After Spring Cleaning: What to do With all Your Old Stuff

It’s May. The weather is getting warmer, and already, you're planning how to spend your summer months.

Suddenly, you want to get rid of that Cat in the Hat costume you bought for last Halloween. Maybe you don’t actually need four pairs of gloves or the stack of novels on your night-stand that you finished months ago.

Out with the old, in with the new!

Wary of all those beautiful pieces of furniture, bags of perfectly good clothing and crates of books on the sidewalk, that you can’t take home for fear of bed bugs or some other infestation? I am too.

So my suggestion is, if you have perfectly good stuff, please don’t just throw it on your curb and walk away.

There are so many options for getting rid of your old things, and some of them might be just around the corner:

Second-Hand Store Donations:
There are a few stores in the area that will take clothes, furniture, and more off your hands, but many thrift stores do not accept general donations. Goodwill (1100 Fulton St. near Franklin Ave) and Salvation Army (22 Quincy Street near Classon) are always a safe bet for clothes, furniture, dishware, toys, appliances, and more. Still Hip (283 Grand Ave near Lafayette Ave) accepts maternity and kids clothing on consignment, so you can earn store credit and trade in old clothes for clothing that fits your child. They also accept children’s toys, books, car seats, and strollers.

Clothing Donation Bins:
There are several places that have clothing drop boxes, where you can donate old clothing for those in need. A few gas stations, such as 7 Eleven (1381 Atlantic Ave near Brooklyn Ave) and Hess (801 Bedford between Park Ave and Myrtle Ave), have clothing donation bins, and there is one outside of Atlantis Laundromat (873 Bedford between Myrtle and Willoughby).

Stoop Sales:
Everybody seems to be having their own stoop sales these days, so if you have enough stuff and feel like making a day of it, this is a great way to get rid of your things and make a couple bucks at the same time. It’s also a terrific way to get to know your neighbors.

Craigslist:
Via the Internet, you can get rid of your stuff through Craigslist. If you go to the “free” section of the website, you can post what you have, and someone can schedule a pick-up. This is a good idea when you have furniture or anything else that would be a hassle to move. You can also post a “curb alert,” describing items you put on the street, so that people know that what is there is free of infestations.

Houses of Worship and Shelters:
Several religious institutions will accept clothing, food, toys, and maybe other items as well. Call or visit a house of worship near you to see if they are accepting donations. The same goes for shelters. Be sure to call ahead, because donation policies often change, but this is a great way to give directly to someone in need.

Do you know of other places to donate your things? Please tell us in comments.