Every year for Christmas we make pillows. Sometimes we give them as presents and sometimes we keep them for ourselves. Last year as my kids and I were stuffing pillows I started thinking that there was probably a greener way to stuff the pillows rather than using the traditional synthetic polyester stuffing. I was sure that I could surf the web and find something but before I could do that I had to finish the laundry. While I was emptying the dryer the answer came to me; dry sheets.
For the past year I have been saving all our used dryer sheets.
Wow! That is a lot of dryer sheets (especially considering that I hang most of our clothes up to dry.)
My daughter quickly set to work stuffing our pillow with a year’s worth of used dryer sheets. It turns out that it was a lot easier and quicker than the traditional synthetic stuffing.
I think it actually looks (and smells) better! No lumps or uneven parts.
Do you have a creative way to reuse materials? Is there a sustainable material that you have used to stuff pillows with? Share your ideas with us via the comments sections. We love comments!
When Lena is not writing for Healthy Bliss she is reviewing green products and writing about the little ways she is trying to go green at her blog Over Coffee – the green edition.
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Fleece scraps left over from projects- especially the selveges!
That is exactly what we used for this pillow; left over’s from last year’s pillow making frenzy! Glad to hear that others do this too.
Great idea!!
Cute and crafty idea. However, Your dyer sheets that you are putting into pillows or whatever are probably pretty toxic. I mean, obviously you're using them on your clothing which is bad enough if it's toxic.. but adding it to a pillow that your child will lay their head for weeks and weeks even months or years breathing in those toxins.. I'm not so sure is a good idea. Maybe if you're using a non toxic brand of dryer sheets.
I am concerned as well. Unless you are using non toxic sheets this is not a good idea. Typically, dryer sheets have petroleum distillates and are laden with many chemicals.
How about saving the stuffing from worn out pillows. Or using outgrown clothing or t-shirts cut into strips; anything with natural fibers.
Hi Lena I'm all for finding new ways to reuse materials. My only suggestion is that you make sure anyone that will be in contact with the pillow knows what the stuffing material is. Exposure to dryer sheets and/or material exposed to them aggrevates my daughters already severe eczema. She has it over about 25-30% of her body and must avoid any thing that may trigger it. Just a friendly warning.
Thank you all for your concerned comments and suggestions for alternate stuffing material, some of which I will be trying next year. I know that dryer sheets are not eco-friendly and once I deplete my 2yr old stash of Costco purchased dryer sheets I will be switching. Until then I was trying to find a way to reuse, recycle, and reduce waste. This solution worked for me. Thank you again for your concerned comments and your information concerning dryer sheets.
That is a GREAT idea!!! I love it… Ok.. now I have my yearly project!