After The Estate Sale: What To Trash, What To Recycle, And What To Donate

So you've gone through the process of selling everything in the house of value, but now what? It may seem like a daunting process to dispose of the plethora of items that were left behind, but don't despair. With a little bit of organization and planning, the items that are left in the house will be sorted and sent to their proper destinations, whether it should be a charity, to a recycling center, or to a dumpster.

Donations

First let's assess what has been left behind. Are there any clothes or household items? What about furniture? Most of these items can be donated to a charity, even if they seem like they may be in poor condition. You might be surprised by what some organizations accept. Clothing that has seen better days can be sold to the pound by charities to be turned into industrial rags. Shoes that are worn-out or missing a mate can be turned into rubber foam or insulation. Call to clarify what each charity does and does not accept. Don't be afraid to call several places. Some charities will even pick up your donation. Items that can be donated to charity should be the first category to be eliminated from the house.

One thing that charities rarely accept any longer is a used mattress. If you were not able to sell the mattress, consider giving it away. If you are not able to give the mattress to someone else, you will need to throw it away.

Recyclables

The next category of items to be eliminated should be recyclables. What is considered recyclable varies by state by state and sometimes town by town. Find out what items can be recycled in your area, before trying to sort through the remaining items in the house.

Gather up what items are recyclable in your area such as cans, bottles, newspapers, batteries, and/or glass to take to a recycling center. Hazardous items like old paint and used motor oil should be recycled as well.

You may be able to sell old metal pieces and appliances to a junkyard.

Trash

Now that everything else has been removed from the house, you can get down to the dirty work. Your best bet to clean the remaining garbage from the house is to rent a dumpster or to borrow a truck. If you rent a dumpster, you don't have to worry about hauling the trash away yourself. If you throw the garbage into a truck, then you will also need to find a junkyard to dispose of it.

Talk to experts like B-P Trucking Inc for more information.