When we have things that we could consider old, most of us would think about throwing them away; for example our old pillows. They would smell over time, and at a certain point changing pillowcases won’t cut it anymore. However, instead of throwing them away, here are some people who have thought of the most ingenious ideas to make their old pillows serve a different purpose.
1) Use Old Pillows When Camping
Another alternative is to save your old pillows and take them with you when you go camping. This saves you from having to use and possibly get dirty the pillows you normally use.
If you have five old pillows, turn them into a floor lounger by sewing pillowcases together. Then, simply insert the old pillows to make one long pillow.
Refresh the plumpness of your old beanbag chair by stuffing it with old pillow stuffing, or the entire pillow. Check to make sure that the material fits inside of the beanbag first before opening the beanbag chair.
4) Combine an Old Pillow and Some Old Blue Jeans to Make a Denim Pillow
You can also take an old pair of jeans and cut them up to use as the outer layer of a pillow. Then, simply stuff the denim pillow from an old pillow you have laying around and sew it closed.
If the pillow you’ve been using to sleep on has become too uncomfortable for a good night’s sleep – extend its life for a few months by using it for lumbar support in the driver’s seat. After being stuck in traffic for an hour, our lower backs can feel a bit stiff. Use the old pillow to provide some relief.
Cut your old pillow in half and then re-sew together. Now, you have two smaller pillows that are perfect for use on those long flights to visit friends and family. You could even get real crafty and mold them into the standard “air pillow” shape.
8) Turn an Old Pillow and Some Fabric Into a Baby Sleeping Bag
This simple project requires you to cut some equal length fabric, folding over part of it to make a little pocket, and then stuff the completed nap mat with stuffing from an old pillow.
Use the stuffing as fake snow for underneath your holiday tree or as a part of a DIY decoration during the holidays. Make sure to check the stuffing to make sure it is the right color for use as artificial snow before proceeding.
While your old pillows might not seem useful to you, others who are less fortunate might love to have them. If your old pillows are still in decent shape, donate them to a homeless shelter.
Place a thin layer of feathers in a hole when planting strawberries or raspberries. The feathers provide a great source of nitrogen to help your plants grow big and strong.
Instead of recycling your old pillows, try refurbishing them first to see if you can get additional mileage out of them. You can find the instructions for rescuing your old pillows at Mother Earth News.
Gardening can be very rewarding – what’s better than seeing flowers, veggies, and fruits grow from the labor and hard work of your own hands? But gardening can take its toll on your knees and bum. Help make the hobby more comfortable by throwing down an old pillow.
Another great idea for the lining of an old pillow is to use it to patch clothing and jeans. Once again, snip open the pillow and set aside the stuffing for another project. Then, cut the remaining fabric into whatever size you’d need for the patch and add a creative element to your clothing.
Save your old pillows and some fun with the little ones by using these beat-up pillows as for pillow fights. It’s a harmless and inexpensive way to create some entertainment during a night in at home or while babysitting.
If you have a longer, old pillow, turn it into a draft blocker to put in front of your doors. You can also pull out the stuffing from a smaller pillow and use it to stuff old pillowcases cut and sewn into longer draft blockers, as found at Simplified Life Mom.
Another great use for the stuffing in an old pillow is as material for making a Halloween costume. Pillow stuffing makes the perfect filler material for a pumpkin or elephant costume.
You can also use old pillows to make stuffed animals. The stuffing material provides the perfect filler materials for dolls and stuffed animals made from a variety of fabrics, including old shirts, socks, and pillowcases.
You can even use the stuffing material to make older stuffed animals as good as new again. Simply remove the stuffing and replace the old compacted stuffing in a favorite doll or plush toy.
Use an old pillow as a knee pad when working around your home. Just place the old pillow on the hard ground or surface before kneeling down to do your work.
Feathers make great composting material. So, instead of throwing your old feather pillow directly into the trash, remove the feathers first. This is much better for the environment, with the stuffing serving as fertilizer for the plants around your home.
23) Use the Stuffing as Wadding in Oven Mitts and Pot Holders
If you have an old pillow filled with hollow-fiber pillow stuffing, then use it as the wadding in an oven mitt or potholder. A Beautiful Mess offers an easy tutorial for making your own oven mitts and potholders.
If you have birds around your home, remove the stuffing and place it outside somewhere for use as nesting material. In addition, you can cut the fabric of the pillow into tiny strips for the birds to use.
Another great use for an old pillow is to cut it in half, remove roughly half of the stuffing, and then sew up the open end. You now have great seat pads for chairs with a harder surface, making them more comfortable. Finish by covering the new chair pads with chair covers.
Alternately, cut an old pillow to the size of the top of an unpadded footstool and fashion a padded cushion. Once cut down to size, sew closed the open end, place on the footstool, and cover with fabric. Attach the fabric to the stool by taking a staple gun to the fabric underneath to secure it.
Create your very own support, or bolster pillow, by rolling an old pillow into a cylinder. Next, secure it with ribbon, string, or cotton tape. Finally, place the rolled pillow into a DIY or store-bought pillowcase.
29) Use Old Pillows as Stuffing for Another Pillow
One use for the stuffing inside an old pillow is as additional stuffing for another pillow that you own. This works great for pillows that are just starting to lose their fluffiness and can make them feel like new.
30) Use Old Pillows to Block Air Drafts in Your Home
Place old, flat pillows in front of a drafty door to stop the airflow. You can also stuff your old pillows into a plastic bag and stuff it up a chimney flue to cut off any drafts coming from there.
To extend the life of your old pillows, place two of them together when they get flat. This should give you a firmer pillow and allow you to extend the usefulness of old pillows.
Use an old pillow to protect fragile items through the mail. Your options include using the whole pillow or removing and using the stuffing. It all depends on how much room you have in the box.
Save your old pillows, and the next time you have a major spill in the garage or yard, use the pillows to help clean it up. Just make sure to dispose of the now-contaminated pillows properly.
35) Make Your Own Beanbag Chair Using the Stuffing From Old Pillows
The stuffing from an old pillow makes a perfect filler material when crafting a beanbag chair. Check out these tutorials on HubPages to make your own beanbag chairs.
Another great project for the stuffing in an old pillow is to cut it up and create a pillow using a favorite T-shirt. Then, stuff the filler into the pillow and sew up the hole.
Save your old pillows and you have instant furniture protectors the next time you have to move something. Just place the pillows in between furniture and other items to keep them from rubbing together.
39) Combine an Old Pillow With a Sweater to Make a Sweater Pillow
A great way to repurpose the stuffing in an old pillow is to use it to stuff a DIY sweater pillow. You can learn how to make this comfortable pillow at Tidbits.
Save your old pillows for situations when you need insulation in emergency situations. Situations where you can use old pillows as insulation includes around a hot water tank, your pipes on a cold night, around your bathtub, and in your attic.
Reuse the stuffing from an old pillow you used for sleeping to make a brand-new sofa pillow. Since it’s mostly for decor, you don’t have to worry about the quality of the stuffing as much. Just snip open the old pillow, re-stuff a fun pillowcase, and sew shut.
