Spring Cleaning: What to Do With Your Unwanted Items
There is something super therapeutic about spring cleaning your home, cupboards and wardrobes… Not only that but decluttering, whether in the Spring or any other time of year for that matter, is good for the soul- we’re convinced of it.
There are also environmental and even financial benefits to be had from getting rid of your old stuff. With all that in mind, what more convincing do you need to go through your wardrobes and cupboards right now?
How can we actually make the most out of our spring cleaning though? Well get ready because we’ve got some major inspiration coming up.
Get Selling
One man’s trash is another man’s treasure. Here’s the thing, it’s true and you can even make some money from your bits. Selling second hand clothes, shoes, bags etc. has never been more popular than it is today. Thanks in part to a growing culture of sustainability and slow fashion, more and more people are choosing to buy second hand. A lot of people are generally becoming more mindful about the things that they are buying, and shopping second hand is a great chance to slow down the fast fashion chain while extending the life span of your goods. Your belongings can find a much-loved second home and avoid potentially being thrown into landfill sites. Around 92 million tonnes of clothes are estimated to be thrown into landfill globally each year- an absolutely staggering waste, especially when a lot of those goods are likely to be in a good enough condition to be rehomed and shown some love again.
Apps such as Depop and Vinted as well as the old classic Ebay, have been the epitome of second-hand selling for quite some time. While they have become competitive platforms the demand for second-hand just proves that now is a fantastic time for selling the results of your spring cleaning. If you want to take it one step further and do have enough to flog, car boots sales are also a great option for selling your stuff, making some money and helping the planet.
Get donating
Charity shops will always appreciate donations and giving your old things to them not only raises money for good causes, but also allows others to buy second hand goods which in turn helps to avoid more waste from pilling up. Charity shops can accept clothes, shoes, accessories, home wears and more, but do check with your latest stores for more information if you are not sure.
It goes without saying, but it items should be in a decent condition. Sure, they might have a few stories to tell but just like the clothes you sell, if they’ve got good life left in them yet, donate away. This is perfect for those outfits you’ve worn once or twice that have since been banished to the depths of your wardrobe. Of course if you do have things that have had more wear than others, don’t be afraid to donate. People are always looking for things they can buy for a cheap price and upcycle or even just create a few more stories with. As long as the garment or product isn’t falling apart, donating to a charity shop is a great way to support a charity and get rid of things from your spring cleaning that you don’t want or need anymore.
Get Creative.
Why not turn an old garm into something fresh? Upcycling clothes is a hot hobby (even a side-hustle) now and doesn’t always require top art or design skills to do. It’s much more about being creative and breathing new life into something old. It can be as easy as cutting up an old pair of jeans or adding some embroidery to an old jacket or t-shirt. So you’ve got a dress or a top that you’ve never worn. Maybe you’ve got a piece of clothing or a pair of shoes that you once loved but got bored of. Why not customise them? Add a flair with some creative touches like dying them a different colour or adding embellishments to them. If you can sew, you could transform your old goods into something completely different all together.
Get Gone, Girl.
Although we should all be trying to avoid wastage as much as possible, there comes a time when things cannot be saved, or repurposed. Like out of date make-up and beauty products for example. If you come across any products way out of date during your spring clean, it is a good time to get rid and make some space. Make-up and beauty products cannot be donated or sold, if they are out of date or open. And while you might want to use them yourselves, using old products can cause infections and other nasty problems. The best thing to do in this scenario is to just get rid. Of course you can still be mindful about what you are chucking away. Can the outer packaging be recycled? The same goes for clothes, if you cannot save a piece of clothing, can it be recycled too? Clothing banks are a fantastic place to take your worn out clothes to so that the textiles can be recycled. Check your local clothing banks for further information.
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