How to Get Rid of Stuff You Don't Want
Whether you are moving, decluttering, downsizing, or clearing out a relative's home, the problem is the same: you have things you no longer need and they need to go somewhere. Furniture, clothes, appliances, electronics, books, kitchenware. Some of it is too good to trash, some of it is too heavy to carry, and all of it is taking up space.
Here are your options, ranked from cheapest to fastest. Most work for furniture, appliances, and large items. For clothes, books, and smaller items, skip to the category-specific section below.
1. Schedule a Free Charity Pickup
Multiple charities will send a truck to your home and pick up furniture at no cost. The item goes to families in need or gets sold in a thrift store to fund charitable programs. You get a tax-deductible receipt.
| Organization | Wait Time | How to Schedule |
|---|---|---|
| Salvation Army | 3 to 7 days (2 to 4 weeks peak) | satruck.org or 1-800-SA-TRUCK |
| Habitat for Humanity ReStore | 2 to 10 days | habitat.org/restores (varies by chapter) |
| Pickup Please (Vietnam Vets) | Often within 24 hours | pickupplease.org |
| Goodwill | 4 to 6 weeks | goodwill.org (limited pickup areas) |
| The Arc | Varies by chapter | thearc.org (600+ chapters) |
| St. Vincent de Paul | Varies | svdpusa.org (regional) |
The downside: Wait times range from 3 days to 6 weeks depending on your area and season. Summer (peak moving season) has the longest waits. If you need the item gone this week, charity pickup may not work.
What they accept: Sofas, tables, chairs, dressers, bookshelves, desks, bed frames, working appliances (washers, dryers, refrigerators).
What they reject: Mattresses (most locations), particle board furniture, items with stains, tears, odors, or pet damage. Cribs and car seats (liability). Tube TVs.
Tax deduction: Get a receipt. The IRS allows you to deduct the fair market value of donated household items. For a $500 couch in good condition, the deduction might be $100 to $200. Keep the receipt with your tax records.
2. Post It as “Free, You Pick Up”
Post on Buy Nothing (Facebook or the app), Nextdoor, Facebook Marketplace (listed as free), or Craigslist free section. Include a photo, dimensions, and condition. Someone with a truck will often claim it within hours.
Pros: Fast (often same-day), zero cost, the item goes to someone who wants it.
Cons:You may get flaky responders who claim the item and never show up. Set a pickup deadline (“available until Saturday 5pm, then it goes to whoever is next”). Some people don't want strangers coming to their home. If so, offer to leave it on the porch or driveway.
Pro tip: Post on multiple platforms simultaneously. First person to show up with a truck gets it. Delete the other posts when it is claimed.
3. Ask a Local Mover to Handle It
This is the option most people do not think of. Local moving companies have slow days. Tuesday and Wednesday afternoons, especially in winter (November through February), are when movers have the most availability. A crew sitting idle costs the company money. A small job like picking up a couch and delivering it to Habitat ReStore takes 30 to 60 minutes and keeps the crew productive.
Call and say:“I have a couch (or dresser, table, etc.) that I want to donate to [charity name]. Can you pick it up and drop it off on a slow day this week?” Many movers will offer a discounted rate for charity deliveries because the job is simple, the timeline is flexible, and it builds community goodwill.
Expect to pay: $75 to $200 depending on the item, distance, and whether stairs are involved. This is less than junk removal ($150 to $300+) and your item actually gets donated instead of potentially going to a landfill.
When movers are cheapest:
- Tuesday and Wednesday afternoons (lowest demand of the week)
- December through February (winter is the slowest moving season)
- Middle of the month (end-of-month lease turnovers drive peak demand)
- Rainy days (cancellations create openings)
Find movers near you who can help.
4. Other Options
Rent a pickup truck ($19 to $30)
Home Depot and Lowe's rent pickup trucks for $19/75 minutes. Load the item yourself (bring a friend for heavy pieces), drive to the donation center, and return the truck. Total cost: $19 to $30 plus gas. Downside: you need someone to help you lift.
