So, if you’ve done lots of decluttering this month, well done! I’m sure your home and health is feeling much better for it. Today I’m going to take a look at what to do with stuff after decluttering.
While decluttering can be pretty cathartic, you can end up with lots of ‘stuff’ that you’re not sure what to do with.
As I’m keen to help protect the environment, I think taking things to the tip or throwing things in the rubbish should always be an absolute last resort.
What To Do With Stuff After Decluttering
1. Sell it
There are lots of benefits to selling your stuff after decluttering. It can help you raise some extra cash and if you’ve spent a lot of money on the things you’re getting rid it can be nice to feel like you’re getting some of that back.
That said, it can be frustrating having things lying around your home until they sell, so do give that some thought too
When it comes to selling, there are lots and lots of options out there and I’m going to take a look at some of the most popular.
Relates Post: Do I Need To Pay Tax When Selling My Old Homeware?
Websites For Selling Your Old Stuff
eBay – eBay is probably the most well know selling sites in the world and has the biggest audience so you know lots of people will see your items. Benefits include great buyer protection which means people can buy with confidence, however, as a seller there are the fees to consider.
Vinted – I am a huge fan of Vinted and have bought a lot of clothes on there for both myself and my daughter. Vinted charges the buyer fees rather than the seller so it’s a great place to sell. It’s also really easy to add bundle discounts so buyers get a slight price reduction when buying more than one thing from you.
Related Post: How To Sell Homeware On Vinted
Depop – Depop is a popular choice for selling clothes, especially for younger generations. So if you have lots of ASOS and PLT clothes to sell, this would be a great choice.
Shpock – Shpock is great for selling a mixture of things including clothes, toys and home wear. Asking people to complete transactions is common here but don’t do it – you and the buyer will both loose the protection Shpock provides.
Gumtree – Gumtree is great for selling bigger items like furniture. Personally it’s not one my favourite sites to use as the ads make for a really poor user experience.
Facebook Marketplace – Facebook marketplace is great getting rid of things when you don’t want the hassle of sorting out postage. As it tends to focus on your local area, people are often happy to pick things up and there are no fees involved. However, Facebook Marketplace is notorious for people being difficult, not showing up when they say they will or asking for freebies, so do bear this in mind.
Instagram – While Instagram might not be your first thought when it comes to selling, as someone who is passionate about slow fashion I follow quite a few accounts which sell preloved clothing and shoes.
Preloved – Similar to Gumtree, preloved is a great site for selling your unwanted things. It’s essentially a marketplace of classified ads and has being going since 1998.
As well as these options you could also do a car boot sale or table top sale.
2. Donate it
There are so many place you can donate your old things to once you are done with them.
Do bear in mind, especially when donating to charity shops, that items need to be in a good, clean and salable condition.
Really think about whether you would be happy to pay money for that item as it is. This is something I explored further in this post.
As well as charity shops you may want to donate to:
Your local Church – Often churches collect items for the homeless or to sell to raise funds for the church.
Homeless Shelters – Warm clothing and shoes, gloves, underwear, unused sanitary products
Women’s Refuge – Clothing, toys, books, unwanted new make-up
Food Banks – Unused nappies and wipes, unopened toiletries
Schools and Nurseries – Books and craft items
Local Scouts and Brownies – Crafts supplies
Animal Rescue Centers – Perfect for old bedding, towels, blankets and duvets
Smalls for all– Lightly worn bras, brand new knickers
British Heart Foundation – Will collect large items, such as beds and wardrobes, for free.
3. What To Do With Stuff After Decluttering: Give It Away For Free
While giving away a for free is similar to donating to charity, it’s something that can be done from home.
You could put an ad up on Facebook or Gumtree advertising items for free with a descriptions and arrange for them to be collected.
Alternatively you could place items outside your house with a sign saying ‘Free, please take me!’
Another option could be to offer items to extended family and friends. We have been giving so much clothing for our daughter and we really do appreciate it so much.
4. Decide What To Do With Stuff You Want To Keep
For the items you have decided to keep, make sure they have a clear space within in your home. Invest in storage if you need to, add shelves or boxes, whatever it takes to keep your home clutter free in the future.
This post is part of my #JulyDeclutteringChallenge – read the other posts here:
How To Declutter In 30 Minutes
How To Declutter Your Home Fast
Should You Hire A Professional Declutterer?
5 Easy Things To Declutter Today
