The iPhone still has chapters ahead
A swollen battery is the device saying "stop everything" — and rightfully so. But the iPhone itself is almost never lost: the screen, the aluminum body, the cameras and so many internal parts still hold value. Fun fact: the aluminum in iPhone bodies comes, in large part, from recycled cans and reclaimed metal — Apple has been using second-life aluminum for years. In other words, giving this device a new life is continuing a story it has carried since the factory. Let's take it slow, with safety and good ideas.
8
ideas
10 min – 1.5 h
estimated time
easy a medium
difficulty
Ideas at a glance
Safe disposal of the swollen battery
never puncture it, insulate the terminals
Proper deflation: take it to a repair shop
an inflated battery is a real risk
Becomes a dedicated security camera
plugged into the outlet, it keeps watch
Dedicated music device
alarm clock and player on the nightstand
Smart home controller
fixed panel for lights and cameras
Desk clock with photos
night mode with an improvised frame
Garden plant monitor
photos and watering reminders
Stand made from reclaimed wood
a rustic base for the fixed device
Donation for parts
the screen and cameras still hold value
Specialty
Practical and Structural Physics
Idea 1
Safe disposal of the swollen battery
A swollen lithium battery is full of flammable gas, the result of internal chemical reactions that break down the electrolyte. In the past, batteries ended up as landfill weight without much fuss; today, when they rupture under pressure or heat, they become the start of a fire. That's why proper disposal protects your home, the collector and the collection truck.
What you need
- A container made of non-flammable material (a box of sand, a metal pot or a bucket with soil)
- Sand, dry soil or ash
- Strong adhesive tape (masking tape or electrical tape)
- A bag or box for transport
- The nearest battery drop-off point (electronics stores, supermarkets or recycling stations)
How to make it
-
1
First, turn off the phone and DO NOT try to charge it or turn it back on: every charge adds energy and pressure to a cell that is already unstable, raising the risk of fire.
-
2
If the device opens easily, cover the battery connector with adhesive tape — this insulates the terminals and prevents a short circuit, the spark that ignites the internal gas.
-
3
Place the battery (or the entire device, if it won't open) inside the metal pot and cover it with sand or dry soil: this material smothers any flame and supports the structure, preventing the cell from being pressed.
-
4
Keep the pot in a cool, dry place away from anything flammable, because heat and sunlight speed up the reactions inside the battery.
-
5
Take the whole thing to the drop-off point as soon as possible — a swollen battery is not something to "deal with later": the longer it sits, the greater the chance of rupture.
Finishing touches
never puncture, crush or freeze the battery to "empty" it — the internal gas is flammable and the ruptured structure can catch fire on the spot. If you notice a strong chemical smell or heating, move the pot away from combustible materials and ventilate the room.
Idea 2
Proper deflation: take it to a repair shop
Battery swelling comes from gas buildup inside a sealed compartment — and no home technique removes that gas safely. Repair technicians work with controlled discharge, ventilation and cell replacement, because the physics here is simple: confined pressure plus heat plus electrical energy is the recipe for fire. The only safe "renewal" is replacing the battery.
What you need
- The phone turned off
- A protective case or cloth for transport
- The address of an authorized repair shop or a store specializing in battery replacement
- A receipt or invoice for the device, if you have one (makes the quote easier)
How to make it
-
1
Turn off the device and stop using it immediately: every charge cycle or use raises the internal temperature, and temperature is exactly what a swollen battery cannot handle.
-
2
Do not try to squeeze, press in a vise, puncture or "deflate" the swelling: the cell's inner membrane is thin, and any extra deformation can rupture the separator between the layers, causing an almost instant fire.
-
3
Remove the phone case, if there is one: it presses on the screen and body, and the swollen device is already under structural tension — without the case, the pressure distributes better.
-
4
Place the device on a firm, non-flammable surface (a stone countertop, ceramic floor), away from curtains, sofas and papers, so that any eventual smoke or flame finds no fuel nearby.
-
5
Take the phone to an authorized repair shop or a trusted workshop: there the battery is removed with proper tools, without strain on the cell, and replaced with a new one, with the old one disposed of correctly.
-
6
When replacing it, choose an original or certified-quality battery: a cheap cell without overcharge protection tends to swell again in a short time.
Finishing touches
while you wait for the replacement, don't charge the device or leave it in the car or in the sun. After the replacement, avoid non-certified chargers and high temperatures — they are the two biggest culprits behind premature swelling.
Idea 3
Donation for parts
Workshops and technical schools have always lived on donated devices: a phone that no longer turns on holds a screen, cameras, tiny screws and boards that still work. Before thinking about repairing it, you need to understand the structure: a swollen battery is an internal pressure problem — the gas released by chemical degradation pushes the casing from the inside out.
