Eight, it's inferred, carrying old cloth (5)
I believe the answer is:
towel
'cloth' is the definition.
(towel is a kind of cloth)
I cannot understand how the remainder of the clue works.
Can you help me to learn more?
(Other definitions for towel that I've seen before include "Dryer" , "what sweater needs?" , "Bathroom cloth" , "This could dry up" , "Bathroom item" .)