
- Side effects of moringa powder include an upset stomach or diarrhea.
- Pregnant women should not take moringa powder, as it can increase the risk of miscarriage.
- Never take any powder containing parts from the plant's roots. While moringa leaf and seed powder is safe to consume, moringa roots can be highly toxic.
- Measure 1 teaspoon (6 g) of moringa powder. Too much moringa powder can have a laxative effect. To avoid this, take only small doses of moringa powder. A single teaspoon is enough to get the benefits.[3]
- Although some people can take up to a tablespoon (18 g) of moringa powder a day, it is generally recommended that you start with no more than 1-2 teaspoons (6-12 g) a day.
- Place the powder under your tongue. This will help it absorb more quickly into your body. Try to avoid breathing in the powder as you do so. Be prepared for a sharp earthy or radish-like taste.[4]
- Wash the powder down with water. Take a gulp of water and swallow the powder down with it. Take another sip of water to wash out the last bits of moringa powder in your mouth.[5]
EditConsuming Moringa Powder in Food and Drinks - Stir a teaspoon (6 g) of powder into water to make tea. Measure a cup (235 ml) of cold or lukewarm water. Stir the powder into the mug until it mostly dissolves. Put a strainer or cheese cloth over a mug. Pour the tea into the cloth or strainer to strain the liquid into the cup. Discard any powder left in the strainer.[6]
- If you don't like the taste of moringa powder, add honey and lemon to the tea.
- While you can make hot tea with moringa powder, the heat will break down many of the antioxidants in it.
- Blend 1 teaspoon (6 g) of powder into your favorite smoothie. A smoothie can help weaken the sharp radish-like taste of moringa powder. Add moringa powder to any smoothie. Green kale or spinach smoothies work especially well with moringa powder's earthy taste.[7]
- Sprinkle the powder over the ingredients before blending them together. You can also stir it into a prepared or premade smoothie.
- Sprinkle moringa powder over salad and other raw foods. You can add moringa powder to food, but avoid cooking it. Heat can destroy many of its beneficial nutrients. Add it to raw foods, like salad, hummus, peanut butter, and yogurt.[8]
- You can also stir it into foods that have already been cooked and cooled, such as oatmeal.
- Take a capsule containing moringa powder. A less messy option is to get moringa powder in the form of a capsule or pill. Buy these at any health food or supplement store. Take the capsules according to the instructions on the side of the bottle.[9]
EditFinding Uses for Moringa Powder - Eat moringa powder to get a complete protein for a vegetarian diet. Moringa powder is a complete protein, which means it contains all 9 essential amino acids. This makes it a great choice for vegetarians, who may need additional sources of protein from non-animal sources.[10]
- Use moringa powder to help manage symptoms of diabetes. While it is still being studied, moringa powder may be able to help maintain healthy blood sugar levels in your body. Daily use of moringa powder might also reduce your chances of developing side effects like heart disease.[11]
- Take moringa powder to reduce inflammation from asthma and arthritis. Moringa powder may have anti-inflammatory properties. These properties may provide slight relief to conditions like asthma and arthritis. Use moringa powder in combination with other forms of conventional medicine for the most benefits.[12]
- Keep in mind that the effects of moringa powder on inflammation are still being studied. It is unknown how effective it is as a treatment option.
- Talk to your doctor before using moringa powder for breastfeeding. Moringa powder is often used to increase lactation during breastfeeding. Before you try this, however, talk to your doctor to make sure that moringa powder is safe for you and your baby.[13]
- Your doctor may advise you to wait 1-2 weeks after delivery before taking moringa powder.
- It is still uncertain whether moringa powder can increase lactation or not.
- Stop using moringa powder if you experience gastrointestinal distress. Stomachaches, diarrhea, or other stomach issues are a common side effect of moringa powder. Stop taking the powder for a few days until your symptoms clear up. If you decide to take it again, half your dose. Stop taking it completely if symptoms persist.[14]
- There are many different forms of moringa that you can use. Try using moringa seed oil, moringa leaves, or even moringa bark.
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