What you need
- The iPhone with the swollen battery
- A sturdy, non-flammable box or container (a metal tin, ceramic pot)
- Wide adhesive tape (masking tape or packing tape)
- A bag or small box for transport
- The address of a repair shop, a phone repair store, an electronics drop-off point or a local technical school
- A room thermometer isn't necessary, but avoid leaving the device in a closed car or a hot place
How to make it
-
1
Turn off the device (if it still turns on) and don't try to charge it anymore: every charge cycle increases the internal pressure of a swollen battery, and the structure is already deformed.
-
2
Don't squeeze, bend or try to open the casing at home: the screen and structure act as containment for the pressure, and forcing that barrier can rupture the cell.
-
3
Place the device on a firm, non-flammable surface, away from papers, fabrics and curtains — if there is any gas leak or heating, the surrounding material won't feed anything.
-
4
Secure the device with adhesive tape inside the box or tin, without pressing on the screen: it must be immobile for transport, since friction and impact are the real risks here.
-
5
Take it to a repair shop, workshop or electronics drop-off point and explain that the battery is swollen: those with the right tools remove the cell safely and give the rest a new life as parts.
Finishing touches
many workshops are happy to receive devices like this to extract components — it's worth calling ahead and asking. And if you like, ask them to return the casing after the battery is removed: it still has plenty of projects in it.
Specialty
Visual Agronomy and Applied Biology
Idea 4
Becomes a dedicated security camera
Before becoming a "watchful eye", the device still has a living role at home: watching over the vegetable garden and the plants. Free camera apps turn an old phone into a continuous monitor — and the reason it works is simple: the camera is one of the components that depends least on the battery, and a device plugged straight into the outlet doesn't need it at all.
What you need
- A phone whose battery has been safely removed by a qualified technician (or, if still intact but weak, kept only as a backup)
- A charger and cable in good condition, plugged into the outlet
- A firm stand or base (it can be made from reclaimed wood)
- A free monitoring camera app (many work without an account, through the browser)
- A dry, ventilated spot, away from direct sunlight
How to make it
-
1
Take the device to a technician to assess and safely remove the swollen battery — a burst battery should never stay in use, as it can leak or catch fire. Without it, the phone runs straight on power from the outlet.
-
2
Install the device in a cool, ventilated spot, never inside a drawer or closed box — circuits without a battery still heat up, and circulating air solves that.
-
3
Point the camera at the vegetable garden, compost bin or seedling nursery and activate motion recording: this way you follow the plants' growth and identify who visits at night.
-
4
Mount the phone on the stand so the weight is centered over the base — a device hanging by its edge strains the casing and falls easily.
-
5
Set up monitoring on your current phone and test the image before fixing it in place for good.
Finishing touches
with the live image, it becomes easy to photograph the seedlings' progress and compare weeks — a visual diary of your garden without spending a thing.
Idea 5
Dedicated music device
Every showpiece gardener has a soundtrack — and an old phone, relieved of phone duty, is the perfect "countertop record player". Since internet radio and playlists run even on slow devices, it handles the role well: it stays plugged into the outlet, playing all day next to the plants.
What you need
- A phone whose battery has been safely removed by a qualified technician
- A fixed charger plugged into the outlet
- A small speaker with a cable input, or internet radio played directly through the device's own speaker
- A stable stand (a wooden box, shelf or the potting bench)
- Home Wi-Fi
How to make it
-
1
Deal with the battery first: a specialist technician removes the swollen cell, because keeping it in continuous use plugged into the outlet with a compromised battery is a real overheating risk.
-
2
Choose a fixed spot near the outlet and the Wi-Fi, in a covered, dry environment — electricity and watering moisture don't mix.
-
3
Install an internet radio app or a saved playlist that plays without depending on an account or password.
-
4
Keep the screen brightness at minimum and turn off vibration and notifications: less processing means less heat in a device that no longer has a battery.
-
5
Position the speaker facing where you work, and test it for a few hours before considering the spot final.
Finishing touches
create a playlist just for growing — calm music matches the rhythm of watering and pruning, and the device gains a new, quiet and lasting trade. First of all, an important warning: a swollen battery is a real fire risk — don't try to puncture, charge or disassemble it at home; take it to a technician or an electronics drop-off point. And as for the "smart home controller", it falls outside what I can develop here — my focus is giving materials and ingredients a new purpose, but I can bring you this other idea that fits your daily life:
Idea 6
Garden plant monitor
Before digital sensors, growers and gardeners read plants by sight: leaf color, stem curvature, soil moisture tested with a finger. This reading works because the plant "writes" its state on its appearance — lack of water wilts the cells, lack of nutrients discolors the leaves, and a trained eye picks up on all of it.
