A pillow that's gone old, flat, and lumpy is an eyesore. More often than not, it’s challenging to restore it to its former glory. Therefore, most people's next best option is to toss it in the trash, which they frequently do in an irresponsible manner. Very few think of getting crafty and recycling it.
The problem is that the majority of pillows are not biodegradable. They have synthetic materials in them that are bad for the environment. Simply discarding them will only contribute to the world's mounting landfill catastrophe.
The good news is that by being a little responsible and upcycling old pillows, this problem can be easily resolved. When your pillow has given up the ghost, don’t dispose of it. Instead, check out these 5 crafty ways you never thought were possible to give it a new life.
DIY Pet Beds
Before you bring home that expensive and fancy bed from Pet Fushion or Big Barker, why not gather all your old pillows to restuff an existing bed or make one from scratch for your furry friend? Both the environment and your wallet would benefit from it. Also, DIY projects are such great stress-busters, don’t you think?
There’s another advantage to making pet beds out of old pillows, which is often overlooked. The pillow you repurpose will carry the smell of you and your home - something your pet is familiar with. On the other hand, a brand new pet bed pumped out of the factory might be beyond your pet’s ken.
Packaging and Moving Materials
If you’re about to move house or send fragile cargo, ditch the regular packaging materials and let your old pillows save the day. The filling can easily replace bubble wrap and provide adequate cushioning for the goods in transit.
Pillow stuffing materials such as cotton, kapok, and wool can be used to wrap delicate items, while memory foam and latex can be used to safeguard furniture from scratches. You can then refill the empty pillowcase with new fill materials.
This is a great way to repurpose your old pillow as well as do your part in saving the planet. The less packaging material you use, the lower the impact on the environment will be.
Oven Mitts and Hot Pads
When your pillow is no longer functional, remove the stuffing and use it to create oven mitts and hot pads. Most fill materials are great thermal insulators, which makes them ideal for such DIY projects. The best ones are hollow fiber and wool.
You can get as crafty as you want because a wise man once said, “You don’t have to be good at everything. Choose the craft you are most passionate about and master it." Decide on stitching in various colours and patterns. Keep it basic or add piping. Explore the ideas, experiment, and most importantly, enjoy!
Did you find the quote on craftsmanship inspiring? You can find more wonderful quotes like this on QuotesnComments.
Knee Pads
Knee pads come in handy when you need padding for chores that require prolonged kneeling, such as mopping the floor in a seated position, gardening, or simply working in the yard.
The physical impact on the knees is lessened, and they are also shielded against scuffs and fractures of the patella. You don't always have to purchase them, though. Use the filling from an old pillow to make your own knee pads and save some money!
Halloween Costumes
Here’s another unique way of recycling old, lumpy pillows - make Halloween costumes out of them! The stuffing of pillows makes the perfect filler material for costume ideas such as pumpkins, elephants, witch hats, cupcakes, bat wings, donuts, and more.
This is just a mini list! Here are some more creative ways to upcycle old pillows. For instance, you can make stuffed toys out of them or even use them for composting if the fill material is a natural product such as Down feather, buckwheat, or millet hulls.
Cotton and kapok can be used as fake snow for holiday decorations. An old pillow can even be used to block air draft during winters. Foot stools, floor cushions, rags, bean bag stuffing, floor loungers - the possibilities are endless!