How can I reuse or recycle old house keys?
I’ve had an email from Jory, asking for suggestion about what to do with “a ton of old house keys”.
We’ve got a number floating around too – not just house keys but old bike lock keys and other misc keys that are probably for something really important we just don’t know what.
So any ideas?
Best Suggestions
- Reuse: Lots of people have suggested using them as different type of decorations and jewellery – and if you don’t want to do that, there are a number of different artists collecting them (see below).
- Recycle: If you’d rather recycle them for charity, they’re collected by a number of charities – for example Keys For Kindness in the US.
- See the comments below for more suggestions and ideas
(Photo by irizarry)
How about threading them all up to create a windchime?
I gave my husband an old key once and placed it onto a card that said “The Key To My Heart”
But I guess you have a 100 keys..lol
How about decorating around a mirror and grouting them into the frame…
Good Luck
The weight may set you thinking.. anything that requires a weight to hold it down.. cnat think of anything except sewing in hems of heavy long curtains….but might set you off on another tack/ oops sorry.. unconcious pun there!
Rosie:)
Like you said about weights, they are excellent for keeping balloons down. Just tie the balloons to the keys. You can also give them to kids 4 and up to play with. Any younger, and they might choke on them.
Never give old keys to children they can poke out a eye or cut them selves.
And yes I have heard of this I am a locksmith.
You could make a bunch of rattles for all the babies in your family. So cute! Babies love keys!!! Group them on rings in bunches so there will be no choking danger and run them through the dishwasher to remove grease and dirt. Make sure the keys are firmly held in the rings for safety.
Only other suggestion, Modern Art?
It’s not safe to give keys to babies as I was told by my eye doctor even if they are clean. Babies may poke their eyes out.
For the giving them to babies thing, clean them, sand down the edges like a madman, and put them on a huge ring.
please don’t do this, old keys can contain lead or mercury….
keys do not contain lead or mercury they are made of brass or steel depending on usage.
They can be used to make tablecloth weights when using a cloth outside.
I use old house keys as symbols in a lesson I teach in a university course. I need several hundred of them. May I have yours?
Ross C
YRoss, you can have a whole bunch of office keys if they are any good to you
Where do you want keys sent? I have some I;d like to donate.
keys are mostly made of brass and could be given to a local scrap metal dealer, commercial value of scrap metal is around $ .02 each key
I’m sure you have more than enough now, but just in case…. can you use more keys?
Kay,
Do you still have those keys. I teach a class for the handicap and we decorate a tree in CityPark, New Orleans every year. I could use some keys for the decoration we will be doing. If you or anyone who has some old keys, any kind, that would be great.
My mom has 4 spare keys that she was going to throw away. I know it isn’t much, but if there’s any way I can send them to you, that would be wonderful.
Yes, I will send keys too! please let me know where to send…..
Heather,
I need some keys for a project I’m doing with the handicap program of my recreation department. Please let me know if you have any more keys. My email is brfig@cox.net. Any kind of keys will do. Thanks
I have some keys too, do you still need them? If so,let me know and I’ll post them.
Heather
Saw your comment on line about used keys. Did you find out where to send them?
thanks,
Wayne
I have some keys. Where would I take or send them?
Ros
I have old keys too…did you find out where to send them or who wants them?
Wayne
I have some, too. Where would I send them?
Do you still need keys? Feb 08
Do you still need keys? I found a bunch on Septemeber 20, 2008. I’ll bve glad to send them to you.
would you like mine too?
i once saw a lady on the news who was being car jacked as she entered her car, she threw some fake keys far from the car, and when the robber went for them, she used the real ones to take off… but that could be very dangerous.
good self defense weapon for women, tie a good sized full ring to a strap, and carry when you’re alone.
I love this idea! Disguise mace… puns intended…
I’ve seen house keys used in crafts as sort of a display of different shapes, sometimes painted etc. I don’t know why the keys couldn’t be taken to the metal recyclers as many are brass or steel.
If you have kids, put them on a key ring and give them to your kids for their “pretend” play.
Hello everyone from above,
Any more keys that you’re looking to get rid of?
We’re some actors looking for lots and lots of keys for our next fringe theatre production. We’d be happy to pick up the keys wherever is convenient for you. We’re all London (UK) based, but would be willing to travel out of London for a really big bunch of keys.
