Creative New Uses for Old Blankets

In January, local thrift stores tend fill up with used bed linens and blankets, as people take advantage of those fabulous department store white sales. While getting rid of that old stuff is a great way to free up shelf space and reduce clutter in the house, blankets and bed linens really do have an amazing amount of other uses. We discovered that old blankets are so useful in our house, that instead of donating them, we recycle them over and over until they are merely fluffs of wool.

If you are one of those families who have a couple of old blankets headed towards the direction of a thrift store, just keep on reading to learn some of the practical ways that old blankets can find new uses:

Pet blanket

For pets, those old blankets make wonderful bedding. A queen twin sized blanket can be cut into 4 equal size pieces to give your dog or cat a clean supply of fresh blankets for his kennel or basket. Smaller pocket pets will also enjoy having a scrap of cotton or wool blanket in their cage to tear apart for nesting material.

Cover the windshield during the winter

For those of us who park outside in the winter, a blanket placed over a car's front windshield is a terrific way to prevent ice buildup. To make this easy windshield cover, simply cut the blanket the height of the windshield, and two feet longer than the width. To use, place the blanket over the windshield and hold in place by tucking the ends into the area behind the door's hinges.

Keep in the trunk for emergencies

You never know when you might need a blanket or two for a road emergency. Those blankets will keep a person warm in case of an accident or car trouble, can be placed on the ground to keep clothes clean during a tire change, and can protect a person from the elements if they need to stay outside for extended period of time.

In snow country, blankets are invaluable in helping cars out of snow banks and mud patches. To use, simply place the blanket under the car's rear tires and back up. The blanket will provide the necessary traction to get the car out of the ditch and back on the road.

Protect a car's upholstery