Can Bed Sheets Be Recycled? Yes, Here’s How

Getting new bed sheets is nice, but can you recycle the old ones? Most people toss their bed sheets in the trash. There are many ways to reuse and repurpose bed sheets, but that doesn’t mean you can toss them in the recycling bin. However, most fabrics can be recycled.

Bed sheets can be recycled by bringing them to a textile recycling plant, a homeless shelter, or a thrift store. Wash your bed sheets before donating them. Remove the elastic retaining band from your fitted sheets if you bring them to a textile recycling plant.

Below, I’ll show you how you can recycle your bed sheets and how you know when it’s time to get rid of them.

Are Bed Sheets Recyclable?

You’ll usually have no problem recycling your bed sheets at textile recycling plants. Make sure you don’t put your bed sheets in the recycling bin at your house. You also can’t bring bed sheets to metal or plastic recycling plants because they won’t be able to repurpose them.

Recycling your bed sheets allows them to be shredded and reused to create various materials. Many companies prefer using recycled textiles from bed sheets because they’re soft and easy to stitch.

It’s important to note that some recycling plants won’t accept bed sheets if they’re covered in irremovable substances, like cooking oil, toxic paint, etc.

There’s a common misconception that recycling bed sheets means you have to bring them to a recycling plant. However, recycling bed sheets refers to anything you can do to reuse and repurpose the fabric. This includes donating them to shelters, giving them to friends and family, or dropping them off at thrift stores.

Note: You can also recycle bed frames if you want to replace all of your bedding. Most mattresses can be recycled as well. Some textile recycling plants accept pillows, pillowcases, and more.

You can also try some of these unique ways to reuse or recycle your bed sheets:

How to Recycle Old Bed Sheets

Follow these steps to recycle your old bed sheets:

1. Decide if you want to donate them or bring them to a recycling plant. If your bed sheets are intact and comfortable, I highly recommend donating them. This lets someone else use the clean bed sheets, which is another form of recycling. Recycling plants will repurpose the textiles, though.
2. Wash and prepare your bed sheets to recycle them properly. Avoid recycling dirty bed sheets, especially if you’re donating them to a homeless shelter. Cleaning your bed sheets before bringing them to a textile recycling plant will prevent them from getting thrown away.
3. Find a fabric recycling plant. Green Matters lists various ways to find the closest and most efficient textile recycling plant near you. You can use these suggestions to learn whether these locations accept your bed sheet fabric (silk, cotton, bamboo, polyester, etc.). Most textile recycling plants take all bad sheet materials.
4. Contact local donation centers and shelters. It’s better to donate your bed sheets if they’re useable, but some places don’t accept used textiles. Try not to just show up with a handful of used textiles at the first donation center that comes to mind. There’s always a way to donate your bed sheets.
5. Bring blankets and other fabrics you want to recycle. If you’re headed to a textile recycling plant, you can bring bed sheets, blankets, pillow cases, and many other materials. Again, it’s better to research which textiles the place recycles, but there’s a good chance they’ll accept all cotton donations.

Recycling your old bed sheets can reduce your carbon footprint and help someone else sleep comfortably. You might not need the sheets anymore, but they can be repurposed by textile plants to make new materials. Read on to learn a handful of ways to know when it’s time to recycle your bed sheets.

When Should You Throw Away Your Bed Sheets?

You should throw away your bed sheets when they’re pilling, ripped, or stained beyond repair. Bed sheets typically last a few years, but it depends on the quality, size, and how well they’re taken care of. Proper washing cycles with warm water rather than hot water can preserve your bed sheets for a long time.

Here’s how you can know when it’s time to recycle your bed sheets:

• Are your bed sheets loose? Loose bed sheets are often old and worn, which means it’s time to recycle them. You can use bed sheet clips or suspenders to hold them back until you’re ready to get rid of them. However, torn bed sheets should always be recycled (not donated).
• Can you clean your bed sheets and make them look and feel new again? Some stained bed sheets can be repurposed or cleaned enough to keep using them. If you’re done with the bed sheets but they look and feel comfortable, donating them is the way to go.
• How old are your bed sheets? House Beautiful claims you should replace your bed sheets every two to three years. Rather than throwing them in the garbage bin, consider recycling them to let various companies reuse the textiles. It’s an excellent way to help the environment, too.
• Is the elastic band on your fitted sheets overstretched or damaged? If the band is broken, you should recycle your bed sheets. They can’t be used because they won’t fit around any mattress, so you might as well let a textile company repurpose them.
• Do you dislike the bed sheet material enough to recycle them? Personally, I prefer bamboo bed sheets. I’d immediately recycle cotton or polyester bed sheets because they’re not soft or breathable enough. They’ll be recycled and used to create new bed sheets, raw fabrics, and more.

You can clean fabric with magic erasers, sponges, and many other supplies. If your bed sheets are damaged beyond repair, it’s best to recycle them. That being said, if they’re in decent condition and you want to get rid of them, drop them off at a donation center to let someone else use them.