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.
2) Turn Old Pillows Into a Floor Lounger
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.
3) Use the Stuffing in an Old Bean Bag Chair
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.
You can also use an old pillow to go between or beneath your feet instead of underneath your head.
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.
7) Make your own air travel pillow
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.
9) Use the Stuffing as Fake Snow
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.
10) Donate Old Pillows to the Homeless
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.
11) Use Feather Stuffing When Planting
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.
13) Use as knee protection when gardening
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.
14) Use the fabric for patches
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.
15) Use for pillow fights!
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.
17) Use Stuffing for Halloween Costumes
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.
18) Make Into Stuffed Animals and Dolls
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.
19) Refurbish Old Stuffed Animals and Dolls
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.
20) Use Old Pillows When Working Around the House
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.
21) Compost Old Pillow Feather Stuffing
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.
22) Turn a Couple of Old Pillows Into a Body Pillow
If you have a few old pillows, either remove the stuffing to use in the longer body billow or stitch them together and add a long pillowcase.
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.
24) Give Old Pillows to Your Pet
Use an old pillow to make a comfy bed for your pet. Just place a used pillowcase on the old pillow, or
make your own using fleece material.
25) Place Outside for Nesting Material
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.
26) Turn Old Pillows Into Dining Chair Pads
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.
27) Turn an Old Pillow Into a Foot Stool Cushion
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.
28) Make an Old Pillow Into a Bolster Pillow
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.
31) Put Two Old Pillows Together
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.
32) Use Old Pillows as Packing Materials
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.
33) Use the Stuffing and Material in Craft Projects
You can also use the stuffing and fabric from an old pillow to make a wide variety of craft projects.
34) Use to Clean Up Spilled Oil
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.
36) Use an Old Pillow to Make a T-Shirt Pillow
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.
37) Combine Old Pillow Stuffing With a Towel to Make a Neck Roll
Another option is to sew some bath towels into a pillow. Next, stuff the bath towel pillow with the stuffing from an old pillow.
38) Use Old Pillows When Moving
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.
40) Use Old Pillows as Insulation
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.
41) Transform it into a new pillow
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.
42) Use the Stuffing From Old Pillows to Line Your Pet’s Cage
Another use for an old pillow for your pets is to line the bottom of their cage with the stuffing. And even though you need to replace it after it is soiled, it does extend the use of the stuffing somewhat.
After a while, the stuffing in our pillows can become far less thick than it used to be. Help extend the life of your thin pillow by grabbing a similarly thin pillow and doubling them up. Grab two of your thin pillows and place them inside one pillowcase. This will make them both last for at least a couple more months.
44) Turn Old Pillows Into Rags
If you open your old pillow and remove the stuffing for use elsewhere, make sure to keep the fabric. You can cut up the fabric into smaller square pieces and use them as rags for cleaning around your home.
Use your old pillow stuffing to make a new toy for your puppers. Head to the craft store and buy a few sheets of felt. Cut the felt into two identical shapes (heart, bone, cat, etc.) then place old pillow stuffing in between them. Sew shut and your dog will be a happy fur baby!
46) Use as jewelry box stuffing
If you’re giving jewelry as a gift, it’s always nice to have it displayed in a tiny box with a bit of stuffing. Make your own DIY jewelry gift box by using a tiny gift box and some old pillow stuffing.
47) Empty it and use it as a trick-or-treat bag
Most people have heard of using a pillowcase for a treat or treat bag but you could use an old pillow too. Just snip open one end, save the stuffing for a different project, and you’re left with an ideal bag for collecting candy around the neighborhood.
48) Turn Old Pillows Into Floor Cushions
Another great idea for your old pillows is to turn them into floor cushions. Simply take two old pillows and place them into a pre-made cushion cover. Alternatively, make your own floor pillows using this idea from
Homedit.
49) Use Old Pillows on Your Next Road Trip
Turn an old pillow into a road-trip pillow. The flatness of the pillow makes it perfect for fitting around seatbelts, allowing riders to sleep comfortably while remaining safe.
50) Turn Old Pillows Into Throw Pillows
Another option for your old pillows is to turn them into throw pillows. Simply compress the old pillow by folding it in half, sew the fold together, and add a throw pillow cover.
51. Pillow stuffing ideas
There are tons of DIY crafts that you could make out of pillow feather stuffing. For example, you could repurpose them by stuffing them inside another pillow or use the feathers for designing other crafts.
We could always find ways to make use of our old things, but it takes creativity and effort to make it happen. Hopefully, these clever life-hacks will inspire you to try them out at home, or perhaps think of another way of putting your old pillows to good use.
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