Now that you have some brand new pillows, you may be wondering what to do with those old lifeless ones. Before you reach for that large trash bag, consider a few ideas for recycling pillows.  

1.    Make a garden cushion - Fold a pillow in half and stuff into a small pillowcase or even a Ziploc bag to make a kneeling cushion. Of course, you could make it nicer by cutting the pillow in half and stuffing in a homemade cover made of outdoor fabric.

2.    Use as packing material - Cut your old pillow open and put the stuffing in various Ziploc or vacuum bags to use as packing material.

3.    Create a pet bed - Make a large cover and stuff with the filling from several pillows.  Not only will this be comfy for your pet, but they’ll also love that it has a little of your scent.

4.    Revive stuffed animals - If your kids (or grandkids, nieces, nephews, etc.) have stuffed animals that have lost their plump, just open a small seam and stuff with the filling from your old pillow.

5.    Make holiday decorations - Bag up some of the stuffing and put in your holiday decor box--it makes great “snow” for any wonderland scene.

Before using any of these options, you should wash and dry your old pillows. I recommend washing them in hot water and drying (through several cycles) on low to medium heat. After cleaning, if you plan to open the pillow shell and remove the stuffing, you may want to wear a dust mask, and you’ll definitely want a large box or bag to put the stuffing in.  What if you don’t like any of these ideas for recycling pillows? You may want to consider donating them to an animal shelter—the animals will enjoy it and the environment will thank you!