What To Do With Old Bed Sheets?

When Is It Time to Throw Out Old Bed Sheets?

After a while sheets can accumulate stains and discolor. Cheap sheets can pill and threads can come undone. If you're not using a strong detergent, fabric can even start to smell stale and you'll feel like you can't fully remove odor from them even after a wash. The silver lining? It's time for new sheets! Why not treat yourself to a pair of long-lasting sheets made of viscose from bamboo? The 10 year guarantee means you won't have to buy sheets for years and you'll be able to replace old bedding.

5 Reasons to Throw Out, Donate, or Recycle Old Sheets

1. Stains and discoloration

2. Musty smell

3. Décor change

4. Build-up of bacteria

5. They're just plain old

Not Sure What To Do With Old Bed Sheets?

If you don't want to throw out old bedding but you're unsure what to do with old bed sheets, consider some of these greener options:

Donate old bed sheets

If your old bedding has just lost its flair or doesn't match your new décor, don't throw it out - donate instead! 

Donating bed sheets to your local Red Cross, Habitat for Humanity, or other charity or thrift shops can be a great way to repurpose bedding instead of throwing it away, plus it gives people the chance to purchase bedding at a discount. 

As long as your bedding isn't dirty or stained, feel free to donate it to charities, shelters, or blanket drives.

Give pets a comfy place to sleep

Animal shelters are another great place to donate old bedding. Call before you drop off, but many shelters accept gently used sheets, blankets, and comforters for cats and dogs to snuggle with until they get adopted. Be sure to wash anything you plan to donate so it's clean and ready to go when you drop it off.

You can also use old bedding for your own pets. Sheets and blankets make great dog and cat beds, whether temporary or just a new fabric to cuddle with. 

Recycle old bed sheets

Some companies take donated fabric in the form of clothing and bed sheets so they can recycle and repurpose the material. Google textile recycling programs near you, including take-back programs, mail-in programs, and retail locations that accept old fabric.

Makers and crafters might also be interested in old bedding that they can use for projects.

If you're trying to live a greener lifestyle, look for creative ways to use bedding instead of letting it build up in a landfill.

Projects

Need something to protect your floor while you paint? Old, stained, bed sheets make perfect ground cover for when you you're repainting walls. Use them as a ground cover to catch any drops instead of ruining your carpet or rug.

You can also use old dirty bed sheets to cover up furniture to protect them from paint drops.

Moving a bunch of furniture that needs to be covered? Use old bedding to wrap and protect furniture, glassware, or other items during a move.

Now that you're in the market for some new sheets, you should know that Cozy Earth's Bamboo Viscose Sheets have thousands of five star reviews AND made Oprah's list of favorites. 😉