How to Repurpose and Recycle an Old Blender

Perhaps you have replaced your old blender with a powerful new one. Or maybe you got married and now you have two blenders around. If you have an additional blender that you do not need, don't throw it out! There are plenty of great uses for blenders, other than just blending up drinks and making milkshakes. Don't let your old blender end up in a landfill, check out these great uses for an old blender.

Create Handmade Paper. A blender is an essential tool for making handmade papers. Using such items as drier lint and recycled junk mail, blenders can easily turn trash into treasure. For full instructions on how to use your old blender (and other recycled items) to create unique and beautiful handmade papers, see this article or this article. This way to repurpose an old blender not only repurposes the blender, but recycles other waste as well!

Mix Paint. If you are tinting paint for a project there is no better way to get the color mixed fully and evenly than to use an old blender. Just be sure to only use an old blender with a very secure lid (you'll be sorry if you try mixing paint with an unsecure lid!) and wash the blender out immediately and thoroughly after use.

Use Up Bars of Soap. Don't let those tiny bars of soap go to waste. Instead, keep the small bars of soap until you have several. Add the bars of soap to the blender along with just a little warm water (only a tablespoon or so depending on how many bars of soap you are blending). Blend everything together until your bars of soap are crumbled. Then just press the crushed up soap pieces into molds (anything will work, even just a paper cup or empty butter tub), let harden, and remove. Now you have fun new bars of soap ready for use.

Create a Lamp. Many different plans and instructions for turning an old blender into a funky lamp appear online. All you need are some basic household tools and a set of lamp "innards"---basically an electrical cord with a light bulb attachment. These items can be found at any home improvement store. If you have a flair for the eclectic, try turning your old blender into a fun and funky desk lamp!

Donate. If none of these great alternate uses for an old blender suits you, you still shouldn't throw out your old blender. Instead, donate your old blender. Places like Goodwill, Salvation Army, churches, and other organizations love to get their hands on working small appliances.

Don't contribute to the waste in the local landfill with your unwanted blender! Instead, repurpose your old blender with one of these creative and truly useful options.