An old, broken-down washing machine taking up space in your garage or basement doesn’t have to be a headache. It’s actually a hidden source of valuable recyclable materials—primarily scrap metal.
Selling your washing machine for scrap is a financially rewarding and environmentally friendly alternative to simply hauling it to the dump. Here is a step-by-step guide to help you convert your old appliance into cash.
🔩 What Makes a Washing Machine Valuable?
Washing machines are heavy, and that bulk comes from valuable metals. The total metal content of a standard washing machine can be 50-60% of its total weight, typically ranging from 75 to 90 pounds of recyclable metal.
High-Value Components You Can Scrap
| Metal Type | Where to Find It | Value Indicator |
| Steel (Ferrous) | Outer casing, inner frame, wash drum (in many models) | The largest volume of metal. It’s the “sheet iron” or “light iron” portion. |
| Copper (Non-Ferrous) | Electric motor windings, power cord, internal wiring | Highly valuable scrap metal. Look for a reddish-brown color. |
| Aluminum (Non-Ferrous) | Motors, pulleys, and other structural components | Lightweight and valuable. Does not stick to a magnet. |
| Stainless Steel | The inner drum of higher-end models | Durable and corrosion-resistant, often more valuable than regular steel. |
| Brass | Valves, fittings, or small electrical components | A yellowish-tinted alloy that is a valuable non-ferrous metal. |
Export to Sheets
🛠️ Step 1: Prepare Your Washing Machine for Scrap
The more work you do, the higher your payout is likely to be. Scrap yards pay the best rates for separated, cleaned, and sorted metals.
Safety and Preparation Checklist
- Disconnect Power and Water: Ensure the machine is completely unplugged and that all water supply hoses are disconnected and drained.
- Drain All Water: Washing machines can hold residual water. Draining it is crucial for safe transport and accurate weighing at the scrap yard.
- Remove Non-Metal Parts: Disassembling the appliance and removing plastic panels, rubber hoses, and the concrete ballast/weights (found in front-loaders to stabilize the drum) will significantly increase the purity and value of your metal load.
- Separate High-Value Metals (Optional): If you are ambitious, separating your scrap into piles (e.g., all steel together, all copper wire together) will yield a better price than selling it as “mixed metal.” The electric motor, in particular, is worth removing as it contains high-value copper (or sometimes aluminum) windings.
Pro Tip: Use a magnet! Ferrous metals (like iron and steel) will stick to a magnet and are less valuable. Non-ferrous metals (like copper, aluminum, and brass) will not stick and are much more valuable per pound.
📍 Step 2: Find the Best Place to Sell Your Scrap
You have a few options for getting your machine picked up or delivering it yourself.
Option 1: Selling to a Licensed Scrap Yard (Maximum Value)
- The Process: This is the most common way to get paid cash for your scrap. You will haul the washing machine (or its disassembled components) to the yard, they will weigh the material, and pay you based on the current market price for that type of metal.
- Key Action: Call ahead! Confirm they accept “white goods” (large appliances) and ask for the current prices for light iron/steel and electric motors.
Option 2: Using a Local Scrap Pickup Service
- The Process: In many areas, especially cities, there are dedicated scrap buyers or online recycling platforms that offer doorstep pickup services for old appliances.
- Pros: Extreme convenience—you don’t have to haul a heavy appliance.
- Cons: The price per pound/piece is often lower than what you would get by bringing it to the yard yourself, as the buyer factors in the cost of labor and transport.
Option 3: Leaving it for Street Scrappers (Minimal Effort)
- The Process: In some communities, leaving an appliance on the curb will result in it being picked up by independent scrappers within 24 hours. They often look for the heavy steel and the copper in the motor.
- Note: While convenient, this is free for you but does not get you any money for the metal.
💸 Step 3: Understanding Your Potential Earnings
The value of scrap metal fluctuates daily based on the commodity market. Therefore, it is impossible to give a fixed price.
| Item/Material | Typical Price Range (Highly Variable) |
| Whole Washing Machine | Low-cost entry, often $3 to $10 per unit, or based on the lower “light iron” price per pound. |
| Separated Steel/Iron | Paid by weight (the bulk of the machine’s weight). |
| Electric Motor | Higher value than steel, paid separately by weight due to the copper/aluminum windings. |
| Clean Copper Wire | Highest value per pound, paid by weight. |
Export to Sheets
For a whole washing machine taken to a yard, the price is often minimal (sometimes under $10) because the scrap yard has to factor in the non-metal components (plastic, concrete, etc.) and the cost of processing. To maximize your profit, the more you dismantle and separate, the more you earn.
♻️ Beyond the Money: The Environmental Benefit
Choosing to scrap your old washing machine is a huge win for the environment. By recycling the steel, copper, and aluminum, you:
- Conserve Resources: Recycling metals uses significantly less energy than mining and processing new raw materials.
- Reduce Landfill Waste: Large appliances are bulky and take up valuable landfill space.
- Prevent Pollution: Scrap yards are equipped to handle any potentially hazardous materials (like capacitors or circuit boards) responsibly, ensuring they are disposed of safely.