Junk. It’s a hazard of modern living. We love our stuff. Whether it’s electronics, clothes, shoes, or our collection of action figures from the 80s, we hold onto it, because at some point in time, those things meant so much to us. But as time passes, we acquire more and more stuff. We run out of space for our stuff. Sometimes it even becomes a hazard to our health. What to do with it?
When you’re ready to part with the junk cluttering your house, here are some suggestions on what you can do to get rid of it.
Firstly…make the decision to get rid of your junk
This one may have seemed obvious but you’d be surprised at the number of people who say they’re going to get rid of the clutter in their house, only for the same items to still be there, years later. If the amount overwhelms you, try to break the removal down into sections. Set a goal. Tell yourself, “This weekend, I’ll remove the clothes. Next weekend, I’ll remove the old exercise equipment”. Set up a system and stick to it. It doesn’t have to be this one.
Have someone come pick your junk up
Keeping your home clutter-free can be a challenge, but junk removal is an effective way to do it. Professional services such as those seen at Junk Holler offer tips and tricks on removing items such as old furniture, appliances, and even construction materials. Homeowners can benefit from this hassle-free process by saving time when moving out of their residence or making room for remodeling projects. If you don’t want the work of donating or selling your accumulated junk, you can have someone come to take it away. There are professional services for Junk Removal in Dallas, for instance, where you can have people with experience in handling bulky and other types of junk help you clear that clutter.
Donate it to charity
Just because you no longer want it, doesn’t mean someone else’s eyes won’t light up at the sight of your trash. Having said that, please make sure you donate it in a state where it is still usable. Your gently used clothing and shoes may be best here but are not the only items you can donate. People also need furniture and appliances. If those you have are in relatively good condition, consider donating them as well.
Sell your junk
People are walking around thousands of dollars richer from selling baseball trading cards and toys they had in a corner of their garage since the 70s. While some of your trash is just that…trash, other items may be quite valuable. All it takes is a trip to eBay to see how much they’re worth. Yard sales are also an option. You will likely make less money and they are far more work, but your stuff will be gone.
Recycle your junk
People with the time and the transport can choose to drop their junk off at a recycling center. Metal, glass, plastic, foam, and certain elements in your electronics can all be recycled. It’s better than having your stuff sitting in a landfill where it will only cause more pollution.
Make craft out of your junk
We’ve all seen those shows where people take those old suitcases in their attic, add some paint, wallpaper to the interior, and voila…they’re now fancy bookshelves selling at $20 a pop. Upcycling your junk can be fun, allowing you to exercise your creative side, and can be potentially lucrative as well.
Give your junk away
There is always someone who can benefit from a gift of the things you have accumulated over your life. Perhaps you have a friend or relative who is now starting over after a hard time. College students always need a sofa or a bed. If you don’t need the money and want to do a good turn for someone who needs it, this is one way you can help.
Stop collecting junk after you finally clear it all out
This is another thing that should seem obvious, but many people go right back to buying and storing stuff until they’re back where they started. Some firm decisions and behavior change has to happen if you’re going to avoid falling back into old patterns. For instance:
- Shop only for what you need
- If you haven’t used it within a certain timeframe, toss it
- Get friends/relatives to keep you accountable
Don’t start collecting junk in the first place
This is probably the best way to get rid of junk in your house, in that you never fill it up with stuff you need to throw away in the first place. It’s easy to get attached to stuff. What’s not so easy sometimes, is deciding to get rid of it and then finding ways this could be done. Taking one of the above routes, you should be rid of the junk in your house in no time.
