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Use It or Lose It: How to Get Rid of Old Keys
Clean out your junk drawer by getting rid of keys in an earth-friendly way
There always seems to be at least one set of mystery keys in every household. Usually found at the bottom of the junk drawer or in the pocket of an old coat, the mystery keys rarely reveal their purpose. Don't let all of the old house, storage, bike and car keys clutter your house — use them, or lose them!
For large organizations like offices, schools, and hotels, keys can add up quickly. While it might be convenient to just throw them in the trash, the fact is that some 400 million keys are thrown away each year, left to sit in landfills. Read on to learn how to recycle your keys correctly, or reuse them around the house in a creative and practical way.
For large organizations like offices, schools, and hotels, keys can add up quickly. While it might be convenient to just throw them in the trash, the fact is that some 400 million keys are thrown away each year, left to sit in landfills. Read on to learn how to recycle your keys correctly, or reuse them around the house in a creative and practical way.
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| Lose It: Luckily, keys can be recycled at most recycling centers in the mixed metals bin. Make sure you take off any rubber edging or stickers so the facility can melt them down and reuse the metal. Call your local recycling center or look up their requirements online to be sure they accept metals. |
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Online organizations such as Key for Hope and Keys for Kindness collect keys via mail, melt them down for scrap metal, and donate the profits to charity.
Mail in your own keys to get rid of your clutter and get some good karma in return.
Mail in your own keys to get rid of your clutter and get some good karma in return.
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Browse Etsy for artists making jewelry or home décor items out of keys, or sell them as craft supplies on Etsy or eBay.
Take a look at the want ads on Craigslist. You might get lucky and have someone who's willing to pay you for your keys, or just get them off your hands.
Take a look at the want ads on Craigslist. You might get lucky and have someone who's willing to pay you for your keys, or just get them off your hands.
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Older keys often have a unique shape popular in home décor. If you have any older keys lying around, you may be able to create a unique work of art that adds a special touch to your home.
Michelle and Justin of Dream Home DIY made this piece of homemade art out of a picture frame, burlap, and some old skeleton keys tied onto ribbon. Check out the full DIY here.
Using keys in jewelry is also gaining steam. Whether it's an older key with a unique design or a more modern key with a special meaning, put it on a chain or ribbon to make an instant necklace.
Michelle and Justin of Dream Home DIY made this piece of homemade art out of a picture frame, burlap, and some old skeleton keys tied onto ribbon. Check out the full DIY here.
Using keys in jewelry is also gaining steam. Whether it's an older key with a unique design or a more modern key with a special meaning, put it on a chain or ribbon to make an instant necklace.
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by Diana Martini
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| Older keys can also become great decorative elements for the holidays. Here, Diana Martini from Please Sir made a simple evergreen wreath a little more personal by tying old keys and locks onto the branches. The same technique could be used on a Christmas tree to create a unique, vintage-styled tree. Use festive ribbon or twine to tie old keys all around the tree's branches. |
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Use It: Keys have a surprising amount of practical uses. Try using smaller keys as zipper pulls on bags and backpacks, or attach to pull chains for lighting or ceiling fans.
Use as weights for curtains or tablecloths to help them stay in place. Sew keys onto the inside hem of curtains or tablecloths, and you'll never have to deal with fluttering curtains or flyaway table settings again.
How to get rid of:
Old Light Bulbs
CDs, DVDs and Tapes
Leftover Building Materials
Use as weights for curtains or tablecloths to help them stay in place. Sew keys onto the inside hem of curtains or tablecloths, and you'll never have to deal with fluttering curtains or flyaway table settings again.
How to get rid of:
Old Light Bulbs
CDs, DVDs and Tapes
Leftover Building Materials
Ideabook published on Dec. 12, 2011.
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and over they are great as manipulatives for counting, sorting or to add to a transportation unit .
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