My Mom Always Gets These 5 Free Organizing Finds When She’s “Curb Shopping”

Bulk collection days are my (and my mom’s!) favorite days. Twice a year, our city picks up all the discarded stuff that won’t fit in trash bins. Half the time, many people don’t even plan on the trash collectors taking it — unless it’s truly junk — because someone else will usually grab it from the curb for themselves. 

This is called curbing or curb shopping, and my mom — who is an early riser with a big car and is not afraid to scrub things down — is the best at it. These are the most common organization items she finds (for free!) that you should look out for too. And remember, for any secondhand item, you’ll want to inspect and clean them to avoid bringing unpleasant things, like bugs or mold, into your home.

My mom and I have amassed a decent collection of garage shelves, both plastic and metal. It seems random, but my hunch is that some people take bulk collection day as an opportunity to clean out their garages and end up whittling down their shelves as a result. Just two weeks ago my mom picked up a large metal shelving unit still in the box and carried it all the way home so no one else could take it. There was no time to get her car — we’ve learned the hard way that all it takes is a minute for someone else to snap up the thing you’ve been eyeing.

My same hypothesis about garage shelves applies here. Some people declutter in preparation for bulk pickup and they end up no longer needing as many plastic drawers. Unlike the shelving units, these go in our home. We’re typically more cautious when taking things that will end up inside, but because these are plastic they can be completely sanitized before coming into the house.

We see a lot of baskets while curbing, but don’t always grab them. Besides the fact that we already have plenty of baskets, they can’t be sanitized as easily. We usually only take it from homes we’re familiar with like a neighbor’s place or if they haven’t been outside for too long. If we notice a lot of ripped-up fibers, broken reeds, or any unidentifiable substances, it’s a pass.

This one feels random to me, but I’m not complaining. We found my daughter’s bookshelf while curbing, and it’s served us well for years. Sometimes we’ll come across an older, heavy wood one, but you’re more likely to snag something from IKEA or Target. This isn’t necessarily a bad thing: Shelves don’t experience a ton of wear and tear, so quality isn’t as much of a concern as functionality. Plus, because newer shelves are usually lighter, you can sometimes get them into the car yourself.

While my mom and I think that you can never have too many bins, clearly other people feel otherwise, because you can find bins of all sizes while curb shopping. Just like with the plastic drawers, these can be easily sanitized, so we don’t stress too much about the condition as long as they seem sturdy (definitely no cracks) and are in the size we can work with. Bonus points if they still have their lids!

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