There’s no better feeling after a long day than falling into a well–made bed outfitted with crisp, clean sheets. However, it’s hard to have crisp, clean sheets if the ones in your linen closet are shabby, tired, or ready to be traded in. Luckily, if you’re in the market for new sheets, there are plenty of great options out there, including our favorite cotton sheets. If you want to find some new sheets, have old sets taking up storage space, or perhaps you want to * gasp * get rid of your top sheet entirely, the next question is what to do with the ones you’re looking to offload.
Before you toss them in the trash, we reached out to some experts who have clever ideas for turning these oversized pieces of fabric into incredibly useful material for fun and useful craft projects. Whether you want to swap your percale sheets for linen ones, or try some new cooling ones and need to make some space, here are some new uses for old sheets, that will give them a whole new life (and keep them out of the trash bin):
Drop Cloths For Painting Projects
“Old sheets work really well when you’re working on painting or other messy crafts. They absorb better than plastic and they can be washed and reused,” suggests Andrew Cohn, crafting expert and founder of COHn Acrylics.
Make Cleaning Rags
“The tried-and-true classic that goes back to our grandparents is cutting old sheets up to use as rags for cleaning, wiping down surfaces, or dusting furniture,” says Adria Marshall, founder of sustainable beauty site, Ecoslay. “Additionally, old sheets make fantastic, reusable Swiffer covers.”
Turn Into An Ironing Board Cover
“I myself haven’t done this, but I have a friend who swears by it! She cuts up the old sheet to size, then secures it with elastic or ties, and ta-da,” says Milly McEwan, Product and Design Manager at RJ Living. “A practical, sustainable solution has been born. Apparently, it works quite well due to the durable yet soft texture makes the sheet perfect for ironing on top of.”
Use In The Garden
“Old sheets can be used as a biodegradable weed suppressant in your garden beds for my fellow green thumbs and eco-warriors. Over time, they’ll break down naturally,” says Marshall.
Turn Into Craft Supplies
“My use of old sheets is to make fabric yarn for other craft projects such as crochet and locker hooking. I have a page on my website that shows various ways of making fabric yarn from old sheets, fabric scraps, etc,” says craft blogger Christine of Christine’s Crafts.
Make A Play Tent for Kids
“Take the old sheet and drape them over a frame to create an indoor tent for your kids. You could even set up a teepee with the old sheet and some rods. This is a lot of fun for kids,” says Cohn.
Make Scrunchies
“These come out so adorable with flannel sheets! All you need is an elastic band and a great tutorial online to make a batch of scrunchies for your hair,” suggests McEwan.
Make Reusable Shopping Or Produce Bags
“Definitely, the most practical thing I’ve done with old bed sheets, they are lightweight, washable, and just make the most perfect shopping or produce bags,” says McEwan. “I fold the sheet in half and then sew up the sides to create the pouch. Then use the leftover fabric to sew on some handles. These are great for grocery shopping or storing fruits and vegetables, helping to reduce single-use plastic.”
Plant Protective Covers
“Use them to protect your outdoor plants in case it gets a bit cold for them. They provide better breathability than plastic and can be reused for multiple seasons,” suggests Cohn.
Donate To A Good Cause
“Many shelters welcome old bedding for pet kennels and rescues as well, and some homeless shelters accept old sheets to repurpose into warm bedding or sleeping bags,” says Marshall.