Donate Household Items to Save Money

You might need temporary or long-term storage for a variety of reasons. When a homeowner is preparing to sell a home, their realtor may advise to de-clutter and downsize. If a marriage ends in divorce, one or both parties could end up in a new home or apartment that’s smaller than their previous one. A loved one might pass away and leave you with furniture or other cherished items that you don’t have room to keep at home.

ezStorage has self-storage units available that can accommodate all these needs and more, but we want to make sure you are only paying for the space you really need. Taking an inventory of your belongings and deciding what is truly worth hanging onto can save you time and money.

Once you’ve determined what stays and what goes, you can help make a difference in your community by donating the items you no longer need instead of storing them. The money savings are easy to see as storing fewer items requires less space—leaving you free to use a smaller self-storage unit. Item donations may also qualify you for additional tax deductions.

The time savings might not be obvious until you realize that many operations that accept these donations offer pick-up services or easy drop-off locations. That’s time you don’t have to worry with selling, haggling or transporting.

So if saving time and money appeals to you, let’s take a look at a few of your options for donating in Maryland, Virginia and Washington D.C.

Where to Donate Furniture, Other Household Items and Clothing

• Habitat for Humanity’s ReStore locations can be found throughout the area. Many of them offer free pick-up service for your furniture, appliances, exercise equipment and more. Proceeds help build affordable housing in your community.
• Goodwill aims to improve the lives of people in your area through employment and education. Many locations accept toys, computers, clothing, furniture and a variety of household items. Check with your area’s branch for more information.
• The Salvation Army’s Family Stores will resell your donated items–from clothing to furniture–in order to help support their Adult Rehabilitation Centers. These programs provide those in the grip of addiction an opportunity to reclaim their lives.
• Donation Town offers free pick up and delivery service to a variety of charities nationwide

Where to Donate Your Old Mattress

Some delivery services will offer to dispose of your old mattress when they deliver your new one. Instead of having them take it to the nearest landfill, consider helping someone in need. Most of the organizations above will not take mattress donations due to sanitary regulations, but Donation Town can help find a new home for your “gently used” mattresses. Once donated, they can help veterans, women’s shelters and more. If your old mattress is in poor shape, Donation Nation can whisk it away while minimizing the impact on the environment.

How Much Self-Storage Space Do You Need?

Once you’ve narrowed down the list of essentials, the professionals at ezStorage can help you find a self-storage unit that’s just right for you. We can give you pointers on how to arrange the storage unit to make the most of your space. Whether you’re in Maryland, Virginia or Washington D.C., there’s an ezStorage location that’s ready to assist you.