Spring cleaning starts with decluttering—but let’s do it the sustainable way. Instead of tossing everything in a trash bag, rethink how to better organize spaces. A little planning can make a big difference for the planet and your peace of mind. Here’s how to refresh your home without creating unnecessary waste.
And here's a new playlist to make it fun!
1. The Three-Pile Rule: Keep, Donate, Repurpose
Sorting is key and this is the best time of year to do it. Go through each room and create three clear piles as you declutter:
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Keep: Items that serve a purpose, bring you joy, or are used regularly.
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Donate: Clothing, furniture, books, and household goods that still have life in them. Check with local shelters, libraries, and donation centers before you drop off.
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Repurpose: Turn old towels into cleaning rags, reuse glass jars for storage, and get creative with items that can have a second life.
2. Where to Donate – Make It Count
Not all donation centers accept the same things. Research local organizations that align with your values and will put your items to good use. Some ideas:
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Women’s and family shelters (for clothing and toiletries)
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Libraries and schools (for books and supplies)
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Pet shelters (for towels and bedding)
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Buy Nothing groups (to give directly to neighbors)
- A stoop or yard sale
3. Compost What You Can
Surprising compostable items include:
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Cotton fabrics (like old T-shirts and rags) or look for stores that accept denim and other fabrics to recycle
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Paper products (as long as they’re not coated in plastic)
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Natural fiber rugs and mats
4. Keeping Clutter from Coming Back
Decluttering isn’t just about getting rid of things—it’s about setting up systems to keep clutter from creeping back in. Here’s how to maintain a tidier, more organized home:
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Designate a Landing Zone: Create a space near your entryway with hooks, baskets, and trays for keys, bags, mail, and daily essentials to keep them from piling up.
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Use Vertical Storage: Shelves, hanging racks, and pegboards help maximize space without adding bulky furniture.
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One In, One Out Rule: Before bringing something new into your home, make sure to remove something similar.
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Fold and Store Smartly: Rolling towels, using drawer dividers, and stacking items vertically make it easier to see what you have and avoid overbuying.
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Make Sustainable Choices: Avoid impulse purchases and opt for long-lasting, multi-purpose items instead of plastic containers or cheap throwaways.
Sustainable decluttering isn’t just about what you remove—it’s about creating habits that prevent unnecessary clutter in the first place.
While local organizations are your best bet, here are some national resources for donating gently used items or recycling very specific things:
Goodwill Industries
- What They Accept: Clothing, electronics, books, and household items.
- How to Donate: Locate a donation center near you through their website.
- Website: Goodwill
Salvation Army
- What They Accept: Clothing, furniture, household goods, and electronics.
- How to Donate: Schedule a pickup or find a drop-off location via their website.
- Website: Salvation Army
GreenDrop
- What They Accept: Clothing, household goods, bedding, kitchen and bathroom linens, pillows, and curtains.
- How to Donate: Find a drop-off location or schedule a home pickup.
- Website: GreenDrop
Better World Books
- What They Accept: Books of all genres.
- How to Donate: Mail in your books using a prepaid shipping label.
- Website: Better World Books
St. Pauly Textile Inc.
- What They Accept: Used clothing, shoes, belts, purses, linens, pillowcases, blankets, curtains, and stuffed animals.
- How to Donate: Drop off items at one of their clothing sheds located at community organizations.
- Website: St. Pauly Textile Inc.
Books for Kids
- What They Accept: Children's books suitable for ages pre-K through fifth grade.
- How to Donate: Send books to their designated donation centers.
- Website: Books for Kids
Computers with Causes
- What They Accept: Computers, laptops, and related equipment.
- How to Donate: Fill out the online donation form to arrange a pickup or drop-off.
- Website: Computers with Causes
Quilts of Valor
- What They Accept: 100% cotton quilting weight fabric, preferably in red, white, and blue.
- How to Donate: Contact a local chapter to donate fabric or completed quilts.
- Website: Quilts of Valor
Ragfinery
- What They Accept: Clean, dry fabric scraps larger than 1 ft. x 1 ft.
- How to Donate: Visit their Bellingham, WA location or contact them for mail-in options.
- Website: Ragfinery
Days for Girls International
- What They Accept: New, unlaundered 100% cotton fabric, cotton flannel, and polyurethane laminate fabric.
- How to Donate: Mail fabric to their headquarters or find a local chapter.
- Website: Days for Girls
To help you declutter responsibly and sustainably, here are some organizations and programs that accept specific items for recycling or donation:
LEGO Bricks
- Program: LEGO® Replay
- What They Accept: Gently used LEGO bricks
- How It Works: Pack your pre-owned LEGO bricks in a box, print a free shipping label from the LEGO Replay website, and ship the box. The bricks will be cleaned and donated to children’s organizations.
- Website: LEGO Replay
Denim Apparel
- Program: Madewell’s Do Well: Recycling Program
- What They Accept: Pre-loved jeans from any brand
- How It Works: Bring your old jeans to a Madewell store to be recycled into housing insulation. In return, you'll receive $20 off a new pair of Madewell jeans. Alternatively, request a Clean Out Kit online to mail in your denim.
- Website: Madewell Recycling
Beauty Product Packaging
- Program: Pact Collective
- What They Accept: Empty beauty product containers, including those that are hard to recycle
- How It Works: Drop off your empty beauty containers at participating retailers like Credo Beauty and Hudson's Bay. Pact ensures these materials are properly recycled to reduce landfill waste.
- Website: Pact Collective
Used Batteries
- Program: Call2Recycle
- What They Accept: Rechargeable and single-use batteries
- How It Works: Locate a nearby drop-off site using their online tool, or order a pre-paid shipping kit to mail in your used batteries for proper recycling.
- Website: Call2Recycle
Electronics
- Program: Best Buy Recycling Program
- What They Accept: Various electronics, including computers, tablets, and cell phones
- How It Works: Bring your old electronics to a Best Buy store for recycling. Some items may have a recycling fee; check their website for specific details.
- Website: Best Buy Recycling
Before participating, it's advisable to visit each program's website to confirm current acceptance policies and procedures.