The best way to dispose of pillows and duvets is to take them to your local textile recycling centre. Here, the materials will be sorted and either reused or recycled into new products.
PILLOWS AND DOONAS
These items should not be put in your household recycling bin, so they must be put in your rubbish bin.
If your pillows are too well-worn to repurpose or donate, the next best option is to recycle them. Here's how: Find a Textile Recycling Facility. This is one of the best ways to recycle old pillows, as opposed to just tossing them in your recycling bin at home.
Unwanted pillows and cushions belong in the garbage.
Drop-off Recycling of Pillows
The American Textile Recycling Service (ATRS) offers drop-off bins for textiles and household goods such as pillows in a few states — if you cannot find a local option on Earth911, see if the ATRS has one near your home or office.
For a quick and inexpensive storage solution, use regular trash bags to store pillows. They'll protect them from moisture, odors, and pests—they're light enough to move when needed. Unlike a crate or bin, their flexible shape makes them easy to store under the bed, on top of a shelf, or inside a closet.
As a last resort, doonas can be disposed of in a general waste bin (red or dark green lid). Doonas in good condition can be donated to selected opportunity and voluntary shops or use Donate Direct to match your items directly to those in need.
Textiles, clothing and footwear can't be recycled through your yellow or green bin. This includes items made from natural materials, such as wool, cotton and leather. Any functioning or wearable items that are still in good condition can be donated, either to your local charity store or to friends and family members.
You can take your old or unwanted shoes and boots to most Recycling Centres, put them in a bring bank or donate them to a charity shop - find your nearest below. Remember to tie them together as they can easily get separated.
The Soft Landing mattress recycling and collection scheme assists residents and businesses in the ACT, NSW, Victoria and Western Australia to recycle mattresses. For a fee you can drop of your mattress at a recycling facility or pay an additional fee to have your mattress picked up.
Why wash your pillows. While you sleep, your body sheds thousands of dead skin cells. They in turn attract dust mites, which, although harmless, do produce droppings that contain allergens. Letting these build up can trigger anything from asthma and rhinitis to itchy eyes.
The National Sleep Foundation says you should replace your pillow every two years. This hypoallergenic down pillow that doesn't trap dust-mites should be a good pick. Or if you really like your pillows firm and flat, then this Pancake Pillow is what you've been dreaming of.
The sweat, oil, and dead skin cells that turn a pillow yellow can also clog pores and potentially cause skin breakouts. Pillows can also be a source of bacterial buildup over time. We recommend replacing your pillow every one to two years or if it shows signs of excessive discoloration.
Bed pillows, throw pillows, bed skirts, and other bedding items can become bulky when folded up or attempted to be stuffed into moving boxes. Use a vacuum-sealed method for these other bulky items so that you don't have to feel guilty about how much room these favorite fluffy items are taking up in the moving truck.
Down or feather: Most down pillows can be put in the washing machine. But use cool water and a mild detergent, then dry on low heat. (High temperatures can damage the down.) Memory foam or latex: Washer agitation can break up foam, so these pillows will probably need to be hand-washed.
Aside from just being the obvious receptacle for the things you're ready to toss, you can also use garbage bags to move clothes, linens, soft toys, and other non-breakables, as well as to protect various items on moving days.
Donation FAQs
Salvation Army Trading take donations of bed linen. Reuse Network accepts cushions and pillows. Homeless.org are a tool to find local housing shelters to donate bedding.
The Asthma and Allergy Foundation of America (AAFA) recommends that you replace your pillow every two years or sooner. This is because pillows can get pretty gross. Pillows can contain allergens like dust mites, pet dander, and even mold once they reach the end of their lifespan.
Wash it in cold or warm water on the gentle cycle, and don't add too much detergent—soap residue can build up on the down, just like dirt and sweat do. It's important to thoroughly rinse and spin the pillow to make sure the soap is fully removed, but it's hard to know whether the down filling inside is free of soap.