Spring cleaning has started at my house.

As I was turning out my closet and back room, I started making piles: keep, throw way, donate, and...well, I'm not sure.

We've had an old box television in our backroom for years, and since we never use it, I figured I'd drop it (gently) into the "donate" pile; same thing with that old mattress in our guest room. We recently replaced it, and this one is only about five years old. Or maybe ten. Who remembers?

Donating your items to thrift stores like Goodwill help the community. Credit: Canva
Donating your items to thrift stores like Goodwill help the community. Credit: Canva
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I decided to do some research to see if Goodwill can take these items. To save you some time, here's what I learned.

1. SOME OF YOUR OLD FURNITURE MAY BE A 'NO GO'

According to the Donation Guidelines on the Goodwill website, furniture has can be taken but under certain conditions. Specifically, they can take some furniture items, as long as it is not covered in animal hair, broken, worn, torn, stained, mildewed, rusty, missing parts or disassembled. Some locations can't take furniture donations at all, so it's always a good idea to ask in advance.

Goodwill can't take all your furniture. Credit: Canva
Goodwill can't take all your furniture. Credit: Canva
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2. SO, WHAT ABOUT THAT OLD BOX SPRING AND MATTRESS?

That's also on the list of things they can't take off your hands, for sanitary reasons. Also on the no-no list are bed rails, sleeper-sofas, air-mattresses, bed pillows and bean bag chairs.

Beds and box springs are not accepted. Credit: Canva
Beds and box springs are not accepted. Credit: Canva
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3. FINE. BUT I'M SURE THEY'LL WANT MY OLD TV...

Actually, it depends. They'll take that extra working flat screen television off your hands, but if it's one of those old box-style TVs like the one your grandma gave you, you're out of luck. They just can't resell them. If you have one you'd like to get rid of, solid waste facilities have a method for dealing with old, used appliances and it's easier than you think.

Certain large appliances are not accepted. Credit: Canva
Certain large appliances are not accepted. Credit: Canva
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4. MY SISTER BOUGHT A FRIDGE AT A THRIFT STORE ONCE. HOW ABOUT THAT?

Nope. And since we're talking about used appliances, Goodwill also cannot take certain things like stoves, a/c units, washers or dryers, dishwashers, refrigerators, freezers, trash compactors or hot water heaters.

Old CRT television sets cannot be resold, so they can't be donated. Credit: Canva
Old CRT television sets cannot be resold, so they can't be donated. Credit: Canva
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5. MY BROTHER IS A CONTRACTOR, AND HE'S GOT SOME EXTRA STUFF LYING AROUND. WHAT'S THE STORY THERE?

For a variety of reasons to include safety and limited resale space, find someone else to take those old building materials off your hands, because Goodwill just can't. They won't accept lighting or plumbing fixtures, windows, doors, garage doors, shutters, sinks, tubs, toilets, fencing, gutters, lumber, concrete, bricks, stone, or window blinds. Curtains are okay.

Credit: Canva
Credit: Canva
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5. BUT THEY'LL TAKE ALL MY OLD CLOTHES, RIGHT?

Let's face it: that old Mötley Crüe t-shirt you wore out in 1987 really needs to go in the trash. First, no one is gonna be as sentimental about it as you. Plus, that hole in the sleeve and the mustard stain on Nikki Sixx's forehead mean's it's not vintage. It's garbage.

Be sure to wash your clothes before you donate them! Credit: Canva
Be sure to wash your clothes before you donate them! Credit: Canva
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Same thing goes for underwear and socks. It doesn't matter if you washed everything in bleach a hundred times, don't make the Goodwill staff touch your gross underthings. They're gonna toss them out anyway. If you're absolutely dedicated to finding an alternative to tossing these things in a landfill, Utopia.org has some fresh ideas for you.

Check out these ideas to recycle. Canva
Check out these ideas to recycle. Canva
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WASH YOUR CLOTHES BEFORE DONATING!

I always wash all my clothes before I donate them to any thrift store. It's just a nice thing to do. Even if you put them away clean, if your favorite pair of low-rise jeans has been hanging out in your closet since 1998, it's time to give them a refresh.

Car seats cannot be resold, so you cannot donate them to Goodwill. Credit: Canva
Car seats cannot be resold, so you cannot donate them to Goodwill. Credit: Canva
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A FEW MORE THINGS GOODWILL WON'T TAKE

  1. Used makeup.
  2. Unbound carpeting and area rugs that are covered in animal hair, torn, stained, mildewed, or soiled.
  3. Children’s items including baby furniture, cribs, strollers, car seats, highchairs, playpens, changing tables, bassinettes and baby walkers.
  4. Hazardous materials and paints.
  5. Medical supplies, crutches, and portable toilets.

For a complete list of items Goodwill in Southern Arizona would love to take off your hands, please see their website.

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