Bedding, Mattress Protector, Pillow

30 awesome hacks to recycle your old bedding

30 awesome hacks to recycle your old bedding - summary

Start with the best option: reuse as-is. If bedding is still in decent condition, pass it on, donate, or re-home it so it stays in circulation longer.
Repurpose linen around the house. Old sheets and duvet covers can become cleaning cloths, dust sheets, drop cloths for painting, furniture covers, or protective wraps.
Give it a second life for pets. Cut down sheets/blankets into pet bedding, crate liners, washable covers, or rags for muddy paws and grooming.
Turn fabric into simple DIY items. Many ideas fall into "no-sew or low-sew" upcycling: tote bags, cushion covers, draught stoppers and more.
Recycle what can't be reused. For worn-out textiles, look for textile recycling options (clothing/textile drop-offs, recycling centres, local schemes).

What can I do with my old bed sheets? We put the call out to our Sleepyhead Facebook page to find out what everyone does to repurpose old sheets & other bedding.

What do I do with old bed sheets

Donate old bedding to a thrift shop

Donating your old bedding to a thrift shop is by far the most popular choice. Just make sure sheets & pillow cases are washed and clean.
The SPCA, your local vet or animal shelter will gladly take old sheets, pillows and duvets as they use the bedding for the animals in their care.
Old sheets make perfect paint drop sheets during your house renovation, or dust covers for your furniture.
Give them to your children when / if they move out of home.

Reduce reuse recycle

Old pillow cases are great for cleaning ceiling fans or car windscreen wipers
Use your old sheets and pillows cases to help teach kids how to use a sewing machine
Take them to pre-schools to be used to make tents, forts and huts.
Reuse your pillows to make floor cushions.
Use cotton sheets in the garden as a weed layer.
A fitted sheet is perfect to loop from one side mirror to the other across your windshield to protect against winter frost.
Here's a handy hack from Alice Matthews in Auckland: stitch your old pillow cases together and fill with old pillows, sheets, bedding and make into temporary mattresses for a kids sleepover.

Old sheets are perfect for cutting up and making into braided dog toys.
Reuse pillows and duvets and make into a dog bed for home.
Reuse sheets for drop cloths to guard against frost for tropical plants.
Use old cotton linens to make beeswax wraps.
Creative use for old sheets is to shred them up and create a bathroom mat.
Heather Stains suggested that old sheets knotted together are perfect for escaping a burning building, during a hostage crisis, or if you happen to held captive in prison.
Reuse old bedding to help in packing breakables when you are on the move.

Sheets are great for costume parties. Togas, obviously, but Grant Adams from Wellington suggests you shred up white sheets and dress your kid up as a mummy.
Repurpose old pillow cases into supermarket shopping bags.
Turn fitted sheets into an ironing board cover.
Feather & down from old duvets can be put into your compost.
Elizabeth McGuire in Christchurch used old pillow cases sewn onto her duvet as tabs to keep it neatly in place while on the bed.
Reuse your memory foam pillows (or chop them up to make smaller), roll it up tightly and take it onboard your next long haul flight to help you sleep.
Shred your old sheets and turn them into soft hair wraps overnight for curls or ringlets.
Anita Marija Erceg from Auckland takes the stuffing out of old pillows and reuses it to make stuffing in new soft toys.
Christmas time! Use old duvet covers for santa sacks and old pillowcases for Christmas stockings.
Backpacking & camping hack. Turn old sheets into a sleeping bag liner to keep the sleeping bag clean.
Use old pillow stuffing to make door stops around your house to prevent drafts.