Time to replace those saggy, baggy, cracked and faded aluminum or vinyl venetians? Before you consign them to the trash bin, consider some of these fun, practical, incredibly clever and crafty ways to repurpose, reclaim and recycle old or broken minis. Here are just a few ideas.
Paint hacks. From the experts at This Old House, use a mini blind slat as a paint edger instead of painter’s tape. Then bend a small piece of slat in half to scoop out the extra paint in the edge of the paint can to neatly pour it back in the can.
Slim Jim. No, you don’t want to eat them like the snack, but you can use old mini slats as an access tool. Save a few to slide between cabinets or under furniture to retrieve hard-to-reach items, like the cat’s toy that just rolled under the bed.
Table scraper. Brush crumbs off tabletops and other surfaces smoothly and neatly with the flat edge of a mini slat.
Tape pull. Many a fingernail has been lost trying to find and pick off the tape end and pulling off a straight piece. Problem solved by cutting a slat to the width of the roll and taping it on the end.
Tomato tag. Write the name of herbs, veggies and other plants or seeds on a piece of the mini slat with a waterproof marker to make garden markers. Make two diagonal cuts on one end to form a point and stake it in the soil.
Get crafty. Pinterest has a plethora of amazing things you can make from minis, from fashions to seasonal decorations, light fixtures, even original works of art. Grab your glue gun and go!
Donate them. If you’re just tired of your old aluminums and ready for a new window treatment, instead of throwing them out, consider donating them to an organization like Habitat for Humanity or Goodwill. Some scrap metal and recycling centers also take them.
How have you used old window treatments? Leave a comment and let us know!
