Moving can be a stressful experience for many, and understandably so. Whether it’s a local move or a long-distance relocation, the process of uprooting yourself, your family, and all your belongings is physically, mentally, and emotionally demanding.
On top of that, moving day is often more stressful than expected. However, with some planning and organization, figuring out how to get rid of old furniture before moving day can make a big difference.
5 Ways to Dispose of Used Furniture Before Moving
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Why Do People Get Rid of Furniture When Moving?
Let’s face it, moving involves a lot of lifting, packing, and hauling, and we all love to simplify things when we can. For many, moving is the perfect time to dispose of unwanted items, including furniture or appliances, as it helps declutter and lightens the load for a smoother transition.
Preparing for Your Move
Furniture is large and bulky, and sometimes it simply isn’t worth the effort to move it. Your new home likely has a different layout, size, or style, making it inevitable that some of your old furniture won’t fit in or just won’t work. In these cases, figuring out how to dispose of furniture before your move is a practical step.
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Remembering Those Stored and Forgotten Belongings
Plus, many people discover old, unused furniture, like broken treadmills, hidden in their basements or attics during the moving process. Relocation is the perfect time to find a way to dispose of these forgotten items. Whether it’s furniture that’s falling apart, outdated, or simply part of downsizing, it often doesn’t make sense to move everything to your new home.
Don’t Be a Moving “Weekend Warrior”
That said, getting rid of furniture, especially bulky items, can be a real hassle. Furniture is often heavy, bulky, and awkward to carry, and most people don’t have the right kind of truck to move furniture effectively.
Plus, the heavier the furniture, the more likely you are to get injured. Moving is tiring and challenging enough, you don’t need to move into your new house just to go straight into nursing aches and pains.
5 Ways to Get Rid of Furniture
Now that you’ve identified the furniture items you don’t need, it’s time to figure out which of the following five furniture disposal methods would be best for each piece.
1. Sell Your Furniture
If you’ve ever scrolled through Facebook Marketplace, OfferUp, or Letgo, you know that sometimes people practically give away furniture. This is often because they are moving and want to avoid the hassle of hauling their heavy furniture long distances.
Score Some Cash
This could be a win-win for you. If you find someone to buy your used furniture, not only will you clear up space, but you’ll also make a little cash in the process. Hosting a garage sale or listing your items on platforms like Facebook Marketplace or OfferUp can be a great way to turn your old furniture into extra income.
Spread the Word
There are plenty of other ways to sell your furniture. One great option is to reach out to your friends and family. Even if they’re not looking to buy, they might know someone who is. Plus, if your furniture is still in good condition, it’s always nice to know it will be reused and appreciated by someone else.
2. Donate Your Furniture
Many charities, like Habitat for Humanity, are happy to accept used furniture. In fact, some even offer pickup services for your furniture, along with other items like gently used clothes or old musical instruments. Donating your furniture is an excellent way to dispose of it in a responsible and charitable manner.
And best of all, when you donate items like cleaned old baby items from long ago, you’re supporting a charity and potentially receiving a tax deduction—definitely icing on the cake.
Just keep in mind that many charities will require you to deliver the furniture to the thrift store. This usually means renting a truck and sometimes even hiring help to move the furniture.
Finally, charities will only want furniture in good shape. If your furniture has major damage, the odds are good your furniture will not be accepted.
3. Gift Or Repurpose your Furniture
In the end, if selling your furniture online or to friends and family doesn’t work, you can always consider giving it away as a repurposed gift. With a few DIY tricks you can easily find online, repurposing furniture can be a creative and sustainable way to give your items a second life.
While most people choose to sell old or repurposed furniture, you can also offer them as great gifts to your loved ones.
Odds are good if you do find friends or family who want your old or repurposed furniture items, they may be willing to get a truck and help you move it to their house.
While this might not put money in your pocket, at least you won’t have to worry about moving your furniture and save time and energy if you can convince others to take your furniture.
4. Throw It in the Trash for Curbside Pickup
It can be tricky to know exactly what your trash collectors will accept. To avoid any surprises, it’s a good idea to call ahead and confirm their policies before putting furniture out at the curb. The last thing you want is to have to haul everything back inside or leave it sitting out front for an extended period.
Curbside Pickups
There’s also the chance that someone may spot your furniture sitting outside and take it before the trash collectors arrive. Leaving your unwanted furniture on the curb is a simple, yet often overlooked, way to get rid of it!
Psst! We’ve got the facts on what can and what can’t go in your curbside recycling bin!
Going to the Dump Has Serious Costs
If curbside trash pickup isn’t an option, you could take your old furniture to the dump. However, tossing waste into a landfill is harmful to the environment. Landfills contribute to decreased air quality and can pollute streams, which may ultimately affect drinking water.
The Dump is Terrible for Our Planet
Plus, if you’re already juggling packing and other moving logistics, a trip to the dump may seem like an added burden. In fact, it might even feel more stressful than the move itself!
While the dump may seem like an option for getting rid of furniture, it’s harmful to the environment. Let’s be honest, the earth could do without more landfill problems. It’s best to avoid this last-resort option whenever possible.
Learn how to dispose of your unwanted items with our helpful disposal guides.
5. Choose LoadUp
While this article has covered many options for disposing of your furniture, there’s one final option worth considering. A junk removal company like LoadUp can handle your old furniture and other items, disposing of them responsibly and in an eco-friendly way. For instance, LoadUp offers donation pickups in Atlanta to organizations like the Furniture Bank of Metro Atlanta.
Once you’ve scheduled a pickup with LoadUp, your furniture problems are solved. Our professionals arrive on time to haul away and dispose of your unwanted furniture fast—no need to worry about local dump rules, donation logistics, or how to get rid of old furniture on your own.
If you’re relocating, your to-do list is already packed. One of the easiest ways to check off “remove old furniture” is to simply book online with LoadUp and get rid of unwanted furniture before your move—no stress, no heavy lifting.
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Make Things Easy on Yourself
Moving is stressful, but taking a few smart steps like figuring out how to get rid of furniture when moving can make the whole process much easier. Whether you’re removing furniture from an apartment, downsizing, or just clearing out unwanted items, your old furniture doesn’t have to be a burden. With LoadUp, you can recycle, donate, or responsibly dispose of furniture without the hassle.
The great news is, once all your moving logistics are behind you, you’ll have successfully decluttered your home and figured out how to get rid of old furniture you no longer need. Getting rid of furniture when moving makes settling into your new space much easier—so you can finally relax and enjoy your fresh start.
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