Where to rehome or recycle it?
A big part of the organizing process is identifying the items that no longer serve us and letting them go responsibly. Here are some of the many local resources for donating, selling, or recycling common categories. Let me know about new options - the list is constantly evolving!
Donate them by dropping off at one of the Little Free Libraries scattered throughout the city. (For cookbooks, the View Ridge PCC has a Little Free Cookbook library). Goodwill also takes books.
Sell them with Thriftbooks mail-in buy-back program. For academic books try Textbooks.com.
Sell them in person at a local bookstore like Third Place Books. Check their website for specific buying hours and restrictions.
You can also recycle clean, dry paperbacks and hardbacks with their covers removed in your regular King County recycling bin.
Books
Tools
Donate them to your local tool library - there are 6 in Seattle and 3 more in greater King County.
Baby & child
Share them in your local Buy Nothing group.
Kidvantage takes donations of child and maternity clothing, baby gear, bottles, unopened/unexpired formula, toys, diapers, schools supplies, books, blankets, bedding, bicycles and more. An alternative is Westside Baby.
Sell them to a second hand kids store. Childish Things is one I have used quite a bit. Egg and I Resale in Tacoma takes gently used baby gear, toys, and even larger items like cribs.
Furniture
Share them in your local Buy Nothing group. Goodwill takes some smaller furniture items.
Donate items that need a little bit of love to the Furniture Repair Bank for refurbishing before they are shared with families in need.
Sell items in good condition at a local consignment shop like Ballard Consignment, an online consignment shop like Chairish, or on Facebook marketplace.
Unusable large furniture items
can be dropped off at many King County transfer stations. Disposal fees may apply.
Kitchen items
Some tool libraries like NE Seattle and Shoreline have catering sections and may take donations of kitchen appliances and gear.
Electronics
Ridwell takes portable devices.
Unusable computers, monitors and televisions can be
recycled at E-Cycle Washington locations.
Donate rewearable items to Goodwill, share on Buy Nothing, or put them in your Ridwell box. Check Mary's Place for high need items you may have to donate.
Sell particularly nice items at online consignment shops like thredup or try a local shop like Labels - check their site for specific brands or styles they take.
Dispