The Clever Way Gardeners Can Reuse Old Pillows For Extra Comfort

Ideally, you should replace your pillow every year or two, especially if they're stained, worn out, or have shifted stuffing, creating an uncomfortable sleep space. But what do you do with your old pillows? Throwing them out just adds unnecessary waste to landfills, so it's important to look for DIY projects around the home that require old pillows. You could always kneel on them while cleaning baseboards, for example, but is there a way to use them outdoors? You may have heard about the pool noodle hack for a DIY garden kneeler, but an old pillow works well, too. You just need to create a pillowcase, use the old fill to stuff your kneeling pad, and add it to your roster of completed gardening hacks for an instant green thumb.

When gardening for long periods, it's best to invest in a waterproof kneeling pad to keep your knees dry. For $10, Amazon sells waterproof fabric by the yard in a variety of colors. This polyester material is perfect for gardening, as it's known for being mildew-resistant. Even if you're not a gardener, you can still create an incredible kneeling pad to support tender knees when cleaning or doing yoga, using this genius trick to guide you. Not only will you save money, but you'll also upcycle items from around your home. If you feel that your polyester cover is too harsh, there are clever ways to repurpose unwanted pillowcases — namely, covering your kneeling pad with them. 

To use your old pillow for this DIY, first, take two pieces of waterproof fabric and cut them to the same size. You can also use one large piece of fabric and fold it in half to reduce sewing time. If the edges of your fabric are frayed, you can fold each edge a few times, securing them in place with a little bit of fabric tape. Be sure to sew a lanyard into your pillow cover, acting as a handle. Next, sew three sides of your makeshift pillow cover. Once complete, you'll want to sew about three-quarters of the fourth side, or, if using one piece of fabric folded in half, stitch two sides and three-quarters of the third side. 

Once complete, stuff half your kneeling pad with fill from your old pillow, then pin your kneeling pad down the middle, using fabric chalk if needed. Sew down this line, creating two equal parts. Similar to mattress topper tufting, this process helps prevent your fill from shifting around your kneeling pad. Then, finish stuffing the second half of your kneeling pad once you have enough fill to comfortably sit or kneel while gardening. Finally, sew the last quarter of your pillow cover. You might need a special needle depending on the type of material you use. For ripstop nylon, for example, you'd need a sharp needle with a point that can easily puncture the fabric, like a 70/10 needle.