When it’s time to redecorate your home or move, the most troubling question is how to get rid of the old furniture.
Disposing of the small things is easy, but the bulky, heavy stuff like a lounge chair or the couch can pose a significant problem. If you’ve exhausted all options, trying to get your friends and family to adopt your old furniture, it’s time to think of something else.
In this article, we’re going to give you a few suggestions to help you get the job done.
When to Replace Your Furniture
When your brand-new furniture arrives at your home, everything seems so fresh and well-put-together. But after a few years, most people’s decorating tastes have changed.
While those are perfectly good reasons to replace the furniture, let’s explore other, more urgent, signs that you need to do so.
The Couch/Bed Is Too Small
If you bought that couch in the living room while you were still a student, it’s probably time to move it on.
Perhaps you got married, got another roommate, or have kids, and the bed or the couch you’ve had for ages doesn’t fit longer.
Perhaps you carried that piece of furniture from apartment to apartment, the living room or the bedroom has likely gotten bigger, and your old furniture simply doesn’t belong there anymore.
Noises
If you sit or lie down and every time you hear creaking or squeaking sounds, that’s your furniture trying to tell you that it’s damaged.
It could be the metal frame or the wooden legs, or perhaps the springs that are expiring. But by the time the chairs, beds, and couches start to make a noise, you’ll know it’s probably been a while since you got them.
Upholstery Is in Bad Shape
Of course, there will be stains after years of use, and the upholstery on your chairs and couches will show signs of wear and tear, too.
But when the fabric underneath starts to show, it’s time to either reupholster the furniture or get rid of it altogether.
Often, the process of changing the fabric on your furniture can cost just as much as buying something new, so it might make more sense to just replace it.
Ways of Getting Rid of Old Furniture
Once you’ve decided to remove the unwanted furniture from your home, it’s time to figure out how best to go about it. Here are several options to consider.
Renting a Dumpster
Renting a roll-off dumpster is one of the best and most efficient ways to remove all the furniture. Many companies will pick up your stuff, even when you’re not home, and take it wherever you want.
In most cases, that might be a landfill. Also, you can arrange a fixed price before the dumpster even arrives.
The downside of this option is that most companies just rent the dumpster, and won’t load the furniture themselves. Therefore, you’ll have to carry the furniture on your own or with the help of friends.
Leave it on the Street
The answer to the question of how to get rid of old furniture might be as simple as leaving it on the street. If you live in an urban area, you’ve probably seen furniture sitting at the curb from time to time.
If you have one futon, a few chairs, and a lamp, this is probably the best course of action. All you need to do is drag it to the street.
But do check if this is permitted in your current neighborhood. Some municipalities have strict rules about this.
You might be forced to pay a fee if the trash collectors end up removing it. If you’re lucky, however, someone will see the value in your old stuff and quickly pick it up.
Junk Removal Service
Hiring a junk removal service is another good idea on how to get rid of old furniture.
The best thing about this is that the employees will do all the heavy lifting. This is a particularly good option if you live alone or don’t have anyone around to help you carry the furniture.
The service will come at a scheduled time and take your stuff away. The flip side is that there’s no fixed cost.
The estimate is done on the spot and will vary on the number of things you have. That’s why this isn’t the best solution when you’re trying to get rid of things in bulk.
Find a Scrap Dealer
If you have a lot of metal furniture, searching for a local scrap dealer might be a solid solution. That way, you’re not only getting rid of the old furniture, but it’s likely going to be recycled.
Often, you can even get them to take the metal springs from an old mattress.
If you have a non-ferrous type of metal, you should get a reasonable price for it.
However, as great as this sounds, you’ll likely have to take the furniture on your own. Perhaps even making a few trips to the dealer.
Sell or Trade It
When the furniture you’re trying to get rid of is still in pretty good condition, you might be able to sell it. You can publish an ad that you want to sell, or even trade, your stuff, and hope for the best.
The trick here is to highlight whether you can actually move the furniture yourself or the buyer has to do it. Some items will likely sell fast, especially if you attach a low price tag.
If you live in a metropolitan area, this is a relatively quick way to get rid of your old things and make a little bit of money in the process.
Take It to the Landfill
Owning your own truck or knowing someone who does can cut short the entire process of getting rid of old furniture. You might be able to take all the old things directly to the landfill.
Make sure to call first, though, because not all landfills will accept private dumping. Plus, they might not even take specific objects. Unfortunately, this isn’t a very sustainable way to remove your old furniture, but it’s something most people tend to do.
You Can Donate It
The final solution on how to get rid of old furniture brings us to the concept of charity and donations. As much as it will take more time and effort to do so, this is the most sustainable and environmentally friendly path to take.
But before you decide to go forward with this decision, you need to make sure that the items you want to donate fulfill certain conditions:
- There’s no need for repairs
- Upholstery is in relatively good condition
- Wood doesn’t have any visible damages
- That it’s completely bedbug and other infestation free
If your furniture fits the description, you can then choose where you want to donate it. Here are several ideas to ponder.
Nonprofit Organizations
Think of places like the Salvation Army or Goodwill. The choice of charity will vastly vary depending on where you live. In some cases, these organizations might be willing to come and pick up the furniture from your home.
Important Note: Delivering old furniture to the doorstep of a charitable organization without arranging it first is not the right call. People might have good intentions, but such action leaves those places to deal with the disposal of the furniture.
Local Churches or Schools
It’s no secret that the educational system is in constant survival mode, especially in deprived areas. Many schools will happily accept well-preserved items like computer desks, tables, and chairs.
The same applies to churches and community theaters, for example. These places usually have a tight budget and are always in need of new furniture.
Animal Shelters
If your furniture is simply too worn out and damaged to take anywhere else, perhaps an animal shelter can find a use for it. Animals love curling up on soft, cozy surfaces and won’t mind the ripped upholstery one bit.
Can You Recycle Old Furniture?
People who practice a more sustainable lifestyle probably wonder if they could just recycle their old furniture. As mentioned, the only way to really do it is by selling the metal components from your home.
Unfortunately, many synthetic chemicals go into most materials used for building modern furniture. The only way to genuinely recycle furniture is to take the time to restore it to its previous condition.
Final Thoughts
Now that you know how to get rid of old furniture, whatever solution you decide to go with will inevitably require some effort and planning.
The most important factor will surely be how many items of furniture you have. If it’s just a few bits and pieces and you’re not in a hurry, selling, trading, or donating them are excellent choices.
But if you have a lot of damaged stuff, you’ll need a dumpster and a few extra hands to help you. Alternatively, having access to a truck will save you a lot of hassle.