Gig delivery services ($75 to $150)
Dolly, TaskRabbit, and Lugg offer on-demand truck + labor. Book through the app, a driver with a truck shows up, loads your item, and delivers it wherever you want (charity, friend's house, new apartment). Faster than charity pickup, cheaper than junk removal.
Junk removal ($150 to $300+)
1-800-GOT-JUNK, College HUNKS, or local junk haulers. They come same-day or next-day and take anything. Fast and effortless, but expensive. And despite marketing claims, not everything they haul gets donated. Some of it goes to landfill. If the item is in good condition, try the options above first.
Sell it ($0 cost, you make money)
Facebook Marketplace, OfferUp, or Craigslist. Price it 30 to 50% below retail for a quick sale. Require buyer to pick up. This works best for items in good condition with brand recognition (West Elm, IKEA, Pottery Barn). Downside: dealing with buyers, negotiations, and no-shows.
Curbside pickup (free, check local rules)
Many municipalities offer scheduled bulk trash pickup (monthly or by appointment). Place the item at the curb on your designated day. Check your local waste management website. Some cities charge $25 to $50 for bulky items. Downside: a usable item goes to landfill instead of being reused.
By Item Category
Clothes
Bag clean clothes and drop at any Goodwill, Salvation Army, or clothing donation bin. For pickup, schedule through Pickup Please (pickupplease.org), which takes bags left on your porch. Consignment stores (ThredUp, Poshmark, local consignment) work for designer or high-quality items. Everything else: donate or trash. Do not move clothes you have not worn in a year.
Books
Little Free Libraries (littlefreelibrary.org/map) take any book, no questions. Local libraries accept donations but may be selective. Half Price Books buys in bulk (expect very little). Buy Nothing groups love books. A box of 30 books weighs 50+ lbs and costs $15 to $30 to move. If you have not read it in 3 years, let it go.
Electronics
Best Buy accepts most electronics for free recycling (bestbuy.com/recycling). Staples takes computers and monitors. For working electronics, sell on Facebook Marketplace or Swappa. Old TVs (especially tube TVs) are hard to dispose of. Check your county waste management for e-waste drop-off days. Never put electronics in regular trash.
Appliances
Working appliances (washer, dryer, fridge) are accepted by Habitat ReStore and Salvation Army for free pickup. Non-working appliances: check if your utility company offers free appliance recycling (many do for energy efficiency programs). Scrap metal recyclers will take them for free or even pay you. Never leave appliances at the curb without scheduling pickup.
Mattresses
Most charities refuse mattresses (bedbug liability). Some cities have mattress recycling programs (check byebyemattress.com). Junk removal services take them ($50 to $100 for a single mattress). If your new place needs a mattress, buying new and having the retailer haul the old one is often the simplest path. Many mattress companies offer free old mattress removal with purchase.
Kitchenware and dishes
Donate to Goodwill or Salvation Army (drop-off, no pickup for small items). Buy Nothing groups are great for partial sets, specialty items, and appliances like blenders, toasters, and instant pots. If you are downsizing from a full kitchen to an apartment, keep one set of everything and donate the rest. Moving 6 boxes of kitchen items you never use costs $90 to $180.
Quick Decision Guide
| Situation | Best Option | Cost |
|---|---|---|
| I have 2+ weeks and want it donated | Schedule charity pickup | Free |
| I need it gone this week | Post as free pickup on Nextdoor/Buy Nothing | Free |
| I want it donated but need it gone fast | Ask a local mover to deliver it to a charity | $75 to $200 |
| I can't carry it and have no help | Gig service (Dolly/TaskRabbit) or local mover | $75 to $200 |
| Item is damaged or stained | Junk removal or curbside bulk pickup | $0 to $300 |
| Item is valuable and in great shape | Sell on Marketplace (buyer picks up) | Free (you profit) |