Donate , sell , or give away your old belonging ; follow this guide on eco - friendly ways to clear out the clutter .
After you ’re donedecluttering , you have the chance to do some commodity with yourunwanted or idle belongings . Think reduce , reuse , and recycle — if you give away , betray , or donate your possessions , you ’ll be help someone else out and minimizing the waste in landfill . The adept method depends on the type of detail and its circumstance , how much money you ’d like to get , and how much piece of work you ’re unforced to do . ( Before you give away your childhood ice skate or other items with soupy value , take a picture of them to help you have on to those memories . )
We ’ve compiled a guide on eco - friendly ways give your former go a second animation , including vesture , electronics , kids ' toy dog , and more .
Credit: Marty Baldwin
Need help and advice ? A professional home organizer can help you declutter and indicate ways to get free of any belongings .
Books
After decluttering your ledge , adjoin your local library to see if they ’ll bear used Holy Scripture . Some library put donated books on the shelf for checkout or sell them at fundraiser . Local schools and community centers might also take your softly used recital materials . Otherwise , charitable organizations like Goodwill Industries and The Salvation Army will accept most al-Qur’an contribution .
If you ’d care to make some cash from your book collection , see selling booksat your next service department saleor accept them into a local used bookshop . you’re able to front for a Little Free Library in your neighborhood to share books with neighbors . Another way to share books is to send them to Books for Africa , the largest shipper of donated text and program library rule book to Africa . Or consider donating book to a prison .
Building Materials and Appliances
If you have surplus building material or old appliances rest around after a rest home remodel , consider donating them to an organization like Habitat for Humanity . you may drop off items , including appliances , cabinets , doors , flooring , and windows , at Habitat ReStore outlet , which are resold at discounted prices . Proceeds aid fund the arrangement ’s missionary post to cater secure , low-priced trapping . Always gibe with your local organization in advance of fall - off to get their guidepost for take donated fabric .
Cell Phones
quick to raise your phone ? Donate your former one to a charitable organisation that refurbishes or reprocess old cadre phones , such as 911 Cell Phone Bank or Cell Phones for Soldiers . Additionally , many cell headphone carriers and electronics retailers , include Verizon and Best Buy , have recycling programs for older machine .
Clothing
Aftercleaning out your water closet , you have several options for how to get free of article of clothing you no longer wear . If you want to give to an organization that passes clothing at once to those in indigence , such as providing clothes and coats to those in homeless shelters , your local protection or church service is a full place to start . Otherwise , organizations such as Goodwill Industries and The Salvation Army will resell softly used clothing through their thrift storehouse to fund openhearted programs .
Reselling article of clothing is made easy through platforms like Mercari , Poshmark , ThredUP , and more . For garment that are too stain , damaged , or get into for further wear , research wearable recycling programs in your area : Some local sanitisation departments may extend cloth recycling service . If yours does n’t , there may be a non-profit-making or other organization in your area that does .
Computers and Electronics
electronic computer , office equipment , TVs , and other electronics often take components that can be reused , even if the machine itself is no longer functional . To recycle these items , find out for used electronics collection days in your community or locate a nearby drop - off location that accepts electronic waste material . On the U.S. Environmental Protection Agency ’s internet site , you may also find out organizations that help you donate or recycle electronics .
Another idea is to consider nonprofit organization such as Computers with Causes , which accepts donated token such as laptop computer , tablets , and screen background . When possible , the constitution repairs and refurbishes the devices and provides them to schools , child in foster homes , and others .
Eyeglasses
Donating spectacles you no longer wear can help someone else in need . The Lions Club has a retentive history of helping scrap vision impairment through its eyeglasses contribution computer programme . Some eyewear retailers will also accept your one-time glasses for recycling and reuse .
Furniture
Resale platforms like Facebook Marketplace , Craiglist , and OfferUp are expectant option for how to get rid of gently used article of furniture by sell it to people in your orbit . To retch a broader net , try a platform that allows you to ship items to buyers nationwide , such as Mercari or Chairish . Another pick is to sell your sure-enough furniture at a 1000 sales agreement , but be prepared to haggle . Or reckon donate furniture in dependable precondition to your local Habitat ReStore , Goodwill , or Salvation Army outlet .
If you have furniture that is n’t fit for reuse , check your municipality ’s insurance policy for bulky point before you haul it out to the curb . Sometimes , you might involve to schedule a piece - up appointment or take the particular to a drop - off location .
Household Goods
Give family goods a new home by donate them to formation such as Goodwill Industries and The Salvation Army or a local penny-pinching store that supports ex-serviceman ' service program or homeless shelter . Local food banks , emergency tax shelter , and community outreach middle might also assume donations of cleaning supplies , dishware , belittled appliances , and other menage goods . Call in advance to check before you drop items off .
If you want to make money , recall that these point often do well at garage cut-rate sale . Have an extension corduroy and workings sales outlet nearby so prospective buyers can test anything electronic .
