Even though we are digging our way out of snow, ice, and freezing rain, Spring will soon be here and our minds turn toward Spring Cleaning...
How and where do we get rid of all our excess stuff that we had to have? Looking at it now, makes me wonder why I ever needed that huge overstuffed chair that takes up too much space in my family room...Got a new rug, and then a new couch, so now need all new stuff to match :)
Starting in the kitchen, cleaning out cabinets with my Grandmother;s china that I have not used in 20 years...If you have vintage china check out www.Replacements.com or www.iadm.com. If you decide to go ahead with selling, you are responsible for packing, shipping, and insuring---which could run into a lot of money due to weight...
Another option of not only china, but also everything is the tried and true estate sale (if you have a lot of good items)...You can hire an estate sale company, but they do take a certain percentage of your sales, but also package up everything that is not sold and take it away...A garage sale is another option for any item..."One man's trash is another man's treasure," has never been SO true!
Other options are eBay, Freecycle, Craigslist and charity donation...
Books have to multiply if left alone! If books are in good shape, try second hand stores, consignment stores, library, donate to Goodwill or other organization, or the free-standing charity donation boxes in parking lots.
Unwanted furniture that is in good condition can be posted on Craigslist, consignment shops, or posted on a bulletin board at grocery store or other visible places in your general area...If you have antique or vintage furniture, consult several antique shops...If you just wish to donate the furniture, try Donation Nation (www.donationnationusa.org)...Also AMVETS, Goodwill, Salvation Army, and other charities...If you just want it picked up, post on Freecycle (www.freecycle.org) or check with your garbage service to see how heavy the item can be and if you need a sticker or a "special" pick up...Don't be surprised if it is "picked up" before the garbage truck gets there, as "FREE" is always good :)
Technology items---Before you sell or donate, go online or into the devices settings to find out how to do a factory restore to remove all your information from the hard drive or whatever...After that you can try www.gazelle.com, which is a trade in site...If you are just going to throw away, check with your town's city hall or municipal center to find out if they have a recycle center or a special time when they are picking up items such as SPRING cleaning garbage pickup...My town does that twice a year---once in the Spring and once in the Fall and will take unwanted items during those two pickups at no extra cost.
If you have a used cell phone and do not want to take to phone store, use www.cellphonesfor soldiers.com..That is a wonderful use for the phone that you have "outgrown!"
Recycling useful items is a wonderful way to get your home clean and help others!
