Whether you’re doing a weekly or monthly refresh in your home or you’re taking on a larger decluttering session, you’ll obviously have to part with items that are no longer serving you and your family. The question you might have is what to do with them? What can or should be donated? What should I discard or trash? I know this comes up often with my clients so I wanted to provide some thoughts on the subject, let’s get into it!
If you can’t imagine buying the item in question for yourself secondhand due to its condition, it’s probably best to toss it. If something is stained or torn beyond repair, it’s time to discard. Some items shouldn’t be donated due to safety issues, such as chipped mugs, scratched nonstick cookware, and opened or partially used toiletry items. It's important to be honest about the condition of your items; donating items that are beyond repair can burden charities with disposal costs and effort.
That being said, I prefer donate as much as I can and encourage my clients to do the same; it relieves some possible guilt knowing that someone else can get good use of the donated items and are finding new homes. Like I mentioned above, if you can imagine someone else getting good use of an item, donating is the way to go. You can get a tax receipt for a deduction if you have either A LOT or have valuable items.
One caveat, you have to actually TAKE the boxes or bags to your designated charity. From my own experience, seeing those of my clients’, and funny online memes, those bags can linger in a garage or a trunk for weeks (or more)!
Ultimately, the choice between donating and discarding household items is about making thoughtful decisions that benefit both your immediate living environment and the your local community. By donating, you contribute to a culture of reuse and generosity, while responsible discarding helps maintain a more efficient and clutter-free home.
Some resources for donating your items with good conscience include:
Dress for Success for gently-used professional clothing
GivingGown.org for prom and party dresses (you can take these to Tide Cleaners if there’s one in your area
Local Catholic Charities are reputable with their charitable donations
MAM Resale Store (Memorial Assistance Ministries) for local Houston friends
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