7 Ways to get Rid of your Old Junk from Home

So, you're ready to get rid of your old junk. You've been thinking about it for a while and now you have a plan in place. You know what you want to keep and what needs to go. There's just one problem: where do I start? That was my question when I decided to clean out my basement last night! Luckily, there are some simple steps that can help the process go smoothly from beginning to end. In this post, we'll discuss 7 ways that will make getting rid of your old junk much easier - without breaking the bank in the process! Let's dive right in...

1. Hire a junk removal company

One of the easiest ways to get rid of your old junk is by hiring a junk removal company. There are many companies that will come and pick up any items you want to be removed from your home at no charge. You can either use Google or Yelp to find these companies in your area. Just type in something along the lines of "junk removal company" and you will be presented with a list of companies to choose from. It's that simple!

2. Sell your old stuff on Craigslist

Craigslist is a great place to sell your old junk! I learned this the hard way when I thought about selling my treadmill on Craigslist. However, I was quickly scolded by a man that informed me that he knew how much it would cost to ship a treadmill and proceeded to tell me why I should not list it for sale online. Needless to say, I did not sell my treadmill on Craigslist. So, why sell your old junk on Craigslist? First of all, you get to set the price and it is usually a pretty fair price. If something does not sell in a week or two, you can easily take down the ad and move on. Of course, there are other options to find a buyer for your old junk, but there is no chance of negotiation with Craigslist. Moreover, you may even meet someone in person to exchange money and items - this gives you an added sense of security when you sell your things online. I met the owner of a nearby restaurant when selling my treadmill on Craigslist and even brought home some free Italian food that night! Not a bad upgrade, right?

3. Donate unwanted items to charity

There are many charities that will gladly take your old junk! However, you need to make sure that the organization is reputable. You should always do some research on any organization before donating items. You can easily verify the reputation of an organization using Google or Yelp. The other option is to bring any item you're thinking about giving away to Goodwill - they have a location in almost every major city. If you need help finding the closest Goodwill, just type in "Goodwill" into Google Maps or Yelp.

4. Recycle as much as you can

- give away some of the recyclables that are piling up in your garage or basement, and haul out what you can't recycle yourself.

Recycling is a great way to ensure that your old junk does not end up in the landfill. All you need to do is set out some recycling containers outside of your home and let your local recycling company come by and pick them up. The cost for this service is pretty minimal - usually around $20 per month. There are many recycling companies that will pick up your recycling. Every month, I can expect a card with an ad on it to remind me of how important recycling is - and then they come and empty my bins every Tuesday morning. It's a pretty easy process - but you definitely don't want to try and haul your recycling to the dump yourself - that's definitely where you would end up losing money!

5. Give away things for free on Freecycle

Freecycle is an internet site that assists people in giving away their unwanted items for free. The process is simple; you sign up on the website, declare what kind of items you are willing to give away (e.g. "video game consoles"), and then post it to the Freecycle community in your area. You may have a yard sale with your old junk, but I guarantee that at least 10% of it will end up on Freecycle. However, you're not likely to make any money with this process unless you are giving away valuable items - in which case the person who takes the item off your hands may be willing to pay.

6. Sell broken or unwanted electronics to Gazelle

One of the most common things you will find around your home are old electronics. And now is probably a good time to upgrade those items! You can sell your old smartphones, tablets, laptops, etc. online for cash by using Gazelle's website or mobile app. All you need to do is answer some questions about the item and you will instantly receive a quote for the value of your device. Gazelle often offers promotions that give you an increased return on your items. You may be able to sell it for as much as 20% more than other sites! This is one of my top suggestions as they offer such a great deal and make it so easy to sell even the most obsolete items!

7. Get a dumpster delivered to your home

for all those bulky items that won't fit inside the garbage bins outside of your home

Another great way to get rid of old junk is to hire a dumpster, and once it's filled up with all you don't need - call the company and have them come pick it up. You can put just about anything inside of a trash container or dumpster, but be careful because there are some items that you need to double-check with the company before you put them into a dumpster. For example, if you put certain hazardous chemicals inside of a dumpster (like paint thinner) - not only can it end up leaking and ruining your other items in the process - but it's also incredibly dangerous for the environment and anyone who comes into contact with it! Some dumpsters are large, while some are smaller - so make sure you get the one that fits all of your junk.

If you're looking for a way to get rid of your old junk, look no further. We've compiled some tips that are sure to help you find the best solution for clearing out all of those unwanted items from your home or office space. Whether it's hiring a professional junk removal company, selling them on Craigslist, donating them to charity, recycling as much as possible and giving away what can't be recycled including copper - these options will make getting rid of clutter easy!

AUTHOR BIO:

Lily Brooks is a writer and blogger who loves all things home renovations. She has been writing for over 10 years, and she currently works with the leading junk removal North York Company, Junk Jerks.

She can often be found at her desk in front of her computer screen with piles of papers stacked high on either side of her. Lily is always looking for new ways to improve your life at home!