Ways To Repurpose Bed Sheets and Pillowcases

Dear Dollar Stretcher,
My husband and I are empty nesters and slowly clearing out things we no longer use. We have several older (but still okay) single sheets and pillowcases. None of our adult children has any use for them.

Instead of using them all for rags, we’d like to find other uses for them. I will be cutting up some of the ‘kiddy print’ sheets to use as doll “blankets” for our granddaughters. And I’ll save a couple of sheets to cover delicate plants when we get to the cool, late Fall season. But we still have many more sheets and pillowcases left. Any more ideas would be welcome!
Helen

Ways To Repurpose Sheets and Pillowcases

We asked our frugal readers to contribute the many ways they repurpose bedding. We received some very creative and useful ideas. And many recommended donating extra sheets to one of the following groups:

• Charity homes, including homeless shelters and women’s shelters
• Local high school drama department for making costumes and for crafting stage sets and props
• Quilt guilds or other crafting groups
• Post on a Buy Nothing group or Freecycle

Repurpose Sheets as Paint Drop Cloths

I gave my old sheets that the elastic was not good anymore to my daughter and her husband to use when they paint as drop cloths. You can use them over again, too, unlike the plastic ones. The paint dries faster on cloth vs. plastic.
Claire

Turn Sheets Into Braided Rugs

You can look into making rag rugs. These take a whole lot of fabric, with strips of fabric braided or crocheted and connected together into beautiful and useful rugs.
Anne

Make Sleeping Mats for Kids From Pillow Cases

A few places online have directions to make pillowcase sleeping mats. Would be great to give as gifts to the grandchildren, keep at the house for sleepovers/movie watching, or sell for extra money.
Jodi Lee

Use Pillowcases as Gift Bags

I’m using them in place of gift bags for the holidays. It’s easy to use acrylic paint and make snowmen, Christmas trees and the like on them including the child’s name.

They can be used year to year. They hold several gifts as well.
Lynda

Use Sheets for Sewing Projects

I actually buy odd sheets from thrift stores. A flat sheet has lots of fabric. I use them for quilt backing, foundation piecing, and aprons for all ages. Flannel sheets can be used for batting in a summer quilt, or backing for a warmer quilt. I have also torn them into strips and made rugs. You could use them to make a comforter or duvet cover. Of course, if you are short on pillowcases, you could make some of those. Curtains are easy to make from sheets also.
M. Williams

Crochet a Throw Rug From Sheets

I have cut sheets into one long strip (stopping just before getting to the end of the sheet, stop and begin the cut going in the other direction). Once the sheet is cut into the strips, use it to crochet a throw rug.
R.

Keep Some Sheets in the Car

Sheets could be donated to a shelter or to a thrift store. They may not be reused for bedding, but some people may find other ways to repurpose sheets.

You could also consider donating to an animal shelter. The pillowcases could be stuffed with polyester fiber fill and made into pet beds for cats or dogs in cages.

Sheets can also be used to cover the back seats in cars or SUVs.
Toni

Make Curtains and Tablecloths

I’ve used some of my sheets to make curtains. They can be used to make tablecloths as well.
M.P. from Maryland

Use the Fabric in Decoupage

Greetings! May I suggest contacting a quilting group, or putting out a flyer at a local store? There are people who make quilts for homeless people, sometimes through churches. There are also handweavers who cut up old sheets to use in weaving rugs and folks who love to make braided rugs.

I wish I could see them because I can use pretty fabrics in decoupage. Lots of different ideas for used fabrics, but I also realize that some locales can be pretty small and not geared toward handcrafts.
Caye

Multiple Ways To Repurpose Sheets and Pillow Cases

I, too, have been cleaning out items in my house. I made a few tea towels and dishcloths out of extra sheets and pillowcases. If you feel really ambitious, you could embroider on the existing pillowcases and give them to the grandkids as keepsakes. The pillowcases also make excellent laundry bags if you run a drawstring through the opening. That way, everyone can have a laundry bag. Another interesting thing that I found to work is making summer tops and little girls’ dresses, nighties or shorts out of the sheets. They’re nice and cool in the summer. You could make a swimsuit cover-up as well.

I also cut old tee shirts up and gave them to a couple of garage shops in my area. They are always looking for soft rags to wipe up anything from grease to buffing cars. I also had more than enough doilies, handmade pillowcases with lace on them and other items such as hankies. I donated them to a local museum! I feel very proud that they have used them in some of their displays to this day.

In regards to sheets and pillowcases, I’ve managed to narrow them down to two sets of winter sheets and flannel pillowcases, as well as two sets of summer sheets and pillowcases.
Karen K

Use Them for Christmas Decorations and Laundry Bags

I have an old flannel sheet that has a flannel type of pattern on it that I use as a decorative table topper for Christmas time. I also have an old white sheet that I cut smaller because of stains that I use as part of a display to look like snow. I use an old pillowcase and a hair tie to wash my delicates in so as not to ruin them in the wash.
W. Hynek of Wisconsin

Cover Tables and Things in Storage

Use them to cover things in storage. I have sheets covering my folding chairs and tables to keep them clean. Lastly, sheets (especially fitted ones) are great “tablecloths” for picnic tables and benches.
Terri

Protect Plants From Frost

I live in Florida, and we sometimes experience temperatures low enough to kill exposed plants. I keep sheets on hand to cover my outdoor plants on these rare cold occasions and have never lost one to frost.
Marlee

Some Additional Ways To Repurpose Bed Sheets and Pillow Cases

• Picnic blankets: Sew together bed sheets to create a large, comfortable picnic blanket.
• DIY tote bags: Cut out rectangles from the bed sheets and sew them into reusable tote bags for grocery shopping or other purposes.
• Fabric napkins: Cut and hem squares from the bed sheets to make reusable cloth napkins.
• Quilts or blankets: Combine different colors and patterns of bed sheets to create a cozy quilt or blanket.
• Baby accessories: Use the fabric to sew bibs, burp cloths, or changing pads for infants.
• Curtains: Use bed sheets as a lightweight and stylish alternative to traditional curtains.
• Pet bedding: Make a comfortable and washable pet bed using old bed sheets.
• Pillowcases: Transform bed sheets into matching or contrasting pillowcases.
• Chair covers: Cover chairs for a fresh look or to protect the upholstery.
• Aprons: Craft a DIY apron for cooking or crafting using a bed sheet.
• Drop cloths: Use bed sheets as drop cloths for painting or other messy projects.
• Tablecloths or placemats: Create table linens that add personality to your dining space.
• Garden protection: Cover plants with bed sheets to protect them from frost or pests.
• Clothing: Sew simple clothing items like skirts, dresses or shirts.

Related:

• Creative Ways To Repurpose Old Furniture on the Cheap
• Repurposing Items for Your Garden and Outdoor Living Space
• Repurposing an Entertainment Center

Reviewed March 2024