What you need
- A wooden stick or barbecue skewer (measures moisture)
- A ruler or measuring tape
- A little notebook or labels reclaimed from packaging for notes
- A magnifying glass, if you have one (helps spot small pests)
- A permanent marker
How to make it
-
1
Stick the skewer about 5 cm into the soil of each pot and mark with the pen how far it goes in — this is your reusable "gauge", which you pull out and put back in the same spot every time.
-
2
When you pull out the skewer, observe: damp soil sticks and darkens the wood; dry soil comes off clean. This tells you whether it's time to water, without soaking the roots.
-
3
Label each pot with the plant's name and planting date — comparing growth over the weeks reveals whether something is stunting development.
-
4
Once a week, hold the leaves up to the light: yellow patches indicate excess water, dry tips indicate a lack of it, and little dots or fine webs point to pests like mites.
-
5
Write everything down in the notebook with the date — the pattern that emerges over time is what turns watering from instinct into a safe routine.
Finishing touches
glass or clear plastic pots at the edge let you see even the roots, becoming one more sign of the plant's health. With two or three weeks of notes, you know every neighbor in the garden by name — and by face.
Specialty
Rustic and Structural Carpentry
Idea 7
Stand made from reclaimed wood
Desk stands for phones were born in woodworking shops as an exercise in thrift: a block of hardwood, two cuts and done. It works because wood has enough weight and friction to hold the device at an angle without tipping — the wide base shifts the center of gravity downward.
What you need
- A piece of sturdy wood (peroba, eucalyptus or leftover furniture wood, about 12 x 8 cm)
- A handsaw or coping saw
- Medium and fine sandpaper
- A chisel or small file to open the groove
- A ruler and pencil
How to make it
-
1
Mark a rectangle of about 12 x 8 cm on the wood and saw it — this proportion gives stability without weighing too much on the table.
-
2
Cut a vertical groove 1 to 1.5 cm wide and 1 cm deep at the top, using the chisel — that's where the phone rests; measure the device's thickness first.
-
3
Make two diagonal cuts on the front of the base or sand an angled bevel, so the phone leans back and doesn't slide forward.
-
4
Sand everything, starting with the medium grit and finishing with the fine one, rounding the corners — this prevents splinters and improves the finish.
-
5
If you like, cooking oil applied with a cloth gives a slightly darkened tone and protects the wood.
Finishing touches
Leave the groove 2 mm wider so it fits even with a case on. You can also cut a second side channel for the charger cable to run behind.
Idea 8
Desk clock with photos
Homemade desk clocks with wooden frames were common in country homes, made by those who had boards to spare and wall space to spare no less. The logic is simple: the quartz movement is light and independent of the structure — all it takes is a firm base that holds the weight on the wall or table without warping over time.
What you need
- Reclaimed wood (a leftover crate slat or thin board, about 25 x 18 cm)
- A quartz clock movement with hands (cheap at a hardware store)
- 2 or 3 small printed photos
- White glue and a brush
- A drill or hand drill with a 5 mm bit
- Sandpaper
How to make it
-
1
Cut the wood into a rectangular shape and sand both faces well — the wood must lie flat so the movement doesn't sit crooked.
-
2
Drill the center of the base with the 5 mm bit — that's the hole the movement's shaft passes through; check the hole size with the movement in hand first.
-
3
Fit the movement from behind and attach the hands in front, starting with the hour hand, then the minute hand and finally the second hand, without forcing them.
-
4
Glue the photos around the dial with white glue, leaving space for the hands to turn — distribute the weight of the papers evenly so the piece doesn't lean to one side.
-
5
Apply a coat of oil or wax to the wood to protect it from moisture, which is what most often makes a wooden piece warp.
Finishing touches
If the phone still works after the battery replacement, use photos taken by the phone itself in the project. A wire hook on the back lets you hang it on the wall, turning it into a family wall clock.
Care
The swollen battery is the critical point. Do not try to puncture, crush, freeze or disassemble the cell — the lithium electrolyte can catch fire when exposed to air. Keep the device turned off, away from flammable surfaces and direct sunlight. If you need to transport it, cover the terminals with electrical tape and take it to a repair shop or an electronics drop-off point. Never charge the device in this state.
One final tip
An old device with a new life is one of the most satisfying kinds of reuse: have the battery replaced by a technician you trust and turn the iPhone into a useful household object — camera, alarm clock, panel. Small task, big satisfaction.
Share this page
The ideas stay stored: whoever opens the link sees this same page, ready and waiting.
This page feeds the collective knowledge 🌱 — every discovery makes the next answer better.