Are you going to replace old window treatments with new ones and don’t know how to dispose of old blinds or shades, there are many ways to recycle and reuse them. You can transform them into home decorations, vases, or functional items like plant pots.
You can reuse old blinds in several ways. Also, you can also make your own designs. Continue reading to find out how. You might be surprised at the possibilities. You might even be able to turn them into art!
What Are Different Ways to Dispose of Old Blinds?
There are several ways to dispose of old blinds, including reuse, recycling, shredding, and composting. To recycle blinds made of steel or aluminum, you can disassemble and separate the metal parts and take them to a scrap yard or a recycling center. However, PVC blinds can be a bit difficult to recycle.
Treated wooden blinds can be composted by chopping them into small pieces and adding to a pile. You can also reuse blinds in various ways such as making garden markers or Roman shades.
Different Ways to Recycle Old Blinds
You can easily recycle old aluminum, wood, faux wood, and fabric blinds and curtains. No special process is necessary, and you won’t have to worry about using up too much tape. You can also take them to a scrap yard. Before you take them to the recycle center, make sure you disassemble them and separate the steel from the aluminum. Make sure you clean them well. You can reuse old blinds and other window treatments to make painters’ tape or as a headboard.
Here are different ways to recycle old blinds, shades, and curtains.
Check with the Manufacturer: Some window blind manufacturers have take-back programs where they will recycle old blinds.
Local Recycling Center: Check with a recycling center in your locality to see if they accept old blinds for recycling.
Upcycle: If the old blinds are still in good condition, consider giving them a new life by upcycling them into something new, like a piece of wall art or a headboard.
Note: Before recycling or disposing of your old blinds, don’t forget to remove any hardware, such as mounting brackets and screws, as these parts may not be recyclable.
Reselling Old Window Treatments
You could also resell the usable parts if they are in a good condition. They may be worth more than you think.
Reusing Old Blinds
Some shades and curtains are often made of fabric or other reusable materials, so you can reuse them for other projects.
Some of the practical ideas to reuse old blinds include:
Make a Room Divider: You can reposition the old window blinds to create a temporary room divider.
Create a DIY Privacy Screen: You can reuse old blinds to make a privacy screen. For this purpose, you need to hang the blinds on a rod or wire and use this arrangement to block a view of a room or outside.
Decorative Wall Hanging: You can reuse the old blinds as a wall hanging by arranging the slats in decorative patterns and hanging the same on a wall.
Planter Covers: You can reuse your old window blinds to create covers for planters, to keep out excess sunlight, and protect delicate plants.
Trash Can Covers: You can reuse your old window coverings to create a cover for a trash can, to keep it discreet and hide its contents.
Vertical Garden: You can reuse the old blinds to create a vertical garden by attaching pots of plants to the slats.
Composting Old Blinds
If you’re wondering what the best way to dispose of old blinds is, you might be surprised to know that composting them is easier than you might think. These small or large blinds are made from treated wood. Untreated wood doesn’t last as long as treated and recycling it will only create more waste and contamination. Instead, composting your old mini blinds will keep them from entering the landfill. You can compost old wooden blinds by chopping them into small pieces and adding them to a pile. Once the old window coverings are broken down, they can be composted as mulch.
Shredding
Reusing old blinds through shredding can also help you keep the planet clean and green. So, don’t throw them in the trash. Just turn them into another product. Old blinds can also serve as garden markers. You can label rows of plants or seeds with old blind slats! You can also make roman shades with old mini blinds.
Roman shades are a great idea. You can make your own Roman shades using old blinds even if you are a beginner at sewing.
Cut your old blinds into sections. You will need at least 5 to 6 slats. Make sure that they’re the same height from top to bottom. Next, measure and clip the ladder-like strings on the bottom of the blinds. Once you are satisfied with the size, fold over the slats to secure the fabric with a decoupage medium.
Make a Table Runner
You can make a table runner from your old blinds. Simply cut the blinds into strips approximately a foot and a quarter wide and string them together to make the desired length. You can use an invisible fishing line-type thread from the blinds. It will not be visible to your eye. When you’re done, let the runner dry and then place it on the table. You can also use greenery and flameless candle to make a centerpiece.
You can also use curtain fabric to make a beautiful table runner. This fabric can also be used to upcycle mini blinds into napkins. Cut a strip long enough on each side to wrap around a cork board. You can secure it with spray adhesive, craft glue, or thumbtacks. To give the fabric a polished look, you can hem it. Pointed ends are also an elegant touch.
Donating Old Blinds
Donating old blinds, shades, and curtains is an excellent way to reduce your clutter and feel good about the decision. If you have enough of the old ones, you can give them to friends or to a charity that helps children. Also, you can send them to a shelter for the homeless.
Before donating your old blinds, it is important to ensure that the blinds are in good working condition.
There are many charities that accept used window treatments, including Salvation Army and Habitat for Humanity. So, donate any window treatments that you no longer use to any of these charities.
