A whopping 38% of Americans replace their sheets with a new set once a year – and 20% simply throw their old ones away, according to Vogue.

Now that we know the toll our waste is taking on the Earth, it’s important to get as much use out of our items as possible or else recycle them.

There’s no need for your sheets to end up in a landfill (especially if they’re made from blends that take a very long time to break down).

While 52% of Americans repurpose their sheets as rags (which is a great idea!), there’s more than one way to upcycle them.

Here are 10 more ways, ranging from the crafty to the completely practical:

1. Make an apron out of old kid sheets

Technically, you can use any sheets you want, but those bright and cartoony kid sheets that your “little ones” are now too cool or old for would make a great apron!

In fact, with just a little bit of sewing, you can make a half or full apron, adding any bells and whistles your heart desires (and your skill set allows for).

This also makes a great housewarming gift for kids when they move out and want a sentimental gift that will actually be useful!

Check out this tutorial if you need some guidance:

2. Make a dog chew toy

You know who doesn’t care how ugly or wrecked your old sheets are? Your dog. (And he or she probably had something to do with their short life anyway).

Instead of heading to the store to buy one more expensive plastic chew toy that will eventually end up in a landfill, give your sheets one more use by braiding them into a chew/tug-of-war toy for Rover.

He’ll be stoked and you’ll be sustainable!

Here’s a video to show you how:

3. Bedsheet mobile

Love the idea of hand-me-downs but have some items that just don’t stand the test of time (even for a few years)?

You can still re-use old baby bed sheets for the next kiddo to come along by making them into a pretty mobile.

You can find a tutorial for this project here.

4. Turn them into pajama pants

Hey, if they’re comfortable enough to sleep between, they’re comfortable enough to lounge around in, right?

We love this idea of turning old bedsheets into pajama pants.

It doesn’t require any advanced skills – and you can find one of many tutorials here.

Now you can feel like you’re always in bed!

5. Wrap your gifts

This is one of our favorite uses because it uses sheets to replace a really wasteful product – wrapping paper.

It’s easy to cut old sheets into pieces of gift wrap. You can even create a bow by tying the fabric at the top or safety pinning it together. Will it give people the same satisfaction as tearing into paper? No. But we really need to get over that wasteful tendency. And, to be honest, many people will find this more classy and quaint anyway.

Another great part – no need to buy tape!

Start here to get some ideas, but you can find tons more inspiration with a simple search.

6. Make a quilt

You can even keep your old sheets as bedding by cutting them up into quilting squares. That way you can get rid of the pieces with holes or stains but still repurpose the rest.

Pass them along to a relative who loves to sew or learn some of your own quilting skills here.

7. Liven up a nursery (or any room for that matter)

From window toppers to hoop art, pieces of old bedsheets can be reused in multiple decor elements. And these don’t need to stay confined to the nursery.

Next time you head to the fabric store for a project, be sure to check your linen closet first to see what you might already have that you’re not using.

8. Use them as drop cloths

If your sheets are unusable for any crafty purpose, consider keeping them around to use as drop cloths while you paint rooms, install new fixtures, or dust up high.

Just make sure you use a few layers if you’re painting in case the paint soaks through (and be careful if you wash and reuse them for painting so you don’t tie-die the inside of your washing machine!).

9. Keep it in your car

Having an impromptu picnic? Grab your sheet.

Are the benches wet at your kid’s Little League game? The solution is in your trunk.

Buying new flowers or plants and don’t want to get dirt on the interior of your car? You see where we’re going with this.

A sheet takes up minimal space and can be used for oh-so-many things in a pinch when you’re outside of your home. Why not add one to your emergency car kit? (A picnic is an emergency – right?)

10. Make a sleeping bag or travel liner

Borrowing a sleeping bag (or just unsure when you last cleaned yours)? Sleeping in a hotel bed and weirded out by the sheets? Crashing on your friend’s couch and don’t want to drool on their upholstery?

Use an old bed sheet to create a buffer between you and…well, whatever…by simply folding it in half and sewing it up. Obviously, this is going to work better for wider sheets, but you can certainly make a kid version with a twin sheet.

Check out how to make one here if you need some guidance.

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Of course, you can always donate clean sheets that are still usable. But if you like your pattern or those baby sheets hold sentimental value, upcycling can be fun and earth-friendly!

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