We are looking for all the practical uses for old sheets that are no longer in good enough shape to use.
Uses for old sheets? Here goes:
Drop cloths to cover furniture when painting.
Cut up into square rags and keep for washing the car, dusting, polishing, wiping up big messes, and other cleaning duties. Keep some handy under the kitchen sink and some in the bathroom, too.
By Ness
I used old, coordinating sheets from a rummage sale to make valances for my daughter's room, and had enough left to cover her vanity chair and a small footstool. The center of the sheets had small rips from use on a sofabed, the seller said, but the projects I used them for avoided these holes.
We have used them as the ubiquitous ghost costumes, but also have cut them into strips and wrapped my son as a mummy. The strips were used afterward for rags. (01/03/2001)
By one_ramp
I use old or odd sheets to make new pillow cases. I can get 5 or 6 pillow cases out of one large sheet. Also have used one for a couple of aprons, and a smock to wear when I'm painting.
I make antique looking pillows from old sheets. I add bits of lace and buttons and I sell them at craft shows. (01/04/2001)
By go1967gto
cut into wide strips and use as homemade baby wipes (wipe solution: 1T.baby bath and 1T. baby oil to 2qts., or less, of water); use in first aid kit, as compresses/bandages/sterile wipes, etc.; cut-up and use as dish cloths, wash cloths, etc.; use for patterns such as those for doll clothes, dress-up clothes, etc.; stitch around a bar of plain soap, to make the perfect pin cushion (makes needle go through fabric easily!); cut into cloth napkin-size, decorate w/rick-rack (or, whatever) and stitch around edges; cut into large squares, decorate (if you wish) and use for bandanas. There are endless possibilities; your own imagination is the limit! (01/04/2001)
By apinder1
Rags, cut to make pillowcases, doll clothes, crafts, rag rugs, quilt squares!
(01/04/2001)
By CJ
I used some old sheets that I had to make drawstring bags for our grade school fun fair. We sold them for a quarter, and the kids had something cute to put all their goodies in.
I like to keep one in my van to use as a cover for the back seat when the kids are eating something messy--like ice cream. And also it's nice to have if we decide to stop at the beach or park.
I hope these are helpful! (01/04/2001)
By
Diane
They are good to make clothes patterns with, they don't tear like paper and cost nothing!
Around the edges where the sheets are still in good condition they can be cut to make pillow cases. Another use, they make great hankies. Nice and soft on the nose when one has cold or flu !
Uses for old sheets:
By Charlotte
Old sheets work great when you are painting a room. Use them to protect carpets and furniture. Can also use to cover a sensitive plant when it gets below freezing outside. Also, drape a sheet over a table or over a few chairs to create a playhouse for a young child. - Darby (01/05/2001)
The only thing I feel I can add to all those amazing tips is this.
When I was little and we had very little money my mum used to 'inside-out' the sheets. When they got worn in the middle she would cut them straight up the centre and hem the new edges carefully, then sew the old outside edges together. Done well you hardly notice as the seam in the middle. It can look like it's been folded in the cupboard. It pretty much doubles the life of your sheets and it's not uncomfortable, I never noticed the difference.
(08/11/2004)
By Chickybiker
Old sheets, pillow cases, blankets, and towels are probably badly needed by your local humane society or other animal rescue. Many can be cut down to use as cleaning rags, in addition to providing the animals with a soft, warm place to sleep. Many shelters also use toilet seat covers for cat beds. You can clean out your linen closet and improve the lives of abandoned and abused animals at the same time. (08/12/2004)
By Patti
Use for quilt backing. My husband's favorite quilt is one his great-grandmother made using an old sheet for the backing. All the squares (mostly polyester knit hee hee) were used from worn out clothing. His mother can point to the squares and tell who wore what outfit! ha ha
I use them to take to the park to use for a tablecloth if we are eating on the picnic tables or to lay on the ground to sit on.
We also keep several in our camping containers to have on hand for whatever need may arise.
When I was a kid I remember me and my sister tacking a sheet to the ceiling to divide our room so that we each had our own "private" space. (08/12/2004)
By Tawnda
I always use old sheets for dusting "rags." When sheets are cut, you get many "rags," and they are nice and soft. They will not scratch your wood furniture. (08/16/2004)
By Megan
Make:
Use your imagination
12/30/2004)
By Syd
Keep one or two in the trunk of your car for covering bleachers at football/baseball games or a ground cover at a picnic.
