Disposing of Decluttered Items in Your Home | 7 Savvy Do's and Don'ts From A Professional Organizer
Decluttering your home feels like a fresh start — until you have a pile of things you no longer need. Disposing of decluttered items properly is just as important as deciding to part with them. Carelessly tossing things can waste money and create safety hazards.
In this blog you will learn how to declutter properly. One of the biggest challenges when it comes to disposing of decluttered items is what to do with your items once you've decided you no longer want or need them.
Why Proper Disposal Matters
Many household items — like documents, electronics and chemicals — require specific handling. Dumping these in the trash could pollute landfills or expose your personal information.
There’s also the financial impact of holding onto clutter. A surprising 54% of Americans dedicate 100 to 500 square feet of their homes to storage. With the median U.S. home price at $227 per square foot, you’re effectively paying $68,000 if you’re using 300 square feet just to store your things.
Decluttering Do’s and Don’ts
Knowing the do’s and don’ts of disposing of decluttered items will keep your home tidy, your bank account safe and your conscience clear.
1. Do Donate What’s Still Usable
Before throwing anything, ask yourself if someone else could use it. Donation centers, schools and shelters often need gently used goods. For clothes, pack clean and wearable items, then drop them off at your local Salvation Army, Goodwill or women’s shelter. For toys and books, libraries, schools and family service centers often accept preloved items. For furniture and household stuff, Habitat for Humanity ReStores accepts working appliances, building materials and furniture.
2. Do Dispose of or Recycle Electronics
Old gadgets shouldn’t go in the trash because they contain toxic substances. Drop off phones, tablets or laptops at certified e-waste collection sites. Many community centers and stores also have designated bins for battery recycling. Contact your local recycling center for specific disposal instructions if you need to dispose of televisions and monitors.
Be extra careful when handling paints, pesticides and cleaning chemicals — these should be taken to hazardous waste facilities. Never store propane tanks in the garage or your home because a leak can ignite if exposed to any spark, so immediately bring them to the right disposal facility.
3. Do Shred Documents or Recycle Paper Products
Mail and papers can pile up quickly, but many contain sensitive information you don’t want to fall into the wrong hands. Sort through your papers and shred anything that shows medical details, account numbers or other private data. Recycle the rest of the documents without plastic bindings or staples.
4. Do Sell Items With Resale Value
Selling is smart if you want to recoup some of your investment. Apps like eBay and Carousel are great for selling small electronics, clothing and shoes. At the same time, online platforms like OfferUp and Facebook Marketplace are useful for selling electronics, tools and furniture in your vicinity. You can also hold a garage sale.
5. Don’t Donate Dirty or Broken Items
It creates additional work for donation centers and could end up in the trash anyway. Sustainable decluttering is about putting items in their proper places, and sometimes, that means knowing when something should go in the trash.
6. Don’t Keep Bank Statements
The same goes for old bills or tax paperwork beyond the necessary retention periods. Most only need to be kept for three to seven years, depending on the document type. Shredding these documents is a safe way to dispose of potentially sensitive information.
7. Don’t Overprice Your Items
Be realistic about the condition of any items you’re selling on online marketplaces or in yard sales. Research their market value and account for depreciation before listing. Consider the value of the item along with how eager you are to declutter it from your space to arrive at a competitive price.
Common Items and How to Dispose of Them Properly
Use a decluttering system to help you stay on track. If you’re unsure where to start, try the 12-12-12 method to make it manageable. Just look for 12 items to donate, 12 to throw away and 12 to return to their proper place. This works well for households with limited time for decluttering.
Here’s a quick guide to common decluttering targets:
- Clothing: Donate to charities or sell online
- Batteries: Drop off at recycling collection points
- Toys and books: Donate to shelters or schools
- Electronics: Recycle at e-waste sites or return to retailers
- Paint and chemicals: Take to hazardous waste drop-offs
- Furniture: Sell locally or donate
- Documents: Shred those with personal info, then recycle the rest
