Ideas for a Swing With a Broken Awning

Keep Using It

• You could actually opt to leave the swing as it is. Though the swing will no longer provide shade, it is still a perfectly usable swing. A broken awning does not compromise the overall utility of the swing, so you can consider removing the awning and using the swing as usual. You may want to move it to a more shaded area outdoors.

Repurpose the Swing

• Since the swing is broken, you can repurpose it in a variety of ways. You can give the swing to your children and allow them to use it as a toy. They might turn it into a fort or make it home base" when they play tag. Children are very creative and could come up with many great uses for a broken swing. You could also move the swing into an indoor space where no awning would be necessary. You could even disassemble the swing and make the seat into a stand-alone chair.

Fix It

• If you would prefer to restore the swing to its original condition so that it can still be used as intended, you can repair the awning. Depending on the style of the new awning you choose, the replacement canopy can be relatively inexpensive. You can get a brand new awning for less than $100. If your current awning is only slightly broken or ripped, you can have it repaired for about $50.

Donate It

• Though some donation collection organizations, such as Goodwill, generally do not accept broken items, you can still donate your broken swing through other groups. Freecycle is an organization that allows users to offer items that they are done using for free pick-up to other people. You could also call local churches to see if they are in need of a swing.

Trash It

• If the broken awning is one of many problems with the swing, you need to consider throwing it away. In particular, if the swing has rust or any sharp edges as a result of the broken awning, trash the swing for safety reasons. You don't want to give away a swing in that condition, and you certainly wouldn't want your own family to use such a swing. Though this option is not very green, there are occasionally items that are beyond repair and are better off in the trash.