That’s a really excellent question, and some even more excellent suggestions! Thanks so so much for sending those in!

First, I don’t know what part of the pillows are actually hosed down with those chemicals; my research didn’t say one way or another (they just said “pillows” in general). I don’t have feather pillows, so I’d just assumed it was the “batting” in the pillow itself.

Putting it outside to let the sunlight do it’s work is a fantastic idea! Thanks again for sending those ideas in.

I’d also try to wash it to remove the chemicals, and if it’s already been washed, why not keep it until it’s time to be replaced? Sunlight sanitizes mattresses, maybe hanging your pillow on a clothesline after washing would eventually leach out any remaining chemicals. I would do this before making a pet bed out of it, even for a shelter animal….passing along a chemical-laden bed just wouldn’t justify it for me. I’d be laying in bed every night picturing the kitty I just provided a bed for getting cancer….make it stop!

Recently I just saw an animal shelter asking for old blankets and comforters that weren’t nice enough to pass on to others. I had never realized that they would use the old bedding for the animals or thought about adding pillows to the donation.

That’s a valid point. But to me it comes down to this: give them the pillows I WAS using, or let them sleep on a cold concrete floor. To me, giving them pillows to get a cozy night’s sleep is the best choice than just chucking them in the trash.