While it’s not an epidemic, nearly everyone has unwanted “stuff.”
From the scrap metal left behind by useless kitchenware, piles of clothes that are never worn, that old couch that’s taking up space in the backyard, to the old junk car in the garage that you haven’t touched in years, having stuff that you no longer need or use is bizarrely stressful.
Clothes that are never worn, that old couch that’s taking up space in the backyard, to the old junk car in the garage that you haven’t touched in years, having stuff that you no longer need or use is bizarrely stressful.
Clutter in your home steals space that can be put to better use. It’s also time and energy-consuming, considering it takes more time to clean and keep your home when you have more stuff. Depending on the severity of your situation, here are a few simple ways to get rid of old junk whilst avoiding the landfills:
1. Sell it.
The best way to get rid of old junk is to make money from them. There are several ways you can sell old junk. A garage sale is a good option if you want to sell a handful of items yourself. But if you have a significant amount of valuables, consider an estate sale. Although the estate sale company will take a small percentage of the revenue, they’ll manage the entire process and make it less labour-intensive for you. Other conventional ways to sell include a church sale, taking a table at a flea market, or selling to local consignment stores, thrift shops, pawn shops, or antique dealers.
Technology has also made it possible to sell items online. The most obvious options include Craigslist for larger items like furniture or selling old cars for cash, eBay to sell your gadgets, Amazon will buy old electronics, Gazelle to sell your devices, and ThredUp or Tradesy for clothes. You can also take advantage of resale sites or apps that will pay you upfront for your stuff; for instance, use Powell’s to sell books. You can also advertise old items via social media or on a blog. Your friends or site visitors might like and purchase them. Be sure to watch out for scammers though when selling stuff online.
2. Go digital.
Everyone is looking to digitise their life. Nothing saves space like digitizing paper documents, old VHS tapes, stacks of photos, or other analogue media collections.
3. Re-purpose it.
For the resourceful individuals out there, you may be able to repurpose some of the items thanks to DIY projects you can find online. Let your creativity run wild to figure out how you can turn your trash into something more treasure-like. For instance, non-ferrous metals, like aluminum or copper, are malleable, which means they can be hammered or pressed into shape to form something new. Try fastening them around a lumpy pillow to make a bed for your pet.
4. Swap it.
Skip the usual sale and just swap items with friends and family. This can be done between two or more people. Invite everyone to bring whatever items they don’t need or use anymore, and let everyone take whatever they need. You could set up a few rules like the number of items everyone should bring and that one can only take as many items as they brought to the swap. That way, it is equal and no one goes home empty-handed.
5. Donate it.
Donating things you don’t use or need frees up some space while helping someone in need. There are several charities that will accept your donations. Some charities distribute donated items to the poor while others sell them to raise money for the charity. You can also put your donation in donation boxes located around town or simply give them to someone needy. You can donate anything that’s still in good condition including clothing, shoes, electronics, books, furniture, cabinets, appliances, etc. Be sure to get a receipt if you plan on making a claim on your tax return. A tax calc can also be useful in this situation as well.
6. Recycle it.
Recycling is an Eco-friendly way to get rid of unusable items. You’ll be surprised how many household items can be recycled. Many communities have recycling centres for items like carpets, electronics, scrap metal, tires, mattresses, and so on. You might be required to give drop off fees for some items, so be sure to call beforehand. Your waste management company can also help take your recyclables to the recycling centres.
Then, keep it up.
Congratulations on making your house clutter-free. But now you have to work on maintaining a crap-free lifestyle. Here are a few tips to help keep off the excess stuff you once had:
- Get rid of something old every time you buy something new. It doesn’t have to be the same type but should take up at least the same amount of space.
- Avoid impulse buying and only get what you really need
- Stay organized
- Set an expiration date for anything you haven’t used in a year
Cleaning can be overwhelming, especially when you have to get rid of stuff you’ve owned over the years. Don’t worry though; you’re bound to love the extra space and the clean house even more.
Recently, I’ve finished reading “The Life-Changing Magic of Tidying Up”, Marie Kondo. Here are some of I learned.
1 you are tidying up the home, you will surely see the items that can be nostalgic. If you start to dig into things like these, of course, you will never get rid of the junk.
2. Marie Kondo suggests that you tidy up your house by category. You can start with books, magazines, your children toys.
3. If you get in trouble with clutter, use a shelf or drawer because every single have their place. So, it is way to get rid of the junk undoubtedly.
Cleaning the house and get rid of the junk will become easy and you don’t have to spend so much money to implement this. No matter where you live, you can adapt them to your unique situation.