Just because furniture is old doesn’t mean it’s valuable. There’s an awfully big difference between an antique and a ratty old sofa that’s got stains from a decade ago or reeks of stale cigarette smoke from the 80s.
Nevertheless, some people do find value in old furniture and can give it a better life while also taking it off your hands. What’s the best way to get rid of old furniture? Below are a few different methods you might want to try out:
Put it Up for Sale
One man’s junk is another man’s treasure, as the saying goes, so why not turn over a few bucks for something you simply want gone? If the furniture is in reasonable condition, someone might find it a bargain on Facebook Marketplace or on Craigslist. Obviously, you can charge whatever you think is fair and entertain offers from buyers, but a little cash is better than nothing at all!
Of course, furniture in terrible condition is probably worthless, but if there’s a chance it can be refurbished then you could even list it for $0 and see if anyone is willing to collect it for free.
Give to Friends or Family
If you’ve got an old dinner table in decent condition, it could make a great gift for a niece or nephew that’s just gotten married and moved into a new home. Old bedframes or boxsprings might also be a great gift for a friend or family member (just don’t give them the mattress!).
Sometimes, old furniture just takes up too much space in our homes and it can be better used by someone else in our family or friend circle. Giving it away gets it out of your home and frees up space while also potentially saving your friend or family member a few hundred on a new piece.
Donate to a Charitable Organization
Another sensible way of getting rid of unwanted old furniture is to donate it to a local charity. There are charitable organizations all across the United States like the Salvation Army or Goodwill that often take old furniture, but read their websites to make sure. There are many furniture pieces that they simply won’t accept, or it needs to be in a certain condition, etc.
You could also donate it to a charity near you. Many Christian charities will gladly accept old furniture and refurbish it, then give it to a family in need. Most will even collect it from the curbside for free, so all you’ve got to do is call them and carry it out to the curb.
Leave it for Curbside Collection
Depending where you live in the United States, you may be able to leave your old furniture out at the curbside along with your trash and garbage for collection. Some cities and counties pick up furniture no questions asked, others have a limit (e.g. 1-2 pieces per week or month), others provide bulky item collection on a monthly or seasonal basis, and still others won’t touch it at all.
The first place to look is your city/county sanitation department website. Most will list out items that they do or don’t collect, including bulky items like furniture.
Keep in mind that if you have to get rid of it yourself, you’ll need to haul it all the way to the landfill and pay the dumping fees. This can be time-consuming and expensive, which is why donating is often much better. Better yet, junk haulers can donate old furniture on your behalf which lowers their operating costs and allows them to charge you great rates. Most independent junk removal companies do recycle and donate whenever possible since it helps them stay competitive while also benefitting the environment.
Call a Junk Hauler Near You
There’s a lot of old furniture that – just by looking at it – you know nobody will be interested in. Sofas and loveseats infested with who-knows-what, used mattresses, and many other furniture items won’t sell and nobody will take them for free, which is why you may have no other choice but to hire a junk hauler to get that old furniture out of sight and out of mind.
The best and cheapest way is often to call a local, independent junk hauler from a site such as JunkGator and let them handle the rest.
Getting rid of old furniture doesn’t need to be a hassle. Try to sell it, give it to a friend or loved one, donate it, or if it’s impossible to do any of these, get it hauled away by a local junk hauler.