How can I reuse or recycle foam floor underlay?

Foam underlayWe’ve had an email from Dan:

Hi. I saw your page about laminate floor and I wondered if you knew what I could do with the foam underlay. We bought a giant roll but only used half of it. What can we do with the rest?

As with the flooring itself, eBay or Freecycle might be the easiest options if you just want to get rid of it.

Aside from that though, I guess it could be used in the same was as thin foam sheeting or foam shelf liners from supermarkets – as packaging, insulation around pipes or for making wine bottle/can sleeves to keep them cool.

Any other suggestions?

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9 Responses to “How can I reuse or recycle foam floor underlay?”


  1. melissa says:

    Oh I would so take this off his hands – we are in desperate need of a small portion of underlay for our captain’s cabin. It’s a small room with lovely 1930s floorboards but you can feel the cold coming up through the carpet and it’s unbearable. Any chance you could pass my email over to Dan?

  2. Malva says:

    If you sew using thick fabrics (like wool for a dressy winter jacket) you can use that stuff to “test drive” a pattern before cutting into your expensive fabric.

  3. Susan says:

    Hi,
    Foam flooring underlay makes a perfect underlay surface for a studio worktable for block printing and screen printing. Just staple it down over a sheet of plywood and cover it with an old cotton sheet. Its firm enough to use for a work surface for other projects as well.

  4. Nicole says:

    Could it be used for packing materials?

  5. amy says:

    It’s also good for under a pond liner, helps if you have any sharp rocks that might make there way through the proper liner.

  6. Medeea says:

    I think it is good for packaging (instead of the bubble foam)

  7. maria vidotto says:

    but can old used foam underlay be recycled in a recycling program?

  8. Galina says:

    This material can serve very good as lining for the drawers, to keep items from bumping, and fingers hitting hard serface as well.



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