9 Wacky Ways To Reuse Appliance Parts

Want to do something creative and environmentally friendly with your old appliances? Is the old fashioned way of disposal just too boring for your tastes? Then try out these zany and even practical ways to reuse your household appliances.

1. Turn your old washer drum into a rustic, outdoor fire pit! The holes in the drum allow air to get in and let your fire “breathe”.

2. Use your old dryer as a storage bin for apples and potatoes. You can even reuse that endless dryer lint!

3. If you’re good with your hands, you can get really creative and make a lamp out a washing machine drum and pulley wheels.

4. Check out this video called Trash To Treasures Gardening and find out how you can use broken pots, old stove parts and more to decorate your garden in a truly unique way.

5. If your home landscape lacks some greenery, reuse a washer tub, dryer tub, or even an old BBQ as a plant pot.

6. Get really innovative like Nemo Gould and build your very own scooter using some old appliance parts.

7. How about converting your old fridge into a tool shed or storage closet for the basement or garage?

8. Got a mind for engineering or robotics? Let your old appliances inspire you to build a robot.

9. You can even be inventive with appliance parts, such as circuit boards, with these Ten Creative Ways To Reuse Circuit Boards.

By being inventive, imaginative and conscious of your waste, you can actually do something creative that helps the environment. Who knew being green could be so much fun?

Maximize Your Home’s Sale Price With Appliance Staging

Appliances are typically one of the most expensive items to replace in the home, so for potential buyers, seeing run down, damaged or ugly appliances can mean more expenses for them and fewer offers for you. Buyers like to see newer looking appliances in the home they want to buy, so use this checklist to spruce up your appliances and help close the deal.

1. Scrub all appliances down with soap and water to remove any dirt and grime.
2. Deep clean any gooey, ground-in dirt on your appliances by using products like Goo Gone. Clean appliances always look better than dirty ones.
3. Check each appliance for any nicks or scratches in the paint. Appliance touch-up paint in the appropriate color will hide any scratches.
4. Check the inside and outside of your appliances for rusted areas. An appliance rust remover will get rid of those stains.
5. Clean your oven’s elements and drip bowls thoroughly. You can purchase element cleaners if necessary. Replace any elements or drip bowls that are too worn or damaged.
6. Replace any missing or broken parts, for example, dishwasher utensil holders and tines, refrigerator end caps, or any broken knobs and handles.
7. Update old-looking knobs and discolored handles. This is a relatively inexpensive way to give your appliance an instant make over.
8. Replace dented or worn front panels and footplates on your appliance. These parts can be a bit more expensive to purchase, but it’s cheaper than purchasing new appliances and is well worth it if it means selling your home.
9. Ensure your appliances are level without the aid of scraps of wood or old catalogues. Purchase new leveling legs if necessary.
10. Fix any problems with your appliances that you may have been putting off, like funny noises or leaks.

Prior to starting any repairs, you should make a list of all the parts and touch up products you’ll need to buy and see if it makes sense to fix up the old appliance or swap it out for a new one. Most times, if the appliance isn’t really old, it is well worth it to update a few parts to help sell your home.

Recycling Your Old Appliances

There are thousands of ways we can be ‘green’ and help do our part to protect our environment. From recycling old newspapers and pop bottles to donating used clothing and furniture, it seems there is a way to recycle or reuse just about everything.

So why is it many homeowners forget about recycling their old household appliances? When it comes time to dump that outdated or worn-out appliance, resist the urge to toss it in the dump and do your part to properly dispose or recycle it. As you’ll see, it can be as easy a phone call!

Bounty and Municipal Programs
If you need to get rid of an old appliance the first thing you should do is call your electric utility and see if they offer a bounty program in your area. These programs can give you a rebate for your old, unwanted appliances. Generally, these appliances do have to meet certain requirements and be in working condition to qualify.

You can also try to arrange an appointment with your municipality to have your appliance picked up or to find out where you can take them to be disposed. Find out more about these programs by calling your municipality or checking out the Environmental Protection Agency’s FAQ on disposing appliances.

Donation Programs
Why recycle an appliance when another family can reuse it?

If you’re updating your home and have decided to get new appliances, you can donate your old appliances through various donation programs such as the Salvation Army. These organizations are a great way to get rid of any home appliance but they do need to be in working condition before they are accepted. If you’re interested in these types of programs, there are several options available here and here.

Disposing of Appliance with Refrigerants
Appliances containing refrigerants need special attention when being disposed. Refrigerators, air conditioners, and dehumidifiers all contain dangerous refrigerants such as Freon, which can deplete the ozone if not properly disposed. If you need to get rid of one of these appliances and they do not qualify for one of the above programs, check out the US Environmental Protection Agency for proper disposal.

Remember, never under any circumstance attempt to remove refrigerants yourself as they can cause you and the planet physical harm.

We all share the responsibility of keeping our communities and the environment safe and with so many options available, there’s no reason not to. So next time you’re thinking of throwing out an appliance, or anything else for that matter, make sure you stop and think about the safest and friendliest way to do so. If we all work together, we can make a difference.

For more information on recycling and proper household hazardous waste disposal:
Appliance Recycling Centers of America
Association of Home Appliance Manufacturers
American Council for an Energy-Efficient Economy
Earth911
Natural Resources Canada