There’s a gentle art to giving away something you no longer need. Here’s a few tips on clearing your clutter by sending that unwanted item on to a new and productive life.

In the Northern Hemisphere, it’s Spring Cleaning time. You know what needs to go: those Christmas decorations you skipped for the second straight year. Exercise equipment that gets used to hang up clothes, rather than shed pounds. The beer-making kit you thought might be a fun gift at one time, but is now gathering dust. Clutter, clutter everywhere.

There’s something liberating about reducing clutter. But we’re trying to live more earth-friendly lives. It won’t do just to drag that old couch to the curb and wait for someone to haul it to the landfill.

You need a giveaway plan. Giving things away is the sustainable equivalent of throwing something out. Not only do you reduce the burden to your community’s waste disposal system, you’ll keep someone from having to buy new. That means one less manufactured product. It’s a double-whammy resource saver.

So look at the things you haven’t used in the last year or so. Are they heirlooms or something of high intangible value? Are you planning on using it in the next year? If not, reclaim your space!

Just like being a good gift-giver, there’s an art to giving something away. We’ve rounded-up five ideas to help you turn your junk into someone else’s treasure. Let’s get started.

Friends and family

Finished with that baby clothing? You know your niece is expecting this summer. Time to give her a call. Or maybe a family guest has remarked on an item you no longer use. Friends and family are the most intimate and direct path for repurposing your unwanted items. Give it some thought.

Freecycle™ it!

The Freecycle Network™ is a grassroots network which helps people who have extra things find people who want them. It’s pretty straightforward: go to the Freecycle™ website and locate a local group. In most cases, these groups are email or web-based. Once you’re subscribed, place a notice for your item. The bigger your group, the faster it will go.

Local charities

Everyone knows the old standbys here: Goodwill and the Salvation Army. But you may have regional secondhand stores run by churches or community organizations who will appreciate the effort of tracking them down. The advantage to this giveaway channel is that many of the groups are nonprofit charities, which may allow you to deduct your gift at tax time. Check beforehand to see if your particular group has any restrictions on the type of articles they accept.

Yard sales

They work! Be prepared for an early morning if you list in the local newspaper — yard sales enthusiasts will often try to beat the crowds by offering to buy as you set up. Let’s face it: marking that $80 camp stove down to 25-cents is a giveaway. You might actually make a few dollars here, but that never hurts and it’s an instructional experience for children.

Craigslist

It’s difficult to overstate the power of Craigslist, the low-tech bulletin board which now ranks among the Internet’s most trafficked sites. There are actually numerous local and regional Craigslist boards — find the one closest to you. One of Craigslist’s nicest features is the ability to place blind ads, which protects you email address.

Happy Spring Cleaning!

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