We've taken carloads over to Goodwill. You just drive up to the building, and they'll even unload the car for you. And that's it, you just drive off again. In MN Goodwill stores are everywhere, so it's easy to just go drop things off during my regular errands. Then I know not only that the items will be used again, but that the slim profit they make from the sale of those items will go towards supported employment for others. So a whole lot of people can benefit from my ugly old rug. They'll take almost anything, to!

Yes, we drop off items pretty often, as we like to live by the one in one out rule and since there are 5 of us that happens regularly. We prefer to donate to "free stores" where items are given directly to those in need at no cost instead of Goodwill (etc), where we have noticed they not only overprice some items but also throw out a lot of goods that still have plenty of life in them.

Freecycle and Goodwill!

I just donated 6 bags of designer clothes and some furniture to GLBT Org here in Chicago. I also sold a Room & Board Jasper Sofa to a couple in my neighborhood who answered my Craigslist ad.

Tonight I will be doing more cleaning out of my apartment and getting rid of things like chipped vases, old sheets, etc.

I'm so excited!!

@tmscott that surprises me, since the Goodwill near us has found a way to use just about everything given- even when they get clothes far too ratty and stained to wear they can donate them to an organization that turns them into rags for various charitable organizations for cleaning, ect. Maybe it varies by location?

In San Francisco, furniture is welcome on the street where it is usually gone within the hour. I also sometimes leave magazines in a box, construction wood, moving/cardboard boxes near the 1st & 15th of the month. If it's still there by the next day, I take it back in because we have a nosy neighbor who calls the police!

In general, people have need for new coffee tables & a new mag. Many contractors pick up construction wood as they are more handy... It works out. I take clothes to Goodwill because I shop there weekly, it's convenient, & I have gotten amazing pieces in that store. I want to keep up the standards!

for furniture and appliances, i put them on my sidewalk and people take everything. for toys, clothes and linens, i donate them or pass to a friend in need. if something is of great value, i will sell on craigslist or ebay.

Lots of stuff gets donated to Goodwill nearly every year. We have a whole corner of our bedroom just full of bags of stuff we have to donate to Goodwill in a few months. Just get a receipt for the tax deduction, and you're good to go.

Craigslist is my favorite place to buy eclectic items, but offloading things via Craigslist is also really easy. It helps to live in a major city, too.

Anyone with professional women's clothing should check out the organization Dress for Success, which collects donations of professional clothing for disadvantaged women.

In Dallas, putting stuff out when it's not bulk trash day gets you a ticket, so that's out. I commandeer my mom's van and drive everything over to the local women's shelter benefit store. Some of the nicer furniture goes to the safe houses where the women stay, and some of the clothes go to them so they have nice things to wear to job interviews and to their children. Other things go into the resale shop to help fund their education and job skills programs, as well as helping to feed the women and their children while they're in transition. It's a program I feel good about, and it directly benefits my community.

First, I post stuff on my local Freecycle. If I don't get any responses there, I make a trip to Goodwill!

For old (clean) towels, sheets, and blankets, I always donate them to the SPCA.

I just dropped off 3 boxes of gently used kitchen items at the Salvation Army. I had originally wanted to donate to our local women's shelter but they only wanted new items. Go figure!

FREECYCLE!

Planet Box.

Free pile at end of driveway.

Friends in need... great way to move kids' junk around.

Sort of the opposite, but timely: some of the best finds I have ever gotten have come at this time of year, from dumpster diving around college campuses. A lot of kids inherit older furniture from mom and dad for their off campus apartment, and then when they move out, leave it on the curb. I lived in a college town growing up, and over the years I have gotten (in new or almost new condition): televisions, couches, dining room tables, bookshelves, lamps, and other random things (helloooo random stoplight) that were just left out for the garbageman/dumpster divers (it's sort of a sport in my town)...

I live in an apartment building and there is usually some in the building that wants my stuff. I leave it out in a communal space with a little note and within a few hours it's gone.

For example, I had quite the collection of vases that I was never going to use and were taking up heaps of space. I separated my wilting bouquet of flowers between the vases and put them out with a note saying "We broke up. I don't want his damn flowers". (But someone did.)

