One of the biggest keys to getting your home clean and looking good is getting rid of a lot of clutter. The clutter can be caused by things that you’ve accumulated over the years and don’t really even use anymore. Things such as clothes, old children’s toys, unwanted or old furniture, and outdated computer and/or video games can pile up over the years….or even months. In this helpful article from Enviro Maids, you are given tips on how to dispose or donate many of these items to remove much of the clutter from your home.

Getting Rid of Your Stuff the Green Way

Whether you need the extra space or you’re just tired of looking at heaps of unused household items collecting dust, you’ve decided it’s time to rid your home of clutter. While you may be tempted to just toss broken or outdated items in the trash, don’t! We’ll show you the green way to dispose of your clutter with the help of the experts at The Nest and the EPA.

Computers and electronic equipment

The EPA estimates that there’s approximately 2.37 million tons of electronic waste filling landfills and growing each day. The electronic equipment saturating our landfills is only making our environment toxic. Rather than adding to the waste stream, recycle or donate old equipment. If you’re upgrading your computer to a newer model, consider donating your perfectly good computer to a charity. Hundreds of schools or nonprofits will welcome your working computer and put it to much needed use. Many computer, TV, cell phone manufacturers, and electronics retailers will recycle your items for free or offer a buy-back program. The value of your trade-in product can be applied towards the purchase of your new product.

Ink and toner cartridge

Recycling used toner and ink cartridges is easy and profitable. Retailers such as Staples offer a money-back rewards program. Simply bring your old cartridges to any Staples store and receive $2 for each recycled cartridge to be used towards your next Staples purchase.

Clothes

Gently worn clothing and accessories can be donated to thrift stores or shelters. Professional clothing such as suits and dresses can be donated to Dress for Success, a non-profit organization that provides clothing for low-income women re-entering the job market. Clothing and shoe donation boxes are popping up in many places making giving away your clothing as easy as putting them in a bag and dropping them into a box slot. If you’re looking to make extra money, consignment shops and eBay are popular places to sell high-end clothing.

Furniture

After watching your favorite HGTV shows, you’ve been inspired to transform your shabby-chic living room into a sleek, modern retreat. What do you do with the furnishings you no longer want? When it comes to your unwanted furniture, you have several options. Before putting them up for sale on eBay or Craigslist, consider upcycling them. Inspiration websites such as Pinterest show you ways to repurpose furniture such as transforming a crib into a bench. If you’re not handy, or can’t sell an item, donate it. Items that are in good condition can be picked up for free by The Salvation Army.

Eyeglasses

Your old, outdated prescription eyeglasses are serving no purpose sitting in the back of your junk drawer. Many charities accept eyeglasses and distribute them to low-income families and third world countries where the poor are in need of eyeglasses. Search online for charities such as the Lions Club and Unite for Sight for more information.

This is only a tiny list of the many household items that can be recycled, upcycled, or donated. Before you’re about to toss something in the trash think about how that item can be put to greener, better use.