Ten Tips On How To Ditch Your Junk Responsibly: Hopefully, you’ve been on a spring cleaning, decluttering and house-clearing mission since the Coronavirus Pandemic took hold. I’ve been through every cupboard in my apartment at least twice! If you haven’t tackled this task yet, it’s time for that last push before we are footloose and fancy-free again! Decluttering is easy, but getting rid of your rubbish afterwards is another job. With the Coronavirus Pandemic, there are restrictions on many services. I’ve put together ten tips on how to ditch your junk responsibly.
Vintage Suitcases
Ten Tips On How to Ditch Your Junk Responsibly
Before you begin decluttering, consider how you will dispose of your junk responsibly. This will help you sort your items into relevant piles based on their destination. Your trash may be rubbish, helpful to others, worthy of being donated to a charitable cause, or sold online. Here are a few ideas on disposing of those items you no longer want.
1. Currently, rubbish tips are closed, but you can use a service like AnyJunk (sponsored link), a nationwide bulky waste removal company providing van rubbish removal and skip hire. They divert 96% of rubbish from landfill, so it’s a responsible service to consider. It is an excellent option for those without a car or if you are clearing out a large room such as the garage, basement or loft. Check out the new LoveJunk app (sponsored link), created to help Londoners find their nearest and cheapest licensed waste carrier.
2. If you have a few large items to dispose of, you can ask your local council to collect them; some councils charge for this service, so you’ll need to check the availability.
Vintage Cookery Books from Anthea’s Attic at Etsy UK
3. Many charities do not accept donations, but street clothes banks are open. When they open again, you should keep a few bags of clothes to donate to your local charity.
4. You can put items that may be useful to others in front of your home with a note saying, ‘Please Take Me For Free.’
Alfred Cox Mid Century Chest of Drawers from Tallboy Furniture at Etsy UK
5. If you live in a block of flats, you can pin a poster on the notice board with pictures of all the items you want to giveaway and ask neighbours to call you if they will take an object.
6. Vintage and antique furniture can be sold at auction. You’ll be able to check your local auction house online. If the item is rare and high-value, you may need to travel further to a specialist auctioneer.
7. If you collect vintage postcards, photographs, letters, fabrics, or journals, you can set up a shop on Etsy.
Junk Journal Kit from The Junk Journalist at Etsy UK
8. Items of value can be sold via eBay, Gumtree, Facebook Marketplace, Preloved and other online or app selling platforms.
9. Specialist seller websites like Discogs for vinyl, tapes and CDs are available. Try Music Magpie to sell tech items such as iPhones, game consoles and Ziffit for books, games, DVDs and CDs.
Stained LP Crate from Wood Dog Studios at Etsy UK
10. You can sell designer fashion via Cudoni and Rebelle.
After the Coronavirus restrictions have been removed, you can try car boot sales, jumble sales, charity shops, and driving to the rubbish tip, among other things.
Spring Cleaning and Decluttering Tips
If you do need advice on spring cleaning and decluttering, you might find previous articles I’ve written practical:
Ten Home Spring Cleaning Tips
Ten Wardrobe Decluttering Tips
How To Ditch Your Junk Responsibly Post Credits
Author: Homegirl London. Photographs: The featured image and first image in the article are by Homegirl London, all from Etsy UK sellers. Disclosure: The feature includes a Sponsored Collaboration /Advertising from AnyJunk and LoveJunk.
