Determined Decluttering – Tips for Furniture Donation

There comes a time in everyone’s life where they must say goodbye to some old belongings. Whether it be an old shirt that no longer fits after several washes or a watch that lags on time, certain items must be discarded.

But how do you discard larger household items? You can’t just throw a fridge in the bin after it can’t keep your food cold. The same rule applies to furniture in the household, as a large futon probably won’t fit in your weekly garbage bin (no matter how hard you push).

Thankfully, there are tried and true methods to disposing of furniture. Whether those methods involve a bit of grit and DIY, or if you’d rather leave it into the hands of professionals, here are some helpful tips for furniture donation.

Donations Across Australia

Let’s start with a couple of great places that all Australians can use to donate furniture.

In this day and age, the internet can be used for just about everything, so it should come as no surprise that the internet is a perfect option to be rid of your old furniture.

One internet-focused area is Facebook Marketplace. If you’ve ever interacted with Facebook lately, one of its newer features is Marketplace, an area where individuals across Australia will look to sell their items to potential buyers. These items could range anywhere from homewares to electrical goods, to even cars!

Marketplace is also a place where you can give items away for free, and best yet the one who wants your furniture will be able to swing around for a free pick-up and save you the hassle of a drop-off to the landfill.

If you’re looking to stay away from the social media site, then Gumtree might be your best bet for an online solution. Gumtree is nationwide and has a whole bevy of items up for sale, including a ‘Free Stuff’ section where you can be rid of your old furniture as quickly as possible. Be wary that fees will come with the listing if you’re looking to add a price on your items.

An offline method to donating furniture is a method as old as time, and that checking out your local opportunity shops. Opportunity shops (or Op shops for short) are great places to send your worn-out furniture, whether the shop is run by a charity or a local group. If possible, head down to the shop and ask the manager/owner if they’ll accept furniture, as you don’t want to haul over a sofa and learn that the shop won’t take it off your hands.

State-Specific Donation

For a more personal touch, several non-for-profit organisations will accept furniture donations in your state, meaning it won’t matter if you’re from Sydney or Melbourne, as there’s something for everybody.

Be sure to check with your local stores to see what services they can provide, whether that be a free collection, furniture pick-up, or just to see when their business hours are so you can drop off your unwanted furniture (as well as any other unwanted items) when they’re open.

For more information about the state-specific shops, check out each states’ stores below:

NSW

• St Vincent De Paul Society (Vinnies shops)
• Pyrmont Cares
• Generous & Grateful

VIC

• The Salvation Army (Salvos Stores)
• West Welcome Wagon
• Sacred Heart Mission

SA

• Uniting Communities’ Goodwill Stores
• Rufus
• Vinnies

TAS

• Hobart City Mission
• Launceston Benevolent Society
• City Mission (not to be confused with the former)

QLD

• UnitingCare
• RizeUp
• Ipswich Furniture Project

WA

• Salvos
• Good Sammy
• Anglicare WA

Canberra

• Salvos (Tuggeranong Corps)
• The Green Shed

Finally, be sure to shop online for any potential removalists in your area if you are looking to donate to a charity, as furniture items are no light task even for the savviest of movers.

For any other questions about moving home as a whole, we’ve put together the ultimate guide to moving house, which you can check out here.

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