If you’re cleaning or re-doing your home, you might be wondering what to do with all of your extra stuff. If it’s big, hard to move, or made of certain materials, you might not be able to put it on the curb and have it picked up. So, what do you do with it?
If you’re looking for an easy way to make money from things you don’t need anymore, scrapping it is the way to go. Scrap metal recycling is a huge business and can make you a ton of cash if you know what items sell. In this article, we’ll go over 15 amazing things to scrap around the house.
1. Lawnmowers
You’d be surprised that your lawnmowers have steel that can be scrapped. However, due to the wide availability of steel products in homes, you’re likely to get the least amount of returns. However, this isn’t the only item in your home that’s made of steel. You can also find steel in household items such as stoves, garage door frames, and even wiring.
2. Circuit Boards
Your home’s circuit boards or wires contain copper which is a good metal to scrap. Copper is an expensive metal because it’s durable and doesn’t corrode over time like iron or steel, so this type of scrapping could result in more than just a few dollars coming your way. Homes often have things made of copper, like plumbing pipes or pots and pans. Copper can also be found in many electrical products around the house. You’d be surprised that your electronics, microwaves, dishwashers, and washing machines all contain copper wiring.
3. Jewelry
There are tons of items in your home that may contain nickel, such as jewelry, coins, and even some appliances. The nickel’s value is highly dependent on the metal content, so make sure that you’re aware of what exactly you’re scrapping before going to sell it!
4. Brass Door Knobs
If you have any items in your home that are made of brass, it would be a good idea to take them in for scrapping. Brass is worth more than copper and has been used in home items for centuries, so if you know anyone with an antique brass item, like a brass door knob, don’t throw it out or donate it!
5. Electric Motors
Whether we’re talking washing machine motors, refrigerators, vacuums, or microwave ovens, they’re all great things to scrap around your home. Along with the motors, other elements in these appliances still have value, such as screws and wires. Find out how to prepare your electric motors for recycling to get the most bang for your buck.
6. Kitchen Faucets
While you may not have considered it, faucets are perfect items that can be scrapped for money. There can be many different things to scrap in kitchens, including faucet handles which are often made with brass or steel, and both fetch a high price when scrapped. Another material that can be found in kitchens is copper pipes which can also yield a nice profit.
7. Doors
Doors can be scrapped if they’re made from copper, steel, or iron. The value of doors will vary depending on what type of metal was used to create them, but typically you could get anywhere between $100-$300 per door.
8. Junk Cars
There are tons of different materials in your car that can be scrapped for money. One of the most valuable materials is body panels and frames. These metals are worth a lot of money if they’re not too damaged and if you take the time to deconstruct the car.
(Photo by Freysteinn G. Jonsson on Unsplash)
9. Insulated Cable
An unexpected item you can scrap in your home is an insulated cable. This can be used in the manufacturing of things like electrical wiring and high-voltage cables. These are both worth a lot of money, so don’t throw them out if you have any lying around your house!
10. Car Batteries
While they might not necessarily be in your house, one of the easiest things to scrap is car batteries. Car batteries are expensive, and most people don’t know how to take them apart. However, if you have a few lying around the house, then it’s worth getting rid of them for some quick cash.
11. Electronics
If you have any electronic items around the home like TVs, radios, stereo systems, or computers, it’s worth your time to get them scrapped. Electronics are a hot commodity, and you can make money quickly off of these items that might otherwise just be sitting there collecting dust.
12. Cast Iron
One of the easiest things to scrap around the house is cast iron products. You might recognize the name for the popularly sold iron pots and pans used for cooking. However, you can also find cast irons in other household appliances such as engine blocks, old bathrooms, furniture, and even pipes.
13. Power Outlets
Power outlets are an easy thing to scrap around the house. These power strips are typically used for TV or desk stands and can be scrapped for their copper-bearing materials. Make sure that you separate the wires by taking them apart as they may contain different materials, which will be priced differently.
14. Mini-Transformers
Mini-transformers can typically be found on the end of smaller items such as electronic chargers, cell phones, cameras, and more. These boxes can be scrapped because of the metal inside of them. If you want to yield more money from your transformers, make sure that you remove the plastic casing from the outside of it first.
15. Recharagable Batteries
While rechargeable batteries might not be prevalent around homes anymore due to new technology, it’s worth remembering that they contain copper wiring, which is valuable for scrap metal dealers.
Sell Your Scrap Metal Today
The scrap metal industry is a competitive one, and if you’re looking for the best quality buyers in Kansas City, Langley Recycling should be your first choice.
When you come to us with your metal scraps, we’ll give you a fair price that’s based on weight or quantity of material as well as any current market prices. If there are specific metals that have more value than others, bring them along too! You won’t regret choosing our company because of how much money you can potentially make from recycling all those old car parts sitting around in your garage or shed.
