Donate Or Toss? Use This Guide To Find Out

When you live in one place for a while, you often accumulate a variety of items that clutter your living space. If this sounds a little too familiar, perhaps it's time to get rid of unwanted and unneeded items that are cluttering up your home.

Once you're ready to tackle a big "spring cleaning," be prepared to answer three important questions that can speed up your cleaning process or bring it to a sudden halt: Should I keep it? Should I donate it? Should I toss it? Here are some helpful tips that will keep your cleaning efforts moving.

What Items Should You Consider Keeping?

When you start cleaning, remember that you can't keep everything if you really want to declutter your living space. Keep an open mind, but stay focused on the end results. While sorting through items, ask yourself four questions: Is this in good condition? Is this useful? Does this have monetary value? Does this have sentimental value? If you answered yes, consider keeping it. Good items to keep include:

• New clothes that are stylish and fit well
• Winter coats, jackets, and clothing for next year
• Winter bedding like comforters, blankets, and quilts
• Sports and camera equipment
• Expensive electronic equipment
• Family heirlooms and photographs
• Holiday decorations

What Items are Best for Donations?

Items that are no longer useful or valuable to you may be useful to someone else. That slightly worn sweater or extra blanket may come in handy for someone in cold winter weather. You can easily donate your unwanted and unneeded items to local charities, thrift shops, Goodwill, and the Salvation Army. Charitable organizations are always in need of certain items such as:

• Clothing and shoes in good condition
• Bedding, linens, towels, and pillows
• Small electrical appliances that work
• Tools and yard equipment that work
• Furniture items
• Books and toys in good condition

There are certain items that most charities and thrift shops do not want and will not take because of potential health hazards to consumers. These items should not be considered for donations:

• Used mattresses and box springs
• Large bulky appliances
• Child car seats, strollers, high chairs, and cribs
• Children's toys with small or missing parts
• Outdated electronics
• Humidifiers and dehumidifiers
• Outdated textbooks, encyclopedias, and magazines
• Items that are offensive or vulgar

If you have any of these items on your list, don't try to donate them. Instead, check with local companies that recycle metals and plastics or rebuild outdated electronics. If you're purchasing new appliances, many retailers will haul away your old appliances for free.

What Items Should You Toss Out?

When considering which items to throw away, remember that if it has no value to you or anyone else or isn't working properly, then tossing it in the trash is your best bet. Don't hesitate to get rid of items that are just cluttering up your home. Good items to toss include:

• Old, worn clothing, shoes, socks, hats, and gloves
• Furniture that's damaged or broken
• Faded or damaged rugs, curtains, and linens
• Broken small appliances and electronics
• Old worn pots and pans
• Old cosmetics, hair products, and toiletries
• Expired medications and pantry items

In general, anything that's broken, damaged, or no longer being used should be tossed out. Unless it has value or special meaning, it's just taking up space.

Although spring cleaning may feel like a tedious chore, it doesn't have to. By sorting items into three separate areas — keep, donate, and toss — you can quickly clean and declutter your home so you can move on to indoor activities you enjoy with family and friends.

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