5 genius ways to put your old tech back to work in 2026

February 28, 2026

By Kim Komando

The average American household has $300 worth of unused electronics in drawers. Not broken. Just replaced. Here are five ways to put them back to work this weekend, no tech degree required.

First rule: Factory reset everything before repurposing. Wipe old passwords, photos and accounts clean. iPhone: Settings > General > Reset > Erase All Content. Android: Settings > System > Reset > Factory Reset.

Now let’s go.

🤖 Old laptop = safe to try DeepSeek

Everyone’s curious about DeepSeek, the free Chinese AI that rivals ChatGPT. But it sends all your data to servers in China, tracks your keystrokes and collects device info. 

The U.S. Navy, NASA and Congress have banned it on all government devices. I use DeepSeek every once in a while when I need to do massive number crunching on an old computer.

That’s the deal. Do not put it on your good computer. Wipe that old laptop, and connect it to your guest Wi-Fi network, not your main one. That way, it’s completely walled off from your other devices. 

Visit chat.deepseek.com in a browser. Test it, play with it, satisfy your curiosity. When you’re done, wipe that laptop again.

📹 Old phone = home security cam

Download AlfredCamera (free with in-app purchases, iPhone and Android). Install it on your old phone and your current one. Scan a QR code to pair them. Your old phone is now a security camera with live streaming, motion alerts and two-way audio. 

Over 70 million people use this app. Prop it on a shelf facing your front door or the baby’s crib. A basic Wyze cam costs $30 to $50. You built one for free.

🧠 Old phone = dedicated AI assistant

Install ChatGPT, Grok, Gemini or Claude on an old phone and prop it on your kitchen counter or desk. Hands-free AI that doesn’t tie up your main phone. 

Dictate emails. Brainstorm ideas. Second brain on standby.

🚗 Old phone = free dashcam

Download DashCam Recorder (iPhone, free) or Droid Dashcam (Android, free). 

Add a $10 windshield mount, plug it into your car charger and go. A stand-alone dashcam runs $50 to $150. Yours costs the price of a mount. And if someone disputes a fender bender? HD video proof.

🖼️ Old tablet = photo frame for Grandma

Install Frameo (free, iPhone and Android) on an old tablet and connect it to Wi-Fi at your parents’ or grandparents’ house. Anyone in the family can push photos straight to that screen from their phone, anywhere in the world. 

Grandma doesn’t touch a thing. New pics simply appear. A dedicated digital frame runs $80 to $200. This one costs zero. Fair warning: This is how you become the favorite grandchild.

Five projects. One Saturday. That dusty junk drawer became the most productive room in the house.

🗣️ TEXT/POST THIS STAT: The average American household has $300 in unused tech sitting in drawers. Five weekend projects, $300+ in savings, and one of them lets you safely test DeepSeek without risking your real computer. Get the full list free at GetKim.com.

📩 Send this to someone who’s curious about DeepSeek but nervous about Chinese AI on their computer. Or someone about to toss a perfectly good old phone. Forward this. Five projects, 15 minutes each. You’ll be their favorite person this weekend. Use the handy icons below.

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