There will come a time when your once attractive and plush carpet will have to be thrown away. You may have invested in a new vacuum for carpet cleaning but your carpet needs to be replaced if it emits a foul odor, stained, dilapidated, or simply out of style.
Generally speaking, carpets can last between 5 to 15 years. But carpets that are placed in high-traffic areas of the house or office may have to be replaced soon if they show signs of wear and tear.
Americans account for nearly 5 billion pounds of old carpets to landfills. So you wonder if there is any way to get rid of your old carpet. Continue reading as we teach you how.
Three Ways to get rid of your old carpet
1. Sell it
This is the most practical solution if you ask us. Your old carpet may not even command half of the price that you bought it for, but at the very least, you’ll get something out of it.
There are numerous ways to sell an old carpet. You can post it online, for example. You may also sell it at a garage sale.
But before you sell it, you should clean it first. Whatever type of vacuum cleaner you have– whether it is a canister vacuum or an upright vacuum, corded stick vacuum, or even a robot vacuum for carpet — use it to thoroughly clean your carpet.
Here’s a YouTube video on how to clean carpets that you might want to take a look at.
If there are stains on it, then a vacuum cleaner may not be enough. You can wash it instead. Follow the carpet manufacturer’s care instructions.
2. Donate it
If you don’t care about getting some cash from selling an old carpet, you might as well donate it. Perhaps you know someone who may find an old carpet useful.
You may also go to a charitable institution. Keep in mind, though, that not all charitable institutions will accept a carpet that’s too dirty or worn out due to health and sanitary reasons. These institutions don’t have the manpower to clean a carpet of such a poor state.
You may also try donating the carpet to animal shelters and training facilities. These organizations would find old carpets used especially when lining the bottom of the cages of dogs and pets.
3. Reuse it
You need not find a buyer for your old carpet. You can always reuse it if you want to get rid of it. There are also many ways to reuse an old carpet.
For example, an old carpet can be reuse into a scratching post. Find a thick piece of wood that’s tall enough for your cat to stretch his legs. Then wrap the old carpet around it. Using a nail gun, secure the carpet against the wood and ensure that it is wrapped tightly.
You can also use the old carpet to refurbish a cat scratching post. Watch this YouTube clip to get a better idea of how to do it.
An old carpet will also come in handy when you are re-arranging your home furnishings. Rearranging sofas, cabinets, and other furniture can spruce up your home but it can also damage your hardwood floors.
But with the use of bits of old carpet, you can have a good solution. Simply cut up the old carpet into small squares. Then slip these under the legs of a table or chair. You will now be able to slide or push around home furnishings with ease and without damaging the floor.
Old carpets can also be reused into car mats. Measure the car mat you have and then use this in crafting your DIY car mats from old carpet scraps. This could be a practical replacement for your car mats.
You may also reuse an old carpet into something that would protect your car door. Cut up a strip of an old carpet and attach it to the wall of your garage. This should prevent your car door from getting dents especially when you park too close to the wall garage.
If you like to take care of plants, you would also find old carpets useful. Cut up old carpet scraps and put them underneath your pots. The carpets will save your floors from the water that will inevitably spill.
This is also the idea behind using old carpets as mug coasters. Again, cup up scraps from the old carpet. The size, though, should fit the cups or mugs you have at home.
You can also cut a rectangle from a large, undamaged piece of carpet. You can then re-use it as a welcome mat or even a kneeling pad for use in the garden.
And don’t think that you have to be a DIYer to reuse an old carpet. You can also use it for other practical purposes. An old carpet may be used as an insulation for dog houses, pipes, and attics.
You can also attach a bit of it to the bottom rung of a ladder, allowing you to wipe off dirt or wetness away from your shoes before climbing.
As you have learned, there are many practical ways to reuse an old carpet. Thus, it doesn’t make sense to throw it away!
Here’s a YouTube video that you might want to watch to learn more about carpet recycling.
Conclusion
Your old carpet may have seen better days but it doesn’t mean that you should throw it away. There are three ways to get rid of it– one is to sell it, especially if you feel that it still has some value. Two, you might want to donate it to a charitable organization.
If neither worked, you might as well reuse the old carpet. From being used as a car mat to mug coasters, your old carpet can be reused in a lot of ways.