Condo Blues: 12 Ways to Reuse Old Pillows

Tuesday, May 14, 2019

12 Ways to Reuse Old Pillows

When our bed pillows flatten I fluff them up after washing them by popping a couple of dryer balls like these into the dryer along with my pillows. (I am including affiliate links in this post for your convenience.) That usually does the trick but after many years, there isn’t much left to fluff in our current set of bed pillows. It is time to replace them.

12 of the best ways to reuse old pillows
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I have to admit I’ve been hanging onto our current bed pillows for a little too long because I’ve been looking for a more eco friendly replacement. Feather pillows are probably the best choice in that department but allergies prevent us from using feather pillows. Our friends at PlanetWISE offered us a better solution – sample pillows made from recycled plastic bottles!

While we have reduced our disposable plastic (and all household waste for that matter) use down to approximately one grocery bag size a week, the fact of the matter is that you will still find a few plastic bottles (mostly milk jugs) in our recycling bin every two weeks. We create the supply of recyclable plastic bottles and I think it is important to also support the demand of buying products made from those recycled bottles like PlanetWISE pillows, comforters, and mattress pads (learn more about them here) when possible. Oh and the pillows come rolled in a bag made from biodegradable potato starch. Nice touch!


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The pillows were easy to fluff up in the dryer, I replaced the old pillows with the new PlanetWISE pillows and slept on it. A lot. They are great pillows!

But what do I do with the old flat pillows the PlanetWISE pillows replaced?

12 Ways to Recycle Old Pillows


1. Use old pillows to stuff a pet bed. Lacey sleeps on a Molly Mutt Dog Bed like this one that comes with a stuff sack and a removable duvet cover that makes it easy to wash in the washer. Plus the pillows have your scent on them to make your dog extra happy!

2. To stuff a new pillow with the stuffing from old pillows.

3. Use an old pillow as a chimney balloon/pillow (it looks like this) to keep your home from losing  heated or cooled air from going up the chimney. Be sure to remove the pillow before you start a fire in the fireplace!

4. Donate your old pillows to an animal shelter. Check with your local shelter to see if they need old pillows to use as pet beds. Most shelters will also accept old sheets and towels too.

5. Use an old pillow as a door draft stopper.

6. Use an old pillow as a kneeler pad when gardening, yard work, yoga, etc. Your knees will thank you, and you won’t have to spend any extra money on a kneeler pad like this one.

7. Put an old bed pillow in a pretty pillow sham and use it as decorative bed pillow.

8. Use an old pillow as a floor cushion.

9. Use the stuffing from old pillows for crafts, costuming, etc.

10. Use old pillows as pads for uncomfortable chairs.

11. Put two flat pillows into a single pillow case and use it as a new bed pillow.

12. Compost the feather stuffing if you have an old feather pillow.

For more bed reusable options? Check out the following ideas – and more! – below!

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8 comments :

Anonymous said...

Great ideas. I have an old duvet that I could use these tips for too.
#sew it, cook it, craft it

Lisa Lynn said...

So glad to see practical ideas for re-using something that might get tossed out! Found your post on the Simple Homestead Hop and would love to have you join Farm Fresh Tuesdays!
https://www.theselfsufficienthomeacre.com/2019/05/farm-fresh-tuesday-blog-hop-week-1.html

Marie-Interior Frugalista said...

Great ideas for recycling old pillows so they don't end up in the landfill! Pinned

Aletha Oglesby, M.D. said...

I like the gardening knee pad idea, that's brilliant.

shaaronw said...

Love the idea of donating old pillows to animal shelters

Joanne said...

We just replaced some old pillows today and was wondering what to do with the old ones. Pinned.

Heritage Home Ec said...

What wonderful ideas! I especially love the one for blocking drafts in the fireplace. That would be amazing in the summer. There is SUCH a draft down ours. Thank you for sharing!

Unknown said...

Batting Pillows: Wash them with bleach and dry them. Then cut them open and tear up the batting into pieces\chunks and stuff a zippered pillow protector with them. (opt:Take a needle with thread or floss and tack the zipper down) Voila! A "new" pillow and it don't have to be thrown away. If it goes flat again, open the zipper and tear the batting in chunks again and restuff the protector. I just remade 3 pillows today like this and while I don't know how long they will last before they flatten out, it beats throwing them away in the rental business!
~Carol

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