There’s nothing like the satisfying feeling of decluttering to make your house easier to maintain. Less clutter not only leads to less stress but also creates a more relaxing and peaceful home environment. The big challenge, however, is what to do with your stuff after you’ve finished decluttering.
If you stack up your old belongings in “get rid of” piles but fail to donate them, the clutter will persist. It’s best to immediately donate, trash, or sell your items before you forget about them and move on to your next project.
As someone who appreciates a minimal home but has three kids and a husband who constantly brings new items into the house, I’ve become a pro at decluttering and donating. Whether you need to unload an old dresser or don’t know what to do with the stacks of ill-fitting clothes, I’ve got you covered. Read below for a complete guide on getting rid of your stuff.
To Sell or Donate (One is Probably Better than the Other!)
When I help friends and family declutter, this question always comes up: Should I sell or donate my old stuff? In most cases, donating is the way to go. If the mission of decluttering is to create a more streamlined home (and not to make money), donating allows you to avoid filling the landfills and to clear out your stuff immediately.
There are a couple of instances when selling makes more sense, though. First, if you have an item that would be difficult to transport or donate (e.g., heavy furniture, treadmills, pianos, old cabinetry, etc.), you can list it for a reasonable price on the Facebook marketplace to get rid of it quickly.
The other scenario in which selling is better than donating is for like-new high-ticket items. For example, if you have a vacuum that’s still in the box or has only been used once or twice, list it on Facebook marketplace. Everything else, including clothes, shoes, knick-knacks, home decor, sporting equipment, toys, and books, should be donated so it’s out of your home quickly.
Where to Donate Your Stuff
Many places will happily take your old stuff. However, if you have electronics, furniture, or kitchen appliances, always check beforehand to ensure the organization accepts what you have.
Clothes and Shoes
The easiest place to donate clothes and shoes is your local Salvation Army or Goodwill. They accept all types of clothing and shoes, which makes it easy to unload a large amount of apparel.
If you’re looking for a more worthy charity, call your local homeless shelter first. My local homeless shelter doesn’t always accept clothing. However, depending on the clientele they work with, they sometimes have requests for certain sizes and items.
Vietnam Veterans of America is another worthy consideration. They sell their donations and use the proceeds to benefit veterans and their families.
Furniture, Building Supplies, Kitchen Items, and Home Decor
Habitat for Humanity Restores will accept furniture, building supplies, old countertops, cabinetry, light fixtures, and other home-related items. Since space may be limited, call ahead before bringing in your donations.
Some Goodwills and Salvation Army branches accept small furniture; however, this varies by location, so check ahead. All Goodwill and Salvation Army branches will accept home decor.
Sporting Equipment
Donate old sporting equipment like shoes, cleats, batting helmets, gloves, bats, tennis racquets, and more to Goodwill, Salvation Army, local sports programs, or Vietnam Veterans of America. You can also request a Give Back Box and fill it with clothing, household goods, and small sporting equipment and send it in with a prepaid shipping label.
Toys and Books
Decluttering toys and books is a big part of a house overhaul when you have young kids. If you want to offload some of your toys, Goodwill and the Salvation Army are the easiest places to drop them. You can also check with local youth groups, homeless shelters, and daycares to see if they want any of your items.
Charities that Will PICK UP Your Donations
When you have a lot of belongings to donate, scheduling a pickup makes more sense than making multiple trips to the donation center. Several charities will come to your home and pick up your stuff—best of all, they’ll likely take most of what you’re decluttering.
Vietnam Veterans of America (VVA)—Schedule a pickup with VVA and leave your donatable items on the curb. They’ll come get them. VVA isn’t available in all locations, but it’s worth checking if there’s a branch near you.
Habitat for Humanity—This organization will pick up your building supplies, construction materials, old cabinetry, counters, etc.
Goodwill—Some Goodwill stores offer pickup for large items like furniture. However, pickup availability varies, so you’ll need to call your store.
Salvation Army—The Salvation Army accepts most clothing and household items. You can schedule a pickup directly from their website.
GreenDrop—This organization accepts gently used clothing and household goods. If you have over 40 bags to donate, they will pick up your items. GreenDrop is only available in select states.
What to Do When You Can’t Find a Place to Donate Your Stuff
There will be some instances when you won’t be able to find a place to donate your stuff. This is true for baby items like car seats and less desired items like used mattresses. First, if you’re donating a car seat or other baby safety equipment, make sure the piece has never been involved in an accident and isn’t past its expiration date. (Car seats have expiration dates.)
As long as these harder-to-donate items are in good condition, you can list them in buy-nothing groups. These groups are dedicated to lessening consumer waste by requesting and listing items from the community. Find these for your area on Facebook or Freecycle.
Keep a Clutter Free Routine
After all the work you put into your house to get it decluttered, it’s time to keep it that way. Make decluttering part of your weekly cleaning routine. Keep a “donate” box in a closet and toss stuff you no longer want or need as you see it. When the box is full, drop it off at a donation center.