Please email me directly at: emmalinda@hotmail.com.
Many thanks,
Emma
I found a new site. Its called http://www.KeysfforKindness.com and it helps the M.S. society. They recycle the keys and donate money to the L.I. chapter.
these guys are great for poking into an attackers eyes.if you have small ones they can be used as charms for a bracelet. you can also use a small lock and key for a key to my heart setr .Put the lock on one necklace the key on your mates with a love note.
Does anyone need more keys? We just cleaned out our garage and have some we’d love to have someone use. Please let us know. Thank-you!
Hello Julia, I am making tree ornaments from keys, if you still have yours, I will be happy to pay for the shipping and will send you back a key tree ornament too.
Hello, Griselda. Is this offer still valid? We’re a nonprofit org. that has lots of keys left over from re-keying oure entire building. If so, please give me your contact info. I am in the U.S.
Thanks,
Jeanine
IT’S http://www.keysforkindness.com WITH 1, NOT 2 F’s, but GREAT information!
Is there anywhere in the UK that recycles old keys or collects them for charity? I have some that I want to dispose of.
Look at a comment above left by Emma.
Does anyone still need old keys, we are cleaning out our offices in the Republic of Ireland and have them to donate.
I would love to have your keys, I will pay for the shipping too.
I have a box of old work keys. Don’t know what to do with? Any takers or suggestions?
I can use any & all unwanted keys. Contact me at Anormal1@aol.com for address
I have a box of old keys. Any takers?
There are several “takers” in the above comments.
I am a design student at the university of derby and am currently doing project called “junk jewellery”. Its all about reusing old things to make unusual jewllery.
I have been collecting old keys and buttons etc to create charm braclets.
do you still have these keys??????
thanks
Kate
I love finding new uses for old things!
I would love to have anyone send me their old keys. I make such things as fruit bowls, planters, and modern art peices with them. Right now I’m making a large peice for my daughter who has had cancer and also has a love of old keys!
thanks,
marilyn
Does anyone know where i can find a huge amount of keys??
I too would love your old keys, however the older, rustier and damaged the better. Working on a large scale sculpture for an up and coming exhibition. Oh and any old leather gloves would be great too!
Thanks,
Hi Aj,
Are you still on the hunt for old rusty keys?
i have a whole crate of Chubb keys from a clear out at our Museum if you could collect them?
Claire
Hello Claire, I am making tree ornaments with keys…if you still have yours please contact me, I will be happy to pay for shipping and send you also a finished tree ornament from those I make.
join your local “freecycle”, and ask on there, people give away, and ask for all manor of things.
To those people who still have keys, specially older ones, I will be happy to take your keys, pay for the shipping and send you one finished tree decoration made from the keys you send.
Also…there was an error on my web side as listed before, the url is http://www.griselda.com
Thanks for your help…I love working with assemblage art and anything I can find to turn into art dolls.
I am working on a creative writing project for reluctant learners and am after keys as prompts. Any keys – chub, yale, car keys, door keys. If anyone has some, I can put them to good use.
Many thanks
Hi Jayne
Just been turning out desks and cupboards at work and have about a dozen old Yale keys – would you be interested still? Email should be visable!
Rosie
I do realise there is a problem for people contacting each other through these comments – but making emails visible by default would probably cause more problems than it would solve.
If you do want to be contacted though, you should leave some contact details or a link to your website in your comment.
One day we’ll get a proper system in place to handle this stuff, one day :)
-louisa :)
Just spotted thses fantastic cufflinks on Flickr from keys
http://www.flickr.com/photos/the_justified_sinner/3039653632/
I enjoy collecting keys of all types… there are so many uses… I’ll take any and all you have.
Thanks,
Mike
I have 2 old pool keys that I don’t need. Are you still looking for keys? If so, please send me your address and I’ll drop them in the mail.
Hi
I was wondering if any of you still have old Yale keys, as I work for a playgroup, and we are after some keys, only need about 50.
If any going please leave a thread and will get back to you
Thanks
Lesleyann
This is a great idea…
KEYS FOR KINDNESS
P.O. BOX 201, PEARL RIVER, N.Y. 10965
mike . . . got 3 keys to a door lock that has been replaced. want ’em? i know 3 ain’t much but i’ll save your address and pass it along to others, if you like . . .