Great to use when travelling in summer & the air conditioning may be too cool for someone in the car. (12/30/2004)
By C.S.
When we made Christmas pudding 2 weeks ago we put the pudding in the bowl, covered it with wax paper. Then we cut up an old sheet to fit over the top (we cut the material about 6" larger than the top of the bowl.) We centered the material over the bowl and tied a string under the rim of the bowl to make the sheet taunt, brought up the edges and tied the ends so we had a "handle" at the top. We grabbed the sheet "handle" afterwards when we took the bowl out of the water. (12/30/2004)
I'm very new to this site (about an hour lol) but I had to suggest something that I didn't see here.
This suggestion comes from my high school art teacher (oh so long ago). He had us all bring in one old sheet. Then when we brought them to the school he had bought some strips of door trim and thin strips of wood. I guess they would have been about 2" x 4"? It's fairly cheap. Using an ordinary hand saw, he cut them off into paired lengths of many sizes. Stapled, nailed or glued together, the pieces can make frames of all sizes, then are laid down in the middle of the sheets. The sheet is pulled over the wood and taut and stapled to the "up" side. Trim off excess fabric and you now have a kid-friendly, acrylic-friendly painting canvas. I still have the three paintings I made that day, all from one of mom's oldest threadbare sheets. (12/30/2004)
By Strange Angel
I have used an almost thread bare fitted sheet and sewed on a flat sheet to it--- a rummage sale find of my sons favorite character. It is now his favorite sheet and it only cost 25 cents. (12/30/2004)
By Karaof4 from Minnesota
Plastic Grocery Bag Storage Tubes:
*NOTE: Elastic must be long enough for the finished product to allow your hand (fist) to pass through easily as you insert plastic grocery bags into the fabric tube.
(12/30/2004)
By MichBucz
Doggie pull toy: tear sheet into 3 strips, knot at the end and braid. Knot at the other end. You can even make a small one (Chihuahua size) for cats and spray it with catnip spray. For large dogs, use 6 strips and section into 3 parts (2 strips/each part). Follow instructions above.
(12/31/2004)
Keep one in the trunk of your car and if icy weather is threatening spread it over the windshield and close the front doors over the ends on each side. When you are ready to drive, remove the sheet shake off the ice and take off, no defrosting. (01/01/2005)
By cj
Rag Rugs! Tear them into strips and crochet them into a rug. (01/07/2005)
By Mary
Don't throw out your old flat bedsheets! They make excellent ground cloths for a picnic, sunbathing, or they make a great "floorcloth" for your tent while camping. they are easier to pack then blankets, and if you use a light color they will help reflect the heat from the sun. If your sheets are stained or just dingy and you do not want to have them seen in public try your hand at tie-dye or fabric painting to cover those stains.
By Kat (01/17/2005)
By ThriftyFun
Use to cover motorcycle, let it breath and keeps the dust off, during winter storage. (01/17/2005)
By Mike
I used an old bottom fitted sheet to protect a 2 seater lounge, (settee/sofa). The corners fitted onto the back and seat corners so it didn't slip down when the dogs climbed onto it!
(01/17/2005)
By Jo Bodey
I save my old sheets and use them for dropclothes when I paint, they are also great when the kids cut and paint pumpkins. (01/18/2005)
By Paula
I had a pair of "worn in the middle" fitted sheets with good elastic and 2 like-new fitted sheets that were over-dried on "cotton" -that ruined the elastic. Since they coordinated with a comforter and valance, I put the worn ones on first, then the others. Used small safety pins to pin the bad elastic to the good. Not great, but OK. I don't have a sewing machine or do much sewing so. (02/28/2009)
By Liz
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I bought a cotton and polyester flat sheet in a great leopard print and put it over my leather couch to protect it from everyday use and skin oils (which sometimes stain leather). Easy to pull off if company comes! Its big enough to tuck into the sides and back and under the cushions!
One use is to cover stored clothes on hangars. I cut a hole in the middle of the sewn edge and poke the hangar through. It breathes and keeps the dust off, better for precious fabrics than plastic.
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