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If you have moved around a lot in your lifetime, chances are you have accumulated a lot of old keys from places where you have previously lived. Most of us will store these old keys in an old junk drawer or storage boxes, never to think of them again. However, with a little innovation and creativity, you can actually find ways to reuse your old keys in helpful and fun ways. If you happen to have extra keys lying around that you are not sure what to do with, follow the suggestions described below! Instead of throwing away old keys, learn how you can make good use out of them instead.
Use Old Keys to Clean
Keys are great tools for cleaning, especially small crevices and cracks. For example, one of the best items you can clean with a key is a shoe. Mud and dirt inevitably stick to the bottom of shoes that have treads, such as running shoes or hiking boots. By using an old key, you can work your way in between the crevices and free the dirt that is trapped in there. A key is strong and sturdy, yet small enough to be effective for this type of cleaning. Leave an extra old key or two in your mudroom or by your door so you can easily retrieve it when you need to clean your shoes.
Keep Curtains in Place
If you have lightweight curtains on your windows, try slipping an old key into the hem at the bottom of the curtain. This will help weigh down the curtains, especially when the windows are open and there is a breeze. This free and effective trick can make a big difference and make it so your curtains stay in place no matter what.
Create Arts and Crafts or Other Projects
If you have children that can safely handle keys without trying to swallow them, the possibilities are really endless if you choose to give them your old keys. Some kids may enjoy having an old key or two for themselves just for fun or pretend. Since kids love to mimic what their parents are doing, giving your child a play key set of their own can be a great way for them to pretend that they own an actual set of keys.
You can also use the keys in other creative ways, such as for arts and crafts projects. Old keys can be used as decorative elements on paintings or drawings, or some children may enjoy trying to trace the keys. Ask your children if they might want to try something fun with any old keys you may have before you toss them out.
Tie Down Balloons at a Party
Old keys make effective, yet discrete holds for helium balloons. Instead of using some sort of rock or other weight to hold down balloons, keys are just heavy enough to prevent them from flying away without being too large. You can easily transfer a balloon from place to place when it has a key for an anchor. Even if someone were to try and take the balloon, it will have no way of drifting off as long as a key is attached to the end of the balloon string. This is a simple, but excellent trick to use at birthdays and other events.
Make Mementos
If you can remember where your old keys came from, you may want to create a memento of some sort for the places you once lived, or a certain place in particular. You could do this in a couple of different ways. The simplest way would be to tie a string around the key to make a necklace. You could also do the same with a shorter string and make a Christmas ornament out of the key.
One great memento idea is to create some sort of display with your old keys, featuring labels of the dates and locations of where you once lived. This can be a great way to pay homage to the places you at one time called home. A shadow box is a good way to display old keys, since shadow boxes leave space for physical items to be show and propped up. You may opt to throw in photos or other items that remind you of where you once lived if you choose to do a shadow box display.
Donate Them
If you want to get rid of your old keys, but do not want to just toss them out, be sure to donate them. You can call a local locksmith near you to see if they will take your old keys off of you for recycling purposes. Most locksmiths will either accept old keys and recycle them for you, or may direct you to a recycling center or other business that accepts key donations.
Get Creative!
There are lots of ways you can reuse old keys. Adults and children alike can find useful ways to reuse keys in just about every setting you could imagine. You can search online for art ideas if you want to dive into some more complex projects using old keys. The ideas are limitless and a search on sites like Pinterest will bring up plenty of inspiring and beautiful art displays that you can try for yourself.