Hasta La Ideas

Reader Sarah submitted the following to Ask Unclutterer:

The consolidation of knives between my boyfriend and I has some undesirables. I would like to get rid of them but am not sure how. Also, what is the best way to transport? Thanks so much.

You have a few options when getting rid of knives. (And, since you said the knives were “undesirables,” I’m assuming you mean they are not in good enough condition to be used safely by anyone.)

First, check your local phone book or Google to see if there is a professional knife sharpener or repairer in your area. These people will often take old knives because they can re-purpose them in their work or repair and sell them. They might also have additional ideas for you.

If you have some time, a second option is to learn what type of blade you have and sell its metal for scrap. Most kitchen knife blades are made of iron, steel, or a mixture of metals and carbon. (Some newer knives are made of titanium, but I doubt you’re interested in getting rid of any of those.) A scrap metal shop might take your knives regardless of the specific type of metal its blade includes. You’re not likely to get much money for the blade, but you can be assured that if a scrap metal shop buys it that it will be recycled in some way.

Finally, if you live in an area without these services, my knife skills class instructor recommended that you wrap it in butcher paper, then bubble wrap, and tape it up in an appropriately sized cardboard box. After you’ve made a package of the knife, simply toss it into the trash. The package will keep the knife from inadvertently injuring someone during transportation to the dump. If you need to carry knives to a knife sharpener or scrap metal shop, you can use a similar treatment.

Thank you, Sarah, for submitting your question for our Ask Unclutterer column. Also, be sure to check out the comments to learn of other ways our readers have disposed of knives in the past.

Do you have a question relating to organizing, cleaning, home and office projects, productivity, or any problems you think the Unclutterer team could help you solve? To submit your questions to Ask Unclutterer, go to our contact page and type your question in the content field. Please list the subject of your e-mail as “Ask Unclutterer.” If you feel comfortable sharing images of the spaces that trouble you, let us know about them. The more information we have about your specific issue, the better.

Like this site? Buy Erin Rooney Doland’s Unclutter Your Life in One Week from Amazon.com today.