What To Do With Old Sheets?

No matter how long you hold on to them, you'll eventually have to replace household linens. As you add a new sheet set to your linen closet, you must figure out how to dispose of your old bedsheets in an eco-friendly way. 

In this article, we share plenty of ideas on how to give new life to your old towels, duvet covers, flat or fitted sheets, and other household linens.

Quick links to methods for giving second life to old sheets:

Quick, eco-friendly solutions for old sheets 

1. Donate old sheets

You can donate old sheets to needy people through the local thrift store or homeless shelter. Nonprofits like the Salvation Army, Planet Aid, and the Red Cross also have nationwide donation centers.

Donation centers usually accept only gently used sheets with no stains or tears. However, you can still donate sheets that are a little roughed up to animal shelters. Some homeless shelters don't mind a little tear or stain as well. 

A quick internet search will show you the nearby homeless shelters, animal shelters, or charities to which you can donate old bed sheets. 

2. Recycle old bed sheets

If your old bed sheets are too worn out to donate, you can recycle them. You'll have to contact a local recycling center since you can’t recycle bedding through curbside collection. The quickest way to find recycling centers around you is to use Google search.

Most recycling centers have specific requirements for the kind of textiles they can accept. Some prefer standard cotton sheets, which are easier to recycle than synthetic blends.

However, organizations like TetraCycle and the American Textile Recycling Service (ATRS) will accept any kind of old bed sheets. Recycling with the ATRS will even earn you a tax deductible.

3. Upgrade your picnic experience

Your old bedding can make your picnics more comfortable. Simply reuse old sheets and duvets as comfy picnic blankets. They'll work great at the park or beach. An old fitted sheet doesn't work as a picnic blanket but makes a good picnic table cover.

4. Make compost

You may have worn-out sheets and bath linens that you are ready to set on fire because of how raggedy they look.

We have a better idea: take out your scissors, cut them into tiny pieces, and add them to your backyard compost. Avoid sheets made of synthetic materials; they're not biodegradable.

5. Fort for kids

Did you know your old bedding can enhance your kids' play time? They can build a fort or use it in some other creative way. Leave that old flat sheet to their imagination and see what they come up with. 

If you don't have kids, how about healing your inner child by building a fort or hammock with old bed sheets?

6. Sleeping bag liners

If you are a frequent camper, using your old bed sheet (preferably a fitted one) as a sleeping bag liner is a brilliant idea. It gives you an extra layer of comfort and warmth. 

You also don't have to wash your sleeping bag after every trip. It's far easier to clean just the old sheets than the bag.

7. Furniture covering

Old sheets work great as dust covering for furniture when you need to keep them in storage temporarily. It also works when you need to protect your furniture from damage from a new, untrained pet. It would save you a lot of money on store-bought furniture covers.

8. Cleaning rags

One of the easiest ways to reuse old bed sheets is to cut them up and use the pieces as cleaning cloths, kitchen towels, or drop cloths. One bed sheet can give you enough cleaning rags for a year.

Note: Any sheet you want to use as a drop cloth must be thick so that paint or whatever you are working with doesn't soak through and ruin the surface you're trying to protect.

Creative ideas for repurposing old bed sheets

If you have time to spare, own a sewing machine, and enjoy crafting, there are plenty of creative ways to repurpose old sheets.

9. Wrap gifts

If you have old, beautifully patterned sheets, consider using them as eco-friendly gift wrappers. Your loved ones can reuse the wrap and repurpose it into a keepsake or kerchief. You’ll save on wrapping costs and avoid waste.

Check out the video above for inspiration on wrapping with old sheets without glue or tape.

10. Reusable bags

If you have an old sheet strong enough to handle some weight, you should make some reusable bags out of it. You can sew beach, tote, grocery, and even fashionable bags. 

You can make your bags in the best way to meet your needs. These eco-friendly bags also help you save some money. If you have no previous sewing experience, Whitney’s beginner-friendly tote-making tutorial above can help you get started.

11. Make pillowcases

If your old bedsheets have only lost their color or strength, you can sew them into pillowcases or pillow shams. One sheet would produce at least two extras, which would allow you to switch out pillowcases regularly.

At the very least, they can serve as an extra barrier to stop sweat and body oils from sinking into your pillow’s down or foam. In the video above, Jan Howell can show you how to make a pillowcase in 15 minutes.

12. Make a smock or apron

If you do a lot of DIY or garden projects, you probably have lost a few nice outfits to stains, tears, and other mishaps. 

Rather than throwing your old bed sheet away, sew a crafting smock or garden apron out of it. By extending the life of your old sheets, you'll keep your clothes clean and reduce your carbon footprint a little.

13. Make a quilt

Your old sheet can serve as backing material for a quilt. This is a perfect idea if you already have many different fabrics. You'll need large fabric pieces for a patchwork quilt, but if you only have small fabric scraps, you can try making a scrap quilt.

Quilting is an excellent way to preserve the sentimental value of your bedding, children's blankets, and other fabrics. If you are new to quilt making, the tutorial above can help you start.

14. Make a table runner

Household linens in good condition make excellent table runners when you no longer want them in your bedroom. Fabrics with towel-like surfaces do not work for this project; smooth, non-stretch linen sheets work best. 

Making your own upcycled table runner lets you get as creative as possible. You can pull out your sewing machine, use fancy trims and sewing techniques, or opt for a no-sew table runner.

15. Make a bean bag

A bean bag is a flexible piece of furniture that can be used indoors and outdoors. If you have always wanted one, you can make it using an old bed sheet. You just need to sew the sheet into the right shape and stuff it with any old fabric you can find in your house. Filling up the bean bag might take a while, depending on the size and how much waste fabric you have around.

Watch Just Fabrics’ bean bag sewing tutorial above to guide your first attempt at making a bean bag.

16. Shower curtain

With beginner-level sewing skills, you can turn your old bed linens into eco-friendly shower curtains. The most significant benefit is that you can make the curtains to fit your bathroom’s exact specifications. Since bed sheets aren't usually water resistant, you'll need a waterproof liner to keep the curtains dry.

You can also make DIY curtains out of old sheets for your kitchen or cottage house. Here's a tutorial on how to make your shower curtain.

17. Craft cat or dog toys

Your old bed sheets can serve your pets long after you no longer want them. You can make pet bedding, clothing, and braided or stuffed pet toys from old sheets. A simple toy idea is a braided rope with which your pet can play tug of war. You can donate to an animal shelter if you end up with more toys than your pet needs.

18. Plant protection

If you prefer plants over pets, your old bedsheets can still be handy. You can use them to cover your plants during winter or to prevent weed encroachment.

You shouldn't use white sheets for plant protection. They get dirty too quickly and look unsightly. Darker sheets are best for acting as a weed barrier. You should use lighter sheets to cover the more delicate plants so that they get enough sunlight. 

19. Make braided rugs

You can make braided rugs using your old towels and sheets. You don’t need a sewing machine; all you need is a pair of scissors to cut the sheets into strips.

The rugs can be used as bath mats, placemats, and foot mats. Living Waste Free has a step-by-step guide to help you make your first braided rug.

20. Throw pillows

If you are tired of the throws on your sofa, you can revamp them with new covers made from old bed sheets. There are plenty of inspirations for pretty throw pillows on the internet. However, if you're a newbie sewist, try looking at the tutorial above to get some basic knowledge.

Other uses for your old bed sheets include tie-dye projects, bed canopies, bed skirts, draft blockers, and ironing pads. The sky's the limit with creativity!