I put a bunch of fitness DVDs and some free weights out with a note saying "New Year's resolutions suck". Someone else thought they'd give it a go.

I'm certain the sad notes make people feel sorry for the stuff.

The Canadian Diabetes Association near us does regular pick-ups, so we usually donate all of our items to them. Also, depending on the number of things you have, yard sales.

Craigslist -- I feel it's the best way to sell anything (clothes, furniture, appliances, accessories, etc...) in NYC. I used to live in Philly and always have trouble selling things on Craigslist; the site just isn't as popular there.

My building has a common area, which we use as a giveaway table. My neighbors and I do a lot of swapping there. We got a few good books in exchange for children's toys.

Sometimes I put stuff on the curb too and it's usually gone within the hour. I've gotten a few great pieces from the curb as well.

"I'm certain the sad notes make people feel sorry for the stuff."

LOL that is so true! I once put a "Love me" note on a chair & it was picked up in 20 minutes.

We contact our local Love INC office, they aren't everywhere but if there is one in your area then they usually have a list of all the local charities that are looking for donations. If you are really into serving people then you can even brings specific items directly to the families that need them. Our apartment complex doesn't really appreciate anyone leaving stuff out, and it seems like our local Goodwill is always "full" and can't accept any more stuff.

Our county allows us five free trips to the dump monthly, which is more than enough. So, all our unwanted stuff goes there.

If it's good enough to donate, we drop it off at the nearby thrift shop.

I won't do garage sales because I don't want strangers on my property.

I use Freecycle a LOT. Actually, I just posted a TON of stuff today- moving in 10 days and I realized- we have WAY too much stuff. Nothing like paying movers an hourly wage of $99 to get you to pare down your crap.

@AmmoniteInk It must vary by location, glad to hear it isn't all stores. I have actually watched the workers at our Goodwill throwing things into a dumpster and too often I have pulled up with an item they have just refused to take. (An upholstered chair once b/c it had a dot size pen mark.)

I give furnishings to places already mentioned, plus family, Salvation Army--which will collect--and the annual United Way bazaar at my husband's workplace. The local Fellowship House will collect furniture for its residents' use. I leave little other than garden plants on the front easement since the weather would ruin most furnishings quickly. I've sold at local consignment stores a few times.

The note idea does work. I put the sign "Free to good home" by the plants I leave on the front easement, and they vanish.

I post on Freecycle quite a lot. My local Goodwill is pretty particular about what they'll take, but I donate sometimes to them and also to Purple Heart Veterans. I also drop off clothing at the local St. Vincent de Pauls collection box. I donate books to my local library; they sell what they don't want and use the proceeds for their collection and programs.

We are getting ready to sell our house and in prep for the open houses we did a MAJOR purge. I love, love, love dropping car loads off at the local charity thrift store. (Almost as much as I love shopping there.) In fact, we donate way more than we sell. It's less effort and goes to a great cause. Plus there's always the tax deduction, which can be worth more than what you might sell things for. We box things up by category and before I pull out of our driveway, I turn on the dictation app on my phone and verbally list everything that's being donated. It makes it tons easier for documenting for tax deductions later. Also, something to remember, donating even your unusable stuff can be a great alternative to just trashing it. A lot of thrift store send unusable things (clothing, linens, etc.) to places that can recycle them into useful commodities, like carpet padding. So donating can be green, too!

I drag everything to the curb sevral days before the garbage collection, and it all disappears. I've done so with sofas, armchairs, chairs, clothes, shoes, bags, small appliances, just about anything. I had a big bedding purge last year which I donated to the local cat shelter.

i have to comment as someone who has actually worked in three non-profit thrift stores (like goodwill, salvation army, etc., except local organziations). when you see workers throwing stuff out, there is probably a very good reason. i worked as a sorter (both clothing and household items) and i have discovered that people generally think that because they own it, it still has use. as a result, i threw out bags and bags of clothing that was stained, full of holes, or moldy, or household items that were broken. some stores cannot/ do not sell certain items, either. for example, a lot of baby items (i.e. certain cribs, or car seats) are considered non-saleable, because of the age of an item. older cribs are now considered hazardous (wider slats) and it is difficult to determine the safety and age of a car seat. as tough as it is for some people to believe, some stuff is just garbage.

