Should you donate or throw away old furniture before moving?

Donate or sell anything still sturdy and clean, since usable furniture can be rehomed instead of thrown away, and save the throwaway pile for pieces that are broken or damaged. A junk removal service can clear all of it in one appointment, sorting each item for donation, recycling, or disposal. 

Moving is the perfect time to take stock of what you own, and what you’ve outgrown. But that can feel overwhelming to do all at once, so here is a guide to help you make a call you’ll feel good about.

If you’re not sure what to do with any given item of furniture, consider the condition first. Dressers, couches, and dining sets can often be donated if they’re still sturdy and clean. Being able to help someone else out with your old furniture is always better than sending it to the landfill.

Some pieces are worth more than a quick giveaway, though. If you have quality wood furniture or designer items, you may have luck with local resale shops or online marketplaces like Craigslist or Facebook Marketplace. Being able to walk away with some extra money is great, of course, but the downside is that it often takes more time and effort than donation.

Then there is the furniture that is truly done. Pieces that are broken, water-damaged, mildewed, or falling apart are not safe to donate, and most charities will turn them away. But even those pieces of furniture whose best days are long behind them don’t have to go right to the landfill. A lot of the raw materials are still good, and wood, metal, and certain fabrics can often be recycled.

Sorting is relatively easy. Hauling a sleeper sofa down two flights of stairs, not so much. This is where a junk removal service can be helpful. The Junkluggers of Fairfield and Westchester Counties carries the furniture out from any room, loads it, and sorts it for donation, recycling, or responsible disposal, all in one appointment. You decide what stays and what goes, and we handle the heavy lifting and the eco-friendly send-off. When items are donated on your behalf, all applicable donation receipts will be provided for the items we are able to donate.

If you would like help clearing out your space, you can always schedule a junk removal pickup online. The Junkluggers of Fairfield and Westchester Counties serves Stamford, Greenwich, Norwalk, Westport, New Canaan, White Plains, Scarsdale, and Yonkers.