We all have old items collecting dust in our closets, drawers, and other areas of our homes. If you’re like me and declutter your home once or twice every year, there are endless possibilities as to what you’ll find.
While deep cleaning your home can feel very rewarding and refreshing, there’s always one question that remains, “What do I do with all this old stuff?” Or, “How do I know what to keep, sell, or throw away?”
Lucky for you, I have a few answers. Here’s my tried-and-true strategy for getting rid of old, unwanted items once you’ve decluttered your home.
First, Determine the Trash
If you’re like me, then you’ve come to loathe throwing things in the trash nowadays (because really, who doesn’t feel bad about contributing to the massive amounts of landfills?).
But, the more I declutter my house, the more I find things that, if I’m honest with myself, don’t serve a purpose anymore for me or anyone else.
When it comes to clothes, anything that is dirty, stained, or ripped (not fashion-statement ripped), instantly goes in the trash, or if I feel like it would make a great rag, I’ll recycle it (but more on that later).
I operate the same with shoes, but I’ll also check the smell to see if I feel like it’s sanitary enough to donate or sell, especially when it’s tennis shoes in question. Other shoes like flats, sandals, or booties, I always check to see if the shoes are ripped, peeling, or just plain disgusting. And if they are, they’ll go in the trash.
Then there are also obvious items that belong in the trash, like old receipts, old or broken knick-knacks, and so forth. The key to knowing what items belong in the trash is looking at your belongings from an objective perspective without the sentiment.
If you’re struggling to know if something is trash-worthy, look at the item in question and ask yourself, “Would people other than me really find use in it?”
Things to Consider Before Throwing Out Items
- Throw away anything that is broken, dirty, stained, or ripped.
- Be honest with yourself about the usage and function of items.
- Unsanitary shoes always belong in the trash.
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Consider What to Donate
The older I’ve gotten, the more I lean towards donating clothes and other home items over selling. In my experience, it’s less of a hassle to donate items than to spend an afternoon at a clothing thrift store only to make less than $100 for my five bags of name-brand, in-style clothes (true story).
Items that warrant going in the “donate pile” to me are any garments, furniture, or home items that are in good condition, designer or name brand, and aren’t broken or could still be of use.
I apply all the same rules from the trash pile (the items must be clean, sanitized, and not dirty or completely worn out) because I don’t believe it’s fair to donate something that’s literally on its last leg.
Donating and selling to me are the best options to take with the unwanted items that are left after decluttering since it gives other people chances to make use of items you no longer find usable in you’re own home.
Whenever I don’t have the creative mind to figure out ways to repurpose my clothes or home items, donating is always the next route I take.
Things to Consider Before Donating
- Double-check the items you’re donating to make sure there’s nothing sentimental or of value in the box.
- Donate items should always be in good condition and not completely worn out.
- If possible, try to clean your items before donating them so they smell and appear fresh.
See What Will Sell
Selling decluttered items can be a great way to make some spare change or get some of your money back on an item you didn’t use as much as you thought you would.
There are now so many options for selling unwanted clothes or items through online marketplaces, thrift stores, estate sales, and more, all of which I’ve taken part in to sell my belongings.
I don’t sell as many clothes or items as I used to, but when I did, most of the items that go in the donate pile are the same items would sell. Meaning, that anything that is in style, name-brand or designer, gently worn, and clean are excellent candidates.
Have Pottery Barn, Anthropologie, or Wayfair furniture and home decor items that don’t fit your aesthetic anymore? Sell those!
Keep in mind that certain platforms may charge you a certain percentage of your earnings, so I always lean towards online marketplaces like Facebook to sell my items since they don’t charge at all.
Things to Consider Before Selling
- Anything that’s designer, name-brand, or in style makes great items to sell.
- Make sure your items are gently worn.
- Some platforms charge a certain percentage for selling through them.
Always Try to Recycle
The best part about recycling old, decluttered stuff is that you can literally recycle them by putting them in the recycling bin, or you can repurpose items to use them in a new way.
Consider recycling items like…
One of my favorite repurposing projects was transforming an old dresser into a fully functioning entertainment center. I no longer wanted the dresser as part of my bedroom furniture, so I gave the piece a makeover with some stain and paint, and now it sits in the living room with my favorite decor pieces.
My husband, who is quite the handyman, has taken several pairs of our old socks and linens and transformed them into rags to use for outside or garage projects. We’ve even used other pairs of socks or linens as dust rags before.
How I know something is recyclable all comes down to condition. For instance, the dresser was in great condition, it just didn’t suit my bedroom style aesthetically anymore. The repurposed rags, on the other hand, were ripped and old, but still in good condition enough to make them useable to help clean up dirty messes around the home.
I love this sustainable way of using items differently instead of tossing them in the trash or giving a less-than-desirable item to a donating center.
After decluttering, I recommend spending some time looking at your objects and researching ways you can recycle your old items around the home before deciding further what should go in the trash and what should go elsewhere, like a donating center or selling online.
Things to Consider Before Recycling
- Research ways to recycle the use of old stuff before throwing away, donating, or selling.
- For items that aren’t being repurposed, make sure they’re eligible to be placed in the recycling bin.