For most people, pillows are an essential item when it comes not only to a good night’s sleep but also as a key decorative accent for your bedroom or any room in your home. But just like with anything, pillows also come to an end and when that time comes you are left to face the question, what to do with old pillows? If you can relate, today we’ll be sharing with you exactly what you can do with old pillows.
Bed pillows and throw pillows often become one of our favorite items at home, these provide the perfect spot to rest your head for a nap, and if you are anything like us, then you may even have names for them, creating some sort of sentimental bond. It is truly a sad day when the stuffing gets lumpy and the pillow loses its firm consistency.
However, we have good news, you’ll be glad to know that there is the possibility you won’t have to get rid of your old pillows, at all. Before you decide to throw away your beloved old pillow in the trash due to age or overuse; consider possible reuses around your house. You may be surprised at what you can do with old pillows. Below you’ll find different ideas regarding what to do with old pillows.
What to do with Old Pillows FAQs
Should I throw away my pillows?
Experts recommend replacing them every six months. Many, though not all, sleep experts say that if you fold your pillow in half and it doesn’t spring open straight away by itself then it’s dead: it can’t support your head and neck, so bin it.
Why do pillows need to be replaced?
Pillows go through quite a bit of wear and tear. And because you rest your face on them, they can accumulate quite a few unpleasant things like saliva, skin oils, makeup, dead skin cells, and yes, even dust mites and mold.
How to make your pillows last longer?
- Make sure you buy good-quality, sustainable pillows that tend to keep their shape longer.
- You should also use a pillow protector. These zippered cases go directly on the pillow, beneath the pillowcase. Protectors are typically inexpensive and prevent moisture and some allergens from reaching your pillow, prolonging the life of your pillow.
- Other helpful tips include regularly swapping the side of the pillow you sleep on often, following the manufacturer’s washing instructions, and regularly fluffing the pillow.
How do you get rid of a pillow?
- Remove pillow shams or pillowcases from the old pillows. Throw the coverings in the wash.
- Store old pillows in a plastic garbage bag.
- Check with local animal shelters. These places often accept donations of used bedding and pillows for use in animal crates. Once you find a shelter in need, arrange a time to drop off the pillows. Or bring pillows to a thrift store or charity near you if they are still in fair shape, with no holes, stains, or lumps.
- Reuse the pillows as a pet bed if you have animals. If you garden, cover the pillows with vinyl casing and use them as knee protectors when you work in the garden.
- Throw the pillows in the garbage if you’re unable to reuse them around your home or donate them to your community. If your community doesn’t pick up trash, take your plastic bag of pillows to the landfill.
How to clean a feather, down, or polyester pillow?
- Load two pillows into your washing machine (this helps to keep the machine balanced) and a very small amount of detergent, preferably powder.
- Run on the gentle cycle.
- Transfer your pillows to the dryer along with a few tennis balls to help break up any clumps. If your machine has a no-heat air-dry setting, that will be your best option, otherwise, run it on delicate. You may need to run your pillows through more than once, but they’ll last much longer if dried using this slow and low method rather than blasting them with heat.
What to do with Old Pillows Ideas
Idea#1 Create Pet Bedding
Instead of spending dozens of dollars on a fancy bed for your furry friend, a pet bed made from your old pillows can be a great idea, after all, you know your pets would rather curl up in your dirty laundry. This is an easy way to repurpose pillows.
Idea#2 Make Throw Pillows
Saving money where you can is our thing, so again why spend big bucks for high-end throw pillows when they’re one of the simplest sewing projects around. You can compress the filling and make them into square throws with limitless possibilities; turn them into smaller travel-size pillows, or turn them into oblong bolster pillows for a bench or daybed.
Idea#3 Floor or Gardening Cushions
- This is a cool project if you have a few old pillows laying around. Floor cushions are fun and if perfect for video gaming, movie parties, or gathering around board games, a few large cushions make a welcome addition to any family room or playroom.
Keep things simple, it can be as easy as finding pre-made cushion covers; or you could sew your own covers with fabrics that match your decor. - Old pillows are also great for a gardening cushion, you know how gardening is a rewarding and awesome hobby, but all that weeding and sowing can be a little tough on the knees. Rather than buying a new knee cushion, double up an old pillow in a sturdy pillowcase.
Idea#4 Recycle/Compost your Pillows
Check with fabric recycling centers before bringing yours in to donate as many organizations won’t take pillows or track down the closest.
As for feather or down pillows, that stuffing is compostable, so you can go ahead and empty those feathers out into the nearest composting bin and then dispose of the shell as you would any other old household linen. You can also call animal shelters and wildlife refuges to see if they can take them off your hands to repurpose them as animal beds.
Idea#5 Make Rags
Don’t have anything to clean your kitchen? Open up your old pillow and remove the stuffing. Then cut up the remaining fabric into square pieces and use them as rags for cleaning projects.
Idea#6 Package Protection
Use the stuffing from an old pillow as packing material the next time you ship a fragile package. You could also stuff the whole pillow in the box if you want.
Idea#7 Draft Stopper
Place them in front of external doors, by drafty window sills, or to keep certain rooms cooler or warmer. They can make a cute housewarming gift as well.
Materials:
- An Old Pillowcase
- Measuring tape
- Marker
- Sewing machine or needle and thread
- Stuffing
- Rice
Measuring Tape for Body Fabric
The tape measure has accurate, large, and clear markings in both inches and centimeters, easy and convenient to read. Cloth tape measure; body tape measure, sewing tape measure, measuring tape for the body, waist tape measure, tailor tape measure.
Great measuring tape for the body, sewing, tailoring, weight loss, ordering clothes online, waist measurement, or measuring any curved surface.
The black tape measure is retractable. There is a retract button in the center, just press the button when pulling the tape out or retracting the tape back into it, or there will be loud noise.
Features:
- 60-Inch
- Retractable
- Pink
Dual Tip Alcohol Based Art Markers
50 Vibrant Permanent Markers resist fading over time, bouns 1 colorless blender. Shuttle Art Dual Tip Alcohol Based Permanent Markers are rated for 300 meters of continuous use which provides you a vast amount of ink per marker.
Unique ergonomic triangular-shaped barrels for an easy and comfortable no-slip grip. The unique shape also prevents markers from rolling off smooth surfaces.
The markers have both a 7mm broad tip for quick coverage and a 1mm pointed bullet tip for highlights, shadows, bullet points, sketching, and general writing.
Features:
- Vibrant Colors
- Triangular Shaped
Polyester Fiber Fill
Premium polyester fiberfill, suitable for all types of craft and home decor projects. The product uses compression bag packaging. When you open the package, you may still need to wait several hours to restore soft and fluffy.
The polyfill stuffing is made of quality new materials, fluffy and soft, fine and dense fiber, and high resilience.
After hand washing or machine washing, it can be used again after drying, it is ultra-strong and durable, not easy to agglomerate.
Features:
- DIY Fillings
- Good Density
- Resilient
Directions:
- Turn your pillowcase inside out so that it lays flat.
- Measure how wide your pillowcase is and divide by 4. For example, if your pillowcase is 24 inches wide, make a mark every 6 inches so that you will have 4 strips.
- Mark the pillowcase and cut through both top and bottom, making 4 strips.
- Sew a straight stitch up both sides (the bottom is already done). Leave the top open for stuffing.
- Make sure your door stopper is the right length.
- Pour at least 6 cups of rice into the door stopper
- Stuff with Polyester fill.
- Sew the door draft stopper closed.
- Work the rice along the bottom of the door stopper. Pull down on the bottom while pinching the polyester fill up and shake.
