What do you do with old torn pillowcases and sheets?

[Juvysen]

I recently noticed that some of our older sheets and pillowcases are starting to wear out. Basically a little frayed at the edges. It seems kind of wasteful to toss them, but continuing to use them seems weird, too. So, what do you do in that situation?

(and can I just say... I can't believe I'm OLD ENOUGH for sheets that *I* bought are wearing out! )

[FillingMyQuiver]

I like to tear them into strips and knit them into small rugs. Or I've used them to make lounge pants for me or the kids (even cropped lounge pants). You can make them into throw pillows if they match any decor in your home, or cut them up for family wipes or un-paper towels.

I like to think of sheets as fabric yardage. Whatever I would do with fabric yardage, I'd do with a sheet (as long as I like the design).

[applecider]

Lately, we make forts with them!

[cappuccinosmom]

Quilt batting or backing (flannel sheets are especially good for these)

patch em up and turn them into storage or laundry bags

drop cloths for painting or to catch hair when we do hair cutting.

[luv-my-boys]

I just donated a box of worn out (well for my tastes) sheets/linens to the local humane society. They use them in the animal kennels and during surgical procedures. They seemed really happy to accept them and told me to bring more by anytime.

[jocelyndale]

I use mine til they shred and then they go into the rag bin for stuffing into pillows or draft dodgers. Kiddo loves picking fabric out from my stash and watching me make a pillow for him (he gets to stuff it for now).

[simplyc]

If I can salvage large chunks of the material I would cut that square of fabric and keep it for another project. Any small pieces I usually cut up for cloth tissues.
I also have a rag rug I'm working on with some old bleach stained sheets.

[Poddi]

If they're white, perfect ghost costume. Honestly I think your old worn sheets are probably still much sturdier than the stuff they use to make Halloween costumes. If they're not white but light solid colored, you can easily bleach them white as well. Natural fibers can be composted.

[blizzard_babe]

Things I've done with old pillowcases (we moved into a teacher housing unit that had a cabinet full of old sheets and such, so we have experience):

• Cloth prefold diapers (flannel ones are great for this)
• Long tubes to stop drafts from coming in under the doors
• Baby pants
• I was going to make some book bags for students to take books home in, but ran out of pillowcases

[crunchy_mommy]

cut them up for family cloth (if they are suitable material)

[MariesMama]

I use old pillowcases to wash delicates and/or teeny baby items - either knot them up or thread a drawstring into them, much cheaper than those tiny little lingerie bags you can buy!

[sassafrass94]

If they're nice soft sheets, the fabric can make some wonderful hankies. I've also used some of the girls' cuter sheets to make play aprons and bags. I think kids are comforted by their bedsheets and enjoy seeing them repurposed.

[Denvergirlie]

Good fabric goes to the rag bin, if it's super soft and "polished" by years of washing.

Old full sheets get stored in the garage for protecting outside garden during cold snaps, to try and keep the garden going longer in the fall when the temps start dropping.

If my rag basket it full and garage garden stash is okay, sometimes they just go to the thrift store or cat shelter.