I need two to three hundred old used house keys for an art project. Where can i obtain them?
I have a selection of about 100 old keys with various uses – front doors/suitcases/cupboards/old cars. Would they be useful for your project Niko?
I have about 200 old house keys and would like to give to a charity like Keys for Kindness, but somewhere based in the UK – does anyone know of such a place?
Hi I have a bag of old keys that I do not want. Second classs postage to the UK would cost £2.08. If would like these please contact me and then we could arrange sending of an SAE. Email me at marg.smith@sky.com
Hi, I have now promised my keys to someone. However I have also found that the Charity, Guidedogs for the Blind collect keys to raise funds. Check out http://www.guidedogs.org.uk/index.php?id=2696
Many thanks for the Guide Dogs info. I knew they took other items but had no idea they were now taking keys – I can now get rid of the pile of keys that have been sitting staring at me for ages!!
Do you have the address for the guide dogs donations?
Yes, I can confirm that “Guide Dogs for the Blind” in the UK take old keys. They also provide collection bins For what they call “Treasure Hunt”, which collects old coins and banknotes (old currency, foreign coins and notes, costume jewellery, ink jet cartridges, mobile phones and, of course, the OLD KEYS!! The money raised goes to training the guide dogs for blind people. See the website.
My grandpa bent them into hooks, and nailed them into walls. can be used to hand just about anything if the key is the right size
I meant hang
heya guys, ive just read the thread here, i know its a bit late, as all your message were ages ago!!!!
but if anyone has any ‘old fashioned’ keys i would be grateful for donations. its for a theatre character im creating, let me know by emailing me on mikeydbrooks@hotmail.com
Readymade magazine featured a lampshade made from old keys. the lampshade was fashioned out of chicken wire, and the keys hung from them on paperclips.
hey guys,
hopefully there are still some keys floating around, im posting on behalf of my girlfirend, she’s a sculptor located in canterbury SE england and is on the hunt for thousands of old keys that will be used in her next piece… a chair made out of keys welded together.
im starting to realise that buying them in batches of 5 at a time from ebay is not going to be the most realistic method ever thought of… at around three pound sterling per five keys 1000 is gonna cost a lotta money!
i should add that this work isnt being made for profit but will be part of the final degree exhibition of her masters in fine art.
any keys, new, old, big small, lots or even only one at a time are gonna be appreciated! pls email nickh93@hotmail.com with details if you can help and ill provide you with an address to send them.
really appreciate any responses recieved!
thanks again
Nick H
I have some keys you are welcome to. The only thing I ask is postage please.
Christine
Use them as plants markers, write the plants’ names on them.
Use them to mark plants. Write plants’ names on the key and stick it into soil.
Sow off the thin part, write the name of your pet and hang it on his neck.
Create an art piece by arranging the keys on a paper or canvas and spraying with paint. Then place keys again, in different way and spray again, with different color. You can repeat it as many times as you want. Results would be astonishing.
Sew them on the bottom of the curtains. Every time you open the window, they will jingle. :)
When you have many old keys, nail them down on a wooden rectangle the size of a door mat. You’ll get a great door mat for cleaning dirty shoos.
Want to remember when you planted the tree or the name of the tree? Write the date and the name on the key and hang it on a tree using elastic.
Create a funky Christmas tree. Place keys on a stick through the halls, longer keys on a bottom, shorter towards the top.
Decorate the door by gluing or screwing the old keys all over it.
Paint them and hang as Christmas ornaments.
Hide them in a sand box and let kids dig them out as if fossils.
Build garden sculpture using keys as teeth for your creature.
Use them as teeth for the Halloween pumpkin.
Hi guys, If ANYONE has spare keys they’d like to donate I’m about to conduct a community arts project at the Tower of London for the new Constables Installation there – its the keeper of the keys for the Tower so we’re asking those in the community to be a part of it and send in old keys to be hung in one of the Towers.
Any keys would be helpful and so so useful but if you’d also like to then please do mention the use for them previously, e.g. Loved Car, ‘Family Home before we moved’, etc. All keys will be used and if you’d like I could show you round the exhibition once installed.
Please let me know if any takers.
A million Thank yous!
Sarah
Sarah, we can help out with keys – email us details of where you want them sent jb0882010@yahoo.co.uk