We all know what happens once you use the same pillow for a really long time – no matter how hard you try, they usually get a dirty (even if you change your pillow case often). It doesn’t help that not all pillows are machine washable, either.
Most of us usually just toss old pillows once they get dirty or when they lose their fluff. However, did you know that pillows can solve a bunch of problems you have at home?
So, instead of throwing your old pillows away, why not put them to other innovative uses? Check out these amazing hacks to find new uses for your old but still useful pillows. We’ve collected 40 of their best uses to make your life, easier.
1) 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.
2) 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 pot holder. A Beautiful Mess offers an easy tutorial for making your own oven mitts and pot holders.
3) 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 pillow case.
4) Use as a Leg Pillow
You can also use an old pillow to go between or beneath your feet instead of underneath your head.
5) 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.
6) 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.
7) 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.
8) 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 include around a hot water tank, your pipes on a cold night, around your bathtub, and in your attic.
9) Use Old Pillows When Working Around the House
Use an old pillow as a knee pad when working in the yard, garden, or around your home. Just place the old pillow on the hard ground or surface before kneeling down to do your work.
10) 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.
11) Turn Old Pillows Into a Floor Lounger
If you have five old pillows, turn them into a floor lounger by sewing pillow cases together. Then, simply insert the old pillows to make one long pillow.
12) 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.
13) 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.
14) 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.
15) 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.
16) Seal Drafty Doors
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 pillow cases 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 good as new again. Simply remove the stuffing and replace the old compacted stuffing in a favorite doll or plush toy.
20) 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.
21) 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.
22) Compost Old Pillow Feather Stuffing
Feathers make a 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 Old Pillows to Block Air Drafts in Your Home
Place old, flat pillows in front of a drafty door to stop the air flow. You can also stuff your old pillows into a plastic bag and stuff it up a chimney flu to cut off any drafts coming from there.
24) 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.
25) Give Old Pillows to Your Pet
Use an old pillow to make a comfy bed for your pet. Just place a used pillow case on the old pillow, or make your own using fleece material.
26) 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.
27) Turn an Old Pillow Into a Foot Stool Cushion
Alternately, cut an old pillow to the size of the top of an unpadded foot stool and fashion a padded cushion. Once cut down to size, sew closed the open end, place on the foot stool, 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 pillow case.
29) 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.
30) Refurbish for Reuse
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.
31) 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.
32) 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.
33) 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.
34) 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.
35) 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.
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 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.
38) 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.
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) 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.