As the weather warms up, we all start to exit winter hibernation mode and start tackling different projects around the house. A common part of Spring cleaning is looking through the “junk” and deciding what to keep, sell, or donate. Here are some tips that may help you with that process.
The One-Year Rule
You’ve probably heard of the one-year rule. If you haven’t used or needing something for a year, then it’s time to let it go. This excludes family heirlooms, of course, but you really have to be honest with yourself regarding everything else.
Clothes, toys, electronics, and common household items can really clutter up your storage space. Imagine if you could actually clear out the garage and use it for parking next winter. Wouldn’t that be a huge accomplishment!
Sell or Donate
Once you figure out what items need to go, now it’s time to decide what to do with it. Do you sell or donate?
Items to Sell
Small but valuable items, such as electronics, are usually easy to sell. You can post it online on websites such as eBay, Mercari, Poshmark, etc. and ship it to interested buyers. Do your research on average selling prices before posting each of your own items. The keys to a quick sale are good photos and reasonable asking prices.
Items to Donate
For items that are not worth a lot of money or are difficult to ship, it might be easiest to donate them to a local charity. Many charities even offer pickup services! Be sure to check their websites for what items are acceptable. Commonly, they will accept household goods, clothing, toys, and small furniture pieces. There are often restrictions on baby items (such as car seats and strollers), books, and large appliances.
After You Decide to “Keep, Sell, or Donate”
Once you’ve made the difficult keep, sell, or donate decisions, enjoy the extra space in your home and the extra money in your wallet. Think about ways to efficient store items that you’ve decided to keep, such as adding hanging storage in the garage or shelves in the basement. Also, to keep your storage areas from building up again, think about making the keep, sell, or donate decisions before you place those items into storage. It may save you a lot of time next Spring!
