Spring Cleaning: Donate, Recycle, Repurpose
April is a wonderful time of the year in Washington. The grass starts to get greener and long enough to cut. The rainy days start to slow down, and the sun has a greater presence. I get to start planning what flowers I want to plant in my porch garden and look forward to spending more time outside. Spring is definitely in full swing in the Pacific Northwest. One thing that comes along with this renewal is spring cleaning, and clearing out the clutter and lifting some of the weight away from your shoulders and your life.
This year, I have quite a lot to tackle in my house, even though there are just two of us living here. Not only is spring the time for clearing out the clutter, but for many of us in the military community it is also PCS season, and with that definitely comes the need to clear out things we no longer use in our home.
One thing we often find ourselves doing is going through clothes and finding what we no longer wear or perhaps no longer fits. I prefer to donate clothing to the local homeless shelter rather than Goodwill. Though Goodwill is a discount thrift-type store, I think donating to a local shelter makes my clothing go much further and will help someone else who may need it more than I do.
I try to recycle as many things as possible. Thankfully, Joint Base Lewis McChord has a great recycling center for anything the local refuse won’t take. This includes things like electronics, used cooking oil, glass, clothing, and even wood. I’ve taken many things to the recycling center I didn’t initially know could be recycled. It might seem like a hassle, but if you take a few extra minutes, you will feel great knowing you are helping to reduce the waste that ends up in landfills.
We also try to go through our movies and video games. If you want to make a few dollars, consider taking them to a place like Gamestop, FYE, Best Buy, or a local gaming store. There’s also online websites that will buy movies, games, and CDs. Just a few include selldvdsonline.com, decluttr.com, and garotsmedia.com. Or, if you’re looking for something to do with those old CD covers, grab a poster frame and make some CD cover art. It’s simple and a unique project to add to your wall.
Furniture is another great thing to get rid of when you’re running out of space or want something new. You can sell furniture through yard sale sites or even websites like Craigslist, but of course, practice safety and caution whenever meeting someone you don’t know. There are also great charities that take furniture, like Salvation Army, Saint Vincent de Paul Society, and even Habitat for Humanity’s ReStore. The Purple Heart Foundation is another charity that services disabled veteran families.
If you don’t want to get rid of it, but simply aren’t sure what to do, try to repurpose your furniture. You can reupholster a couch or chair with new fabric, or if you’re like me, give an old coffee table new life by decoupaging comic book pages onto its surface. It’s a cool addition to a music room, game room, or family room.
It can be overwhelming to start cleaning out your house, but take it one room at a time. If you have kids, ask them to help you go through small spaces. It doesn’t have to be conquered in a day or even a weekend. Getting rid of things isn’t just about removing clutter, but can also be about helping others and helping the earth. Happy spring everyone!
What are your favorite tips for donating or repurposing items? Share with us!
