What To Do With Old Pillows? (9 Solutions)
Taking up the initiative to make the best use of old things and trying to be less wasteful is commendable.
Surprisingly enough, I’ve come across many ways to use some of the weirdest stuff which ends up being great end products.
If you’re searching for what to do with old pillows or how you can make use of the ones which are still in fairly good condition, there are a couple of great ideas you could try.
The best things you can do with old pillows is make a stuffed toy, turn the pillows into a cushion or cleaning rag, make a pet bed, use it as packing material, donate it to shelters, make an outdoor throw pillow or use it in the compost.
These ideas will work well and are great if you’re looking for a side project that won’t take up too much of your time.
A lot of items on this list are useful and practical so it’s definitely worth investing your time into making them rather than just tossing those old pillows out.
If these ideas sound good to you, I’d love to take a few minutes to break down each idea. They are as follows:
Table of Contents
Best Things To Do With Old Pillows
Stuffed Toy
Use the stuffing or feathers from the inside of the pillow and the fabric or casing to make a toy. This toy works well for your pets and you could save money on materials as well if you opt for this.
There are plenty of online tutorials that will show you how to make a stuffed toy using stuffing and material which you can make in a couple of hours or so.
Cushions
For a practical and useful item, you could definitely turn these old pillows into floor cushions.
This is a great way to add extra seating or to create a cozy nook in the corner of the room. If you have more than one pillow, you can easily create a comfortable full-body floor cushion to relax and unwind.
Give the outer layer a revamp by covering it with new material.
Cleaning Rag
A smart home hack would be to use the covering of the pillow as a cleaning rag. I’m always looking for a new rag to clean something and this can save a few bucks as well.
You can clean food spills, and the car, or wipe down any dusty surfaces and throw them in the wash if you want to reuse them sometime again.
Pet Bed
Your pet will love a new cushy and comfy bed if you make them one with the old pillows. You can turn the pillow itself into a pet bed or you can use the stuffing.
Either option will work depending on how you go about it. Pet beds are generally quite expensive so this is a great way to reuse old pillows and turn them into valuable items that can be used for a long time.
Packing Material
If you’re moving or you need to ship something, consider using the stuffing from the pillow to cushion any fragile items. This will work great for delicate items.
However, if you plan to send these items to a friend, don’t use a really worn-out or old pillow. An old pillow that was barely used would be more appropriate.
Donate To Pet Shelters or Homeless Shelters
Another great thing you can do with old pillows is to donate them to a pet shelter or any homeless shelter near you.
These organizations are always ready to receive help and donating is a great way to help those in need. Most animal shelters will be happy to take the pillows and blankets off your hands.
Rather than these pillows landing up in some landfill that is bad for the environment, someone out there could really make use of them provided that the pillows are still in a decent condition without stains, dirt, or drool.
If the pillows haven’t been used in a while or some parts can be cleaned, consider popping them into the washer before donating them.
Turn Them Into Garden Pillows
For outdoors, you can easily turn these pillows into outdoor cushions. To do this, you may want to reupholster the pillows with a fancy patterned waterproof fabric to ensure that they can withstand the natural elements.
Depending on the size of the pillow, you could probably make use of the stuffing to create at least two throw pillows for the outdoors.
Use As Compost
If you’re looking for a way to add more value to your compost, remove the feathers from the old pillows and add them to the compost. These feathers will break down in the compost however be sure to not add the casing as the material will not decompose.
Cushion Your Knees
For those who are looking for knee support and hate the pressure on your knees when you’re gardening or doing yoga, then use this old pillow as a knee pad.
This will be more comfortable and easy to enjoy your normal activities without having to use any clean pillow or item.
How To Dispose of Old Pillows
Now, if your pillows are in a really bad condition, maybe the casing is covered with drool stains, the fabric is torn, or the stuffing has been flattened, then you might want to get rid of it.
Here are a few quick and easy ways to get rid of them:
- Try a local waste disposal service that will pick up the old pillows. Or simply do a quick google search for ‘pillow recycling near me’ and an option should pop up.
- A textile recycling facility is the best place to take old pillows that will prevent them from ending up in some landfill. They also take these old pillows and use them to make other useful items.
- As mentioned earlier, composting the feathers and using the covering as a rag will be your next best bet.
Final Thoughts
Wrapping up, I think transforming old pillows into items like this is creative and useful.
It’s way better than just trashing them and sewing a toy, cushion, or an item for your pet is the best way to repurpose and reuse the pillows.
Using it as a cleaning rag or using it to protect items can also save you money.
For pillows that are really worn down and kind of dirty, then it would be best to just get rid of them.
If you’re passionate about not being wasteful and you’d like to see other items you can repurpose and salvage, here’s a collection of posts that will be useful to you:
What To Do With Old Towels? (Recycling Ideas)
