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Many of us can relate to this problem. Every time a utility drawer, old storage box or shoe box where old items are kept is opened, you find used keys in them. That’s really not all that surprising. Keys accumulate because the locks they used to open are no longer relevant, locks have been remastered, cars have been sold, and new keyless locks have replaced old keyed ones. Not to mention that some people don’t feel comfortable unless they have 5 copies of every key they use. Over time that adds up to a lot of old keys lying around and just taking up space. That then begs the question of what you should do with all of your old keys. Here are some suggestions.
You could just simply throw your old keys in the trash. The problem is they are made out of metal so they take a long time to break down. That makes them an environmental hazard unless you recycle them. Fortunately, keys are very easy to recycle in most cases.
How do you prepare your old keys for recycling? First of all, you have to make sure you only put the metal parts of them in a recycling bin. So any rubber end you have put on them need to be removed. Transponder keys with plastic end with buttons also need to have these removed. A quick tap or two with a hammer will usually allow you to easily remove the plastic ends on these auto keys.
Maybe you don’t feel like going through the effort of recycling your keys and making a special trip to the scrap metal center with all of your recyclables. If that’s the case, consider starting a small recycling box in your garage. You can throw your old keys, plastic bags, old batteries, cell phones, and computer batteries into it to help keep these items from cluttering up other useful storage areas in your home. Then, the next time you go to your local home improvement center take that recycling box with you. Many of them will take these items off your hands and conveniently recycle them for you.
Since keys can be scrapped and recycled that means that even the ones you don’t use anymore still have some value. Because if this, you may want to consider giving your old keys that have been accumulating around your home to charity.
Are there charity’s that actually take keys and can put them to good use? The answer here is yes. One example I can think of is keysforkindness.com. They raise a lot of money for charity each year through people sending them their old keys. So do a quick internet search to see if you can find a charity that takes old keys. It will not only solve your useless key problem, but it will also make you feel good inside too.
Sometimes you may actually be able to make good use of your old keys. Here are some examples of that.
Most people do not realize that old keys can be used for arts and craft projects too. Their different shapes, sizes, and colors can come in handy for this. If you have ever visited a craft show you will know what I am talking about. There are always such things as small sculptures, decorations, and more that make use of small metal items such as bottle caps and old keys.
I would never let anyone under the age of 5 years old play with an old key but kids that are older than that like them and can use them as a learning tool. Children also find unique uses for small solid trinkets like keys. They can be used for such things as teaching them how to count or you can make a mock key setup to help them learn how to use keys and lock doors.
Some might raise an eyebrow at this one but it’s actually true. This is especially true with older and ornate type keys such as skeleton keys. They actually will increase in value with time. Other determining factors in how much they are worth are such things as how decorative they are and what type of metal they are made out of. Some decorative old keys made out of silver or brass can be worth a lot of money.
We previously mentioned that you can recycle your old keys too. So why not throw them in the bin with all of your similar scrap metals and get paid by the pound for the metal you take to a scrapyard. It may not seem like those old keys are worth much, but they can help your scrap metal loads add up to much more than a few extra bucks.
So the next time you round up all of the old keys that are lying around your home, don’t just chuck them in the trash can. Save the environment an recycle them or put them to other good uses.
We are here to help you at Lake Zurich Locksmith. Lake Zurich, IL locals who are locked out can call us for 24/7 lockout help in addition to many other locksmith services. Whether your key is stuck in your car’s ignition, or you need a safe installed at your commercial property, all you have to do is get in touch with our locksmiths to get the solutions you are looking for.
Our locksmiths work with the locks for all car makes and models, and they can work with various manufacturers in terms of lock brands in general.