What To Do With Old Pillows ? (33+ Useful ideas)

When you find yourself with old pillows, including throw pillows, decorative pillows, bed pillows, down pillows, feather pillows, and memory foam pillows, or even old sheets and pillows, you might wonder, ‘What to do with old pillows?’ Instead of just disposing of them, explore creative and practical options. You can repurpose them for various purposes, such as crafting pet beds, using them as cushioning for outdoor furniture, or even upcycling them into pot holders. If you’re looking to declutter, you can explore ways to donate old pillows. In this guide, we’ll dive into different ideas for ‘What to do with old pillows’ and help you find the best option for your situation.

Creative Ways to Repurpose Your Old Pillows

Don’t let your old pillows go to waste – explore these practical solutions today! (It’s not okay to throw away pillows) & (make them useful).
Let’s expand on the ideas and provide more than 33+ creative and useful ways to repurpose or dispose of old pillows:

Repurposing (Reuse Old Pillows in Many New Ways):

• Resell old pillows: A way to make money from used pillows is by selling them on online retailers such as Wanelo, eBay, and etsy.
• Make pet beds: Transform old pillows into comfortable beds for your furry friends. Cover them with a pet-friendly fabric for durability.
• Gardening Cushions: Use old pillows as knee pads for gardening or other outdoor tasks to provide comfort and support.
• Decorative accents: Old pillows can be used to create a variety of decorative accents for your home, such as throw pillows, curtains, and table runners. Simply cut the pillowcase into the desired shape and sew it together. You can then add embellishments such as lace, ribbon, and beads to complete the look.
• Make the old pillow inside a new pillow cover: Reuse old pillows as stuffing for another pillow by placing the old pillow inside a new cover, and then zip or button it closed for a fresh look and added comfort.
• Pot Holders: Cut and sew pot holders, which are pieces of quilted or thick fabric used for handling hot dishes and pans.
• Bean Bag Filling: Reuse the pillow stuffing to fill bean bags, making them plump and cozy.
• DIY Floor Cushions: Sew or wrap old pillows to make stylish floor cushions or poufs for extra seating or decorative touches in your home.
• Travel Comfort: Cut down old pillows to a travel-sized version for more comfortable long car rides or flights.
• Car Seat Cushion: Enhance your car’s seating comfort by placing old pillows on car seats.
• RV or Camper Upgrades: Improve the comfort of your recreational vehicle or camper by using old pillows to enhance seating or bedding.
• Workshop Comfort: Use old pillows as cushions for your workshop or garage, making tasks like working on your car more comfortable.
• Kid’s Playroom: Old pillows can be used to create a fun and safe play area for kids, such as constructing obstacle courses or building forts.
• Outdoor Furniture: Place old pillows in waterproof covers to make them suitable for outdoor furniture, providing an affordable alternative to outdoor cushions.
• Therapeutic Pillows: Modify old pillows to create specialized pillows, like back support or neck pillows, for therapeutic or orthopedic purposes.
• Camping pillow: Use an old pillow as a camping pillow. This is a great way to save space and weight in your backpack.
• Trivet pillow: Sew an old pillowcase into a trivet to protect your table from hot pots and pans.
• Emergency Comfort: Store old pillows in your emergency kit for comfort during unexpected situations or disasters.
• Draft Stopper: Sew a long tube using old pillow fabric and stuff it to create a draft stopper to keep your home warm in the winter.
• Fabric Scrap: Disassemble old pillows to collect the fabric for craft projects, quilt making, or patchwork.
• Art and Craft Projects: Use pillow fabric and stuffing for various DIY art and craft projects like fabric collages.
• Nursing Mothers: Nursing pillows can be expensive; old pillows can be repurposed to create comfortable nursing support.

Donation (Donate Old Pillows to Associations):

• Neighbor: Ask your neighbors if they need your old pillows, Ask them in a nice way that doesn’t hurt feelings.
• The poor and orphans: Find poor or unemployed neighbors or relatives and give them old pillows.
• Homeless Shelters: Many homeless shelters welcome donations of clean, old pillows to provide comfort for those in need.
• Women’s and Men’s Shelters: Donate old pillows to women’s and men’s shelters in need to help them in crises.
• Family Shelters: Shelters that accommodate families can benefit from old pillow donations, providing a touch of home for children and parents.
• Crisis Centers: Crisis centers for individuals in distress often accept pillow donations.
• Schools and Daycares: Local schools and daycares might appreciate old pillows for reading nooks or naptime.
• Donation to Schools: Consider donating old pillows to schools for use in drama departments or school plays where they can serve as props or set decorations.
• Prisons and clinics: Donate old pillows to prisons or clinics near your neighborhood.
• Local Community Centers: Your local community center may appreciate pillow donations for various events or activities.
• Donating pillows to support people with disabilities: Several organizations require different types of pillows to help people with special needs.
• Donate pillows to organizations that help veterans: Organizations that help veterans often need donations of pillows to help veterans who are homeless or struggling financially.
• Donate to organizations that help people in developing countries: People in developing countries may not have access to basic necessities like bedding, so a donated pillow can make a big difference.
• Donate to the homeless on the street: Take a walk around the neighborhoods and main streets, and you are sure to find a lot of homeless people who need your pillows
• Donate to organizations that help animals: Animal shelters and rescue organizations often need donations of bedding for the animals they care for. If you have old pillows in good condition, you can donate them to help these needy animals.

The recommended method of what to do with old pillows (You can sell it and make money – OR – keep it and decorate any room with it)

• Here’s a concise guide on how to reuse old pillows, wash them, clean them, and make them usable:

1. Inspection: Examine the old pillow for any damage or excessive wear.
2. Remove Pillowcase: Take off the old pillowcase if it’s still on the pillow.
3. Washing: Check the care label for washing instructions. Use a mild detergent. Machine-wash with cold water for synthetic pillows or warm water for natural materials like cotton or down. Opt for a gentle cycle. Rinse thoroughly to remove all detergent.
4. Drying: Dry the pillow in a large-capacity dryer. Use low or no heat, adding dryer balls or clean tennis balls to fluff and redistribute the filling.
5. Fluff and Shape: After drying, fluff and shape the pillow to restore its original form.
6. Pillow Protector: Consider using a pillow protector to maintain cleanliness and extend the pillow’s life.
7. Reinsert into Pillowcase: Place the rejuvenated pillow into a clean, fresh pillowcase for added protection.

• if your old pillows are in excellent condition and you’re determined to try reselling, here are some steps to consider:

1. Thorough Cleaning: Wash and sanitize the pillows to remove stains, odors, and allergens. Follow proper cleaning methods as mentioned earlier.
2. Quality Inspection: Ensure the pillows are still supportive and comfortable. No lumps, clumps, or flattening should be present.
3. Professional Restoration: Consider using a professional laundering service specializing in revitalizing bedding items. They can restore the pillows to a nearly new condition.
4. Proper Packaging: Place the cleaned and rejuvenated pillows in protective covers or pillow protectors to maintain hygiene.
5. Transparent Listings: When listing the pillows for resale, be honest about their age, usage, and the cleaning process you’ve followed. Transparency is crucial.
6. Online Platforms: Utilize online marketplaces, such as eBay, Craigslist, or Facebook Marketplace, to list your pillows.
7. Pricing: Price your old pillows competitively and lower than the cost of new pillows to attract potential buyers.
8. Local Options: If you’re concerned about shipping costs, focus on local sales to reduce expenses.
9. Sell-in Sets: Bundling several old pillows together can make them more attractive to buyers.

Frequently Asked Questions About “What to do with old pillows”