I donate to Goodwill. They sell things in their stores, then use the money to train people for jobs. It's a win all around.

I have that couch.

One time my husband and I did a major decluttering of the garage and house the day before a neighborhood garage sale. We had no desire to man a garage sale so we put a sign out saying that everything was free. We did take the time to organize everything so it wasn't just a big pile of stuff. By the end of the day only one thing was left.

I've traded a lot with used book stores, which may not reduce my book collection's size but does remove its chaff.

I heard that University of Florida has a place on campus where graduating students can leave furnishings for incoming students to collect, no money involved, which sounds like a win-win.

We drop off clothes and houseware items to goodwill, bedding and towels to the animal shelter, furniture goes to various charitable furniture banks in the area. In Columbus, most of them will pick the items up and even come in and remove them. Sometimes we bag things up if the Volunteers of America truck is going to be on our street. Also, remodeling remnants go to Habitat for Humanity ReStore (light fixtures, outlets, etc.).

oh yeah, and two way younger sisters.

I used to love to put out a box of old books or mismatched dishes in front of my apartment in Brooklyn and just watch it for a little why to see what people took. Nothing ever lasted more than an hour.

But the best curb story was when we moved into our last apartment. The previous tenants had left 3 old window air conditioners underneath the exterior stairs all winter - on a dirt floor and not completely sheltered from the elements. I gave them up for lost and called our city to arrange a bulk trash pickup (they do it with the regular trash collection, but you're supposed to give them advance notice). When I took the 3 old, broken, rusted a/c's out to the curb, they were all gone within 15 minutes. One person's trash really is another's treasure, I guess...

Now that I have a car, I use Goodwill instead of the curb (since I've also started itemizing donations on my taxes). And I've always used Craigslist for more valuable items.

I've called the Veterans thrift store and they come to my house to pick up my junk. I'm sure other local thrift shops will too. It's awesome because you don't have to figure a way to get furniture and other bulky item to them if you live in the city or don't have a truck.

I also try putting things on my curb just to see if it gets picked up, you'd be suprised what people will grab.

My city will pick up 1 used appliance per household per year for free. Some people may even pick up an old washer or dryer that isn't working and sell it for scrap metal money or you could do that as well. make a few buck and be rid of that old non working appliance!

Since my favourite charity shut up shop I put electronic goods (toaster, blender, George Foreman grill, etc) out on the street and give household goods (tumblers, vases, books, clothes etc) to another local charity shop, whose aims I am less favourably inclined towards.

My neighbour always gets first refusal, though, and just this week he has got a never-used printer, scanner / copier, books and a few other bits and bobs.

In my old neighbourhood there was a huge bin for donations to the Salvation Army - that was great. If it didn't fit in the bin, it could be left on the side. Everything went - old suitcases, furniture, etc.

Craigslist for furniture- if I can't sell it I will post it in the free section or freecycle it.

If the clothes are nice and in season I drop them off @ a consignment shop. I have been rejected by the and Dress for Success because I am not the same size as most of their clients.

If the clothes aren't fancy and/or out of season/style they go to goodwill or better yet the local shelter. Local shelter will also take unopened non-perishables, plastic tupperware/deli containers, extra toiletries, etc.

Old sheets, towels, blankets, etc. go to the ASPCA.

We generally have a yard sale every year to unload the stuff that we don't want including housewares, furniture, and clothes (adults and kids). We generally sell about 80% of what we put out because of deeply discounted prices towards the end of the morning. At the end of the sale, we load everything into the car and take it to Goodwill or another charity. We like to put the money from our yard sale towards a big purchase which makes the hard work seem more worthwhile! Works out well for us.

www.houseography.net

If it's a major cleaning -- yardsale, followed by trips to the local Goodwill drop-off point and curbing bigger items that don't fit in the car. I've never had to advertise for more than a day on craigslist to have free stuff picked up from the curb.

Tipnut has a great guide for yard sales that I have used as a catch-all very successfully in the past!

