There comes a time when every vacuum cleaner’s product life will sadly come to an end. For others, the case may just be to set an old unit to the side to make room for a new one. Either way, when you reach that point, you’re sure to be curious about how to dispose of vacuum cleaner units correctly. Learn how to throw out a vacuum without endangering the environment through the options we described below.
How Do I Dispose of a Vacuum Cleaner?
We have identified 6 smart ways for how to dispose of vacuum cleaner machines you no longer want. Go through the waste management vacuum cleaner guide below and see which option suits your needs best.
Check for Repairable Problems
Before you even think about getting rid of a vacuum cleaner, see if it’s still usable. In some situations, all you have to do is thoroughly clean your vacuum to solve common issues (such as vacuum cleaner suction loss). It would be wasteful to throw out an appliance that can still be perfectly used by another person or family. If you fix it and still want to replace it with a new model, you can proceed with the next idea on our list.
Donate to a Charity, Friend or Family
In the fortunate event that your old unit still works, find out how to dispose of vacuum cleaner models through donations. For starters, you can ask your family and friends if anyone could use an older but functioning vacuum cleaner. Alternatively, we strongly recommend contacting your local charity or thrift store to see if you can donate your vacuum. Just a few examples of national organizations you can reach out to are:
- Goodwill
- The Salvation Army Family Stores
- SVDP (St. Vincent de Paul) Retail Thrift Stores
- Savers/ Value Village*
- Habitat for Humanity ReStores*
* Check with your local store to see if they accept vacuum cleaners.
Hand it over to a Repair and Sale Store
If your vacuum no longer works at all, you can consider getting in touch with a local repair and sale shop. An employee can assess the state of your unit and see if they can fix and resell it through their shop. In other cases, the store may decide to dismantle the unit and use its parts. In either situation, you know you’ll be handing it over to specialists.
Trade it for a Discount
Thankfully, some large retailers accept broken household appliances in exchange for a discount. If you’re planning on purchasing a new vacuum cleaner, you can reach out and ask if they have a trade/ discount service. Not all stores will provide such an option, but you may be in luck and save a few dollars when buying a new unit.
Contact Your Local Recycling Center
Arguably the wisest idea for how to dispose of vacuum cleaners units that don’t work anymore is to recycle them. Simply throwing out a vacuum with your trash is not only immoral and environmentally unconscious, but it can also be illegal in some areas. The good news is that most vacuums cleaners are made entirely of plastic and metal. As a result, the majority of old units can be fully recycled.
In terms of shipping and/ or handling, recycling centers will most likely offer either one, some or all of the options below:
- Free curbside collection
- Personal drop-off
- Free or paid haul-away
In addition, some large retailers such as Best Buy have extensive recycling programs that you can look into. If you’re not sure where to start in your community specifically, we recommend performing a quick online search using terms such as “recycle vacuum cleaner near me” or “vacuum recycling near me”.
Upcycle with a DIY Project
Last but definitely not least, you can actually learn how to dispose of vacuum cleaner units creatively. You can search for DIY project ideas for old vacuum cleaners such as industrial-style furniture or even cool Halloween costumes. The sky is the limit when it comes to the possibilities you have of repurposing your vacuum into something beautiful.
Conclusion
All in all, there are tons of ideas for how to dispose of vacuum cleaner units safely. Whether it involves using your imagination or contacting local charities or recycling centers, there’s an option for everyone. We strongly encourage you to choose one of the opportunities above instead of throwing out your unit with the trash. Until next time, feel free to learn more about how to maintain vacuum cleaner models the right way.
Leave a Reply