How can I reuse or recycle an MDF radiator cover?
We’ve had an email from Andi:
The last people who lived in our house installed MDF (i think) radiator covers everywhere which we don’t want any more. Do you have any idea what we can do with them? They’ve been painted and have cute cut out panels but block all the heat!
There still seem to be plenty of dedicated companies selling them so some people must still want them – perhaps offer yours on your local Freecycle/Freegle, to see if anyone wants them?
Both the MDF and paint mean that the wood can’t be burned or composted and is very hard to recycle, so aside from passing them on, we’re looking for reuses.
After realising how many types of vegetables I want to grow this year, my first thought would be to reuse the wood to make trough planters – the cut out bits could be used to make pretty fronts. Or similarly, they could be used to make blanket/storage boxes – the cuts outs would let the contents breath.
Any other suggestions?
Please send them to me – I’d love to make a dehydrator with them :-)
Surely MDF would not stand up to getting wet, if used as a planter? But the decorative fronts of the radiator covers would make nice cupboard doors.
They make good sofa-back tables, and you can even put a shelf into the open side for hidden storage.
I would simply add some shelves to the interior side and make a book case out of them. If you find a few of the same dimensions, you could even bolt them together and stack them up.
Very cute in the photo. Would make a great doll’s house (as for bookcase but curtain over and interior decorating with carpet scraps etc)
Add shelves as for bookcase and use as attractive hidden storage for pumpkins etc.
May i suggest a solution to the problem of them blocking heat, as i work for a radiator cover manufacturer. All you will need is a reflective piece of material, metal preferably but a piece of tin foil placed on card would do, and attach it to the underside of the top on a 45 degree angle towards the wall. This would take the rising heat and push it out in to the room.