10 Things to Toss Right Now
Clutter – like gas – expands to fill its container.
Feel good about unloading the following items to worthy recipients:
1. YOUR DVD COLLECTION
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Thanks to streaming services, DVDs will soon become the VHS tapes of yesteryear.
WHERE TO DONATE: DVDs to the Troops is a non-profit organization that sends unwanted movies to soldiers abroad.
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2. VHS HOME MOVIES
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Consolidate! I sent my family’s eighteen home movies to a conversion company and they returned the originals and the originals on DVDs. Do better than me: Find a company that will digitize your home movies and forget about DVDs altogether.
WHERE TO DONATE: VHS tapes are notoriously difficult to discard (although the exterior is plastic, toxic metal lies within). Earth911 gives a list of recycling locations nearby based on your zip code.
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3. THE TANGLED CORD PILE
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Chances are good you’re already using all the cords you need.
WHERE TO DONATE: BestBuy accepts electronic donations at their retail locations. Cords, too.
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4. MISCELLANEOUS KITCHEN GADGETS
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Apple corers, pineapple slicers + corn zippers have something in common: They’re all glorified knives.
WHERE TO DONATE: Goodwill happily accepts utensils.
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5. LINENS
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Any bed needs only two sets of sheets: One’s on the bed the other’s in the wash.
WHERE TO DONATE: Repurpose first as picnic blankets, trunk liners for your car, rags, and more. Otherwise, Goodwill accepts full sets in decent condition.
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6. MAGAZINES
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If you’ve read it once, you’ve read it a thousand times.
WHERE TO DONATE: If you have children, save a few for arts and crafts projects. Then see if nursing or retirement homes in your area will take them as reading material for residents.
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7. BOOKS
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Books make me happy; great ones make me swoon. I’ve kept a small collection of the ones I love and unloaded the rest.
WHERE TO DONATE: Your local library will sell unwanted books at fundraisers or incorporate them into their existing collection.
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8. VASES
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Did someone send you a bouquet in a glass vase? Have a growing collection of cheap vases in your basement?
WHERE TO DONATE: Your local florist may take vases for reuse in future arrangements.
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9. WIRE HANGERS
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If there’s an entire section of your closet dedicated to those wire hangers, consider saying adieu.
WHERE TO DONATE: Your dry cleaner will happily take hangers for reuse.
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10. EYEGLASSES
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Your outdated prescription lenses are in high demand and can help a person in need.
WHERE TO DONATE: OneSight will happily take them, as will LensCrafters and Pearle Vision.
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