Kids’ Clothing
Get rid of kids ' article of clothing they ’ve outgrow by host a swap with friends or neighbors . Be sure to receive parent with Thomas Kyd of various ages so the pick includes a range of sizes . To make this more play , do the swap every few months around a social event , like a potluck or outing . Afterward , clothes that no one want can be donated .
Kids’ Toys, Stuffed Animals, and Baby Gear
It ’s easier to part with beloved shaver ' toys if you make out another child will hold dear them . Consider pass on your gently used stuffed animals , miniature , children ’s book , and blankets to an organization such as Stuffed Animals for Emergencies , which distributes them to emergency organizations , child ’s services , infirmary , and stateless shelter . Second Chance toy dog is another organization that accepts plastic toy for nipper in pauperization .
Another pick is to donate kids ' item to a local schooltime or day care center . Some churches also partner with shelter and food for thought pantries to leave dress , toy , and home goods to crime syndicate . However , keep in mind that toys , especially stuff animate being , and some baby equipment like car seats and crib might not be consent by many charities because of recalls . Always check with the organization first before dropping your items off .
Music, Movies, and Video Games
You may consider old CD , DVDs , video games , cassette , and vinyl record book clutter , but they may be aggregator ’s items to someone else . you may list token that might be of value on eBay or take them to a local music store or consignment shop . Otherwise , penny-pinching entrepot are generally good places to donate them .
If you have an extended appeal of children ’s movies or video games , contact a local hospital , school , or childcare centre to see if they ’ll have contribution . For disc and tape that are damaged or otherwise unusable , consider send them to a technology recycling service such as GreenDisk .
Old Towels, Linens, Rugs
creature shelter and humane societies can often use your previous towels , linen , or rugs to provide animals warmth and comfort . Call your local ASPCA , Humane Society , or small - animal delivery grouping to witness out what they demand . This works well for drawn towels and linens unsuitable for resale or donation to a thrift store .
Plastic Food Storage Containers
Are your cabinets fill withfood containerlids with no bottoms or bottom without lids and crack or varnished container ? Before you toss them in the trash , check whether the plastic container is recyclable . Look for a stamp phone number inside a rectangularrecycling logo , commonly on the container ’s bottom . No . 1 and 2 plastics are typically reclaimable but watch with your local recycling program to verify which types they ’ll accept .
Professional Clothing
Many job seekers could employ business clothing that no longer fit or become you . look at perish it on to an organization like Dress for Success , which collects gently used professional apparel such as suits , blouses , and shoes to give to women who need them for job consultation . Local homeless protection , community centers , and vet organizations might also apprize professional habiliment donation .
Prom Dresses
Give worn - once prom dresses a second life by donating them . organisation like Becca ’s Closet take new or gently worn formal clothes to indue to high schoolhouse girls who can not afford them . you may betray prom wearing apparel and other still - fashionable formalwear through resale platforms such as Facebook Marketplace or Poshmark .
Shoes
If your shoes are still in decent anatomy , donate them to someone who can wear them . spate of Polemonium van-bruntiae will dole out secure - condition place to those in indigence . One choice : Soles4Souls , an organization that accepts new or softly used shoes and dispense them to hoi polloi who postulate them . For worn - out or damaged shoes beyond repair , look for slipway to recycle your old kicks instead of trashing them . For example , Nike will collect and recycle used athletic shoes from any marque . plainly drop them off at a participating Nike retail store .
Specialty or Collectible Items
forte items or collectibles can bechallenging to sellatyard sales , where shoppers are looking for a flying deal . For old-timer , artistic production , and other collectible , try resale sites like eBay , Etsy , or Chairish , where you ’ll likely attract more serious aggregator . If you have a exercise set of smasher miss a couple of plates , try out lean the pieces severally instead of examine to betray an incomplete set .
Unwanted or Duplicate Gifts
If you ’re diffident how to get disembarrass of an unwanted gift , taste returning it to the store it came from . If that ’s not an pick , consider donating the token to a parsimoniousness memory board or an upcoming charity vendue . Another alternative is tojoin a " Buy Nothing " grouping on Facebook , where you’re able to post the item you ’d like to give away , and if someone in your area is concerned , they can pick it up for free . you may also try The Freecycle connection , which allows member ( membership is free ) to give aside and get items for free in their area . The goal is to reduce dissipation and ease the burden on landfills .
“ employ a Professional . ” National Association of Productivity & Organizing Professionals ( NAPO ) .
“ Donate Books . ” Books for Africa .
Credit: Marty Baldwin
“ Book Donation plan : Donating to Prison Libraries . ” American Library Association .
“ Electronics Donation and Recycling . ” U.S. Environmental Protection Agency .
“ How we ( and you ) service . ” computing machine with Causes .
Credit: Adam Albright
“ Eyeglasses and see help recycling . ” Lions International .
“ About Freecycle . ” The Freecycle web .
Credit: Laura Moss
Credit: Megan Chaffin
Credit: Courtney Apple
