Give An Old Pillow New Life With This Genius And Useful Repurposing Idea

It's true you should replace your pillows at least every two years to ensure better rest, but it can be hard to just throw away a cushion that still offers, well, cushioning. Unlike a ratty towel or a blanket filled with holes, there are plenty of ways to repurpose pillows around the house, it's just a question of finding a need or niche for them. If you have a cushion that is headed for the bin or about to become a permanent fixture in storage, consider upcycling it to keep drafts from coming in through your doors and windows. Using a pillow to block gaps in your home's entryways or openings is a great way to get the most out of it for longer. Whether it was cheap or an expensive purchase, reusing it to save on energy bills and make your home more comfortable is a good idea.

Drafty doors can increase your energy costs by up to 30%, but this simple DIY can help. The main purpose of a draft blocker is to help keep your air conditioning or heat inside and keep outside weather out. While weatherstripping is always an option, it might be worth considering the pillow hack for a cheaper alternative. Also known as a draft blocker, this is usually a long pillow that spans the bottom length of a door. Even if the pillow that you are reusing isn't in the best shape, you can reuse the materials to get what you need out of it. This DIY will require fabric glue or fabric tape, or you can sew the new blocker if you prefer.

Draft blockers really work to keep your space more insulated, and while you could simply place your pillow in front of a door that has a gap, the length may be off. This is where your DIY skills come in. A new piece of fabric may be necessary to give you the proper size, or trim old pillowcases and build your own case from them. Keep in mind that this blocker will be long and fairly thin, so you do want enough fabric and filling that it will completely cover the area between your door and floor. If you research door blockers, you will notice many of them have a long cylinder shape, so use this as a jumping off point for your design. 

Cut open your old pillow and remove the filling. If it's synthetic filler, this should be fairly easy. Down might be a little messier, but can still work. Memory foam may need to be cut up into mulch. If you want to make the most of your draft blocker, you could also add more insulation by putting sand or cedar chips into resealable bags and lining some of the fabric with that as well as the pillow stuffing. These add more protection with the added bonus of weight to keep it in place. If your old pillow happens to be filled with buckwheat hull, you can just use that on its own without needing extra materials. 

You can either cut two rectangular pieces of fabric for the case, making sure to leave a couple inches on either side where you can add fabric glue or sew them together, or you can use one larger, longer piece of fabric and just fold it in half. Socks are another option if you can find a long spare that will span the distance of your door gap. Because this isn't getting a lot of wear and tear aside from being placed against door gaps, tape or glue should work fine to keep it intact. While you do want your draft blocker to be full enough to create the insulation, don't overfill them as they should be flexible and mold to door gaps and spaces.

If you are good at sewing or quilting, another option for the cover is to use multiple scraps of fabric to create a unique quilt style draft blocker. Again, because you are making this from materials from around the house or inexpensive fabric pieces, you can choose the design, pattern, color, and all the other elements to ensure it matches. You can also these draft blockers for every room since they also help to contain noise, allowing bedrooms and bathrooms more privacy. Whenever it's time to swap out an older pillow, save it for this clever trick that helps keep your spaces warm, cool, or less noisy.