Here's my personal list, I keep it taped in the garage so I don't run dry of ideas on where to donate, in no particular order:
* Freecycle is my number 1, I belong to 3 in my local area, I have yet to have to toss anything out.
* Thrift stores like Goodwill, St. Vincent de Paul, Salvation Army, GLBT-friendly, the local thrift store supporting the SPCA.
* CraigsList
* eBay
* In San Francisco SCRAP:
http://www.scrap-sf.org/
* Theatre groups (professional, community, high school)
* Teachers/schools
* Students - I just fixed up a 3-cushion/2-recliner sofa, inherited from a family member, and donated it to nearby college students
* Homeless shelters
* SPCA
* Library (books, DVD's, CD's)
* This site has a great list for donating eyeglasses and bicycles:
http://wheretodonate.tumblr.com/

I don't leave things at the curb, out of respect for my neighbors (though a neighbor once left a perfectly good couch on the sidewalk for 3 months in the rain, nutterbutter!), and my experience at thrift shops has been mixed because I've had them say no (when they already have too much) and I've never had them unload ANYthing in the San Francisco area!

Usually I offer it up to friends or family first, then I try to craigslist it, and then if no one still wants it I'll toss it at that point.

Donate or to the dump for anything that's past it.

tmscott - can you recommend the charity you mentioned? thanks :)

Eye glasses go to a local grocery store, which turns them over to a service organization that distributes them with the help of eye doctors for reuse by people who otherwise wouldn't have the glasses they need.
Cell phones and their chargers go to a local police department, which turns them over to a charity that reprograms them and gives them to domestic violence victims for emergency assistance calls.

Find out about donating your eye glasses:
http://www.lionsclubs.org/EN/our-work/sight-programs/eyeglass-recycling/how-you-can-help.php

Find out about donating your old cell phones. There are a number of organizations that reuse and recycle cell phones. This is one:

http://www.911cellphonebank.org/how-it-works.asp

Rucy, I saved the link you suggested--thanks.
Also, I hadn't realized when I suggested it earlier that http://www.fellowshiphouse.org/ is local only, but there are other Miami AT readers, so that's OK.

Ugh. Boston trash collection will take damn near anything, which irritates me to no end with the waste it promotes. Piles of furniture, clothing, and all sorts of perfectly good items line the curbs all the time, and the trash people take all of it to landfills. Really, how hard is it to post on freecycle or call a charity? But people don't bother, since the city supports putting couches and things in landfills.

My usual routine when getting rid of something is:
1) Look on amazon to see if it's worth any money and listable there as used.
2) After that, freecycle, craigslist, Boomerangs, Goodwill.

This link is a Boston-specific list of things the thrift store doesn't take and where you might take them instead, but might also give ideas for where to call in other communities. For instance, our animal shelters take bedding, which most charities don't: http://www.aac.org/site/PageServer?pagename=boomerangs_donations

(Also, I'm so excited that no one is mentioning the Salvation Army. For anyone who doesn't know, the organization is ridiculously homophobic. Please instead support Goodwill and other charities that aren't.)

Elaine, I just checked out that site, and that looks like a great organization to support. I particularly like supporting the newer and more progressive/experimental organizations (like psychiatric recovery!), since they depend on each and every donation more than organizations that are already established with United Way and whatnot.

eeka, Thank you for sharing that information about Salvation Army--I'd had no idea.

Old DVDs, novels, & magazines are often accepted at hospitals or nursing homes. Call to see. They would love new readng & viewing materials. I had posted several skeins of yarn on Craigslist that I wasn't going to use and had a call from a man at a nursing home who ran a crochet group. I ended up just giving it to them.

Craigslist, Goodwill, local organizations (say, a church that will come and pick up your gently used things and distribute them to people in need in their organization). All very friendly and easy ways to dispose of things. I will not throw anything away, unless it's broken. Someone can use it!

for furniture and things of that nature my go to is always Craigslist and Oodle

and for clothes, shoes and such I use the goodwill drop off boxes.

I wish we could put things out on the pavement but it doesn't really happen in the UK, plus we live in a cul-de-sac so no passing traffic. I have used FreeCycle a bit but only when I was home a lot in the daytime as I find it hard to promise to be in at certain times in the evenings. We do get around to dropping things off at a charity shop after a while but it's not easy as they are always in places where you can't park (old English towns and tiny streets). No drive-thru here! The council do collect recyclable stuff which I take advantage off. Rubbish gets collected or goes to the tip.