I’m having a clear out....with everything closed what should I do with my unwanted stuff?

[Jolie12345]

No charity shops open, I’m a bit rural for the likes of Olio, eBay is more hard work than I can deal with right now. Any idea what I can do with unwanted clothes, shoes, homeware, toys etc? The skip on the driveway is calling but it’s so wasteful

Also I appreciate the honestly of those saying to skip it all. I really don’t want to do that but I’m glad I’m not the only one who is willing to if it comes to it!

I'm sure you've had some good advice but it would be ideal not to throw things in a skip.

Stuff that someone is likely to want - i.e. reasonable quality, condition and current style, sort it into similar items so that it can be disposed in bundles. It would be worth joining Facebook temporarily to get the benefit of local buy/sell/swap groups, we disposed of loads of stuff this way before moving house. Make it very clear you need collection within a few days. There are other sites but FB is by far the busiest.
"bag of camping gear" "box of Diy items" " 3 unopened cans of paint" to make it worth someone's journey.

If it's very old/worn out stuff then just sort into metal, wood, textiles etc and take to your local household waste site.

There was a re-use shop at our local tip and there were shelves of glass and china, jigsaws, old games and books, bags, luggage, framed pictures etc. Most of it was really life expired or tat in the first place, and I think could have gone to the shredder with honour.

But useable toys, clothes and houseware should find a new home.
Circular economy - take responsible for disposal of your stuff.

Tbh I would just create a fb profile to get rid of it. Or go on freecycle.

@Jolie12345

I’m not on Facebook

You know can join up in about 20 seconds

You don't have to use FB to sell stuff

I've seen an advert on Facebook today from three fire stations in my county all saying that the recycling clothes banks at their stations are open

There's a charity for fire fighters. I didn't know that until about a year ago when I walked past my local station. You could try and find out if your local firehouse has one. Selling on eBay will mean lots of time wasters

Yes I’ve had Facebook in the past, I just don’t want it anymore

Can you get Facebook and delete it? Or does it have its tentacles in you forever?

I use Freecycle or Freegle, some are closed but our Freecycle is very busy. Arrange a time and leave it in a pre-arranged place in the front garden. If they don't turn up (they usually do) I offer to the next person.

Facebook or Nextdoor (the latter has a freebies section I think). Just set up a profile using a nickname or something and stick it on marketplace.

The local dump where I live has a recycling area for clothes, books and electrical stuff.

It's only worth hanging on to stuff for charity shops if it is a decent
condition - I manage a charity shop and the amount of dross we were given after the last lockdown was unbelievable - of course we do get some very nice donations but a huge amount has to go straight to the tip ... which the charity has to pay for so please be considerate about what you donate.

There is a stigma against sending to the tip though.

I am putting a black bin bag out every fortnight from now on of anything holey.

British Heart Foundation are doing a donate by post thing during lockdown. You can request post labels from them and take the parcels to a Collect+ shop. It’s on their website.

That’s really good to know, thank you! Sometimes It’s difficult to know what is suitable for a charity shop but I will be much more selective now I know this

I’ve also worked in a charity shop so was more philosophical about just binning everything

Did you say if you have a household recycling centre near you? That's the best way to get everything sorted - even metal, textiles/rags, appliances. There might be a queue or a booking system at the moment, but it means only the leftovers go to landfill.

British Heart Foundation are doing freepost for you to send a parcel(s) of unwanted items to them. Is anyone able to post a click link please, sorry I can't do them.

www.bhf.org.uk/shop/donating-goods/post-your-donations Ooh, I've done the link hopefully...!

We have the same problem and are just having to fill our bins up.
It seems a terrible waste but if you don't have the space to store it, you have no choice.
I'd love to/ ususally give to charity shops but all are closed.

Offer it on freecycle and freegle. Wait for a few replies, and pick one that doesn't seem grabby. If it is something saleable, you will get some CFs. Weed them out.

I just found trying to give stuff away on Facebook a massive pain: messages asking for measurements etc; requests to deliver; people not turning up to collect.

@WouldBeGood, it doesn't have to be difficult. I bag it up and leave it in the front garden with their name on. If they don't collect it, offer it to the next person.

Put the measurements on the listing if it is something that is not likely to fit into a small hatchback. If it is something that could be carried, put it in the listing.

The only trouble I have had are two non-collections, and people who don't read properly. Put an offer or some technical equipment and had someone ask for it for her 6-yr old.

@KirstenBlest just my experience

My experience has been positive. Got great stuff, given great stuff that was just collecting dust.

I've got lots of stuff to take to the charity shop though and I'd like to get rid of, but not as a job lot, unless it was someone planning to do a car boot sale for charity.

It makes you think twice about buying stuff as it's getting harder to get rid of, in particular clothes. Charity shops are overwhelmed and a lot goes for rags/recycling or overseas.
I can't preach having put on weight in lockdown and had to buy some new items when the other stuff wasn't worn out at all. I'm trying to use ebay/facebook to buy and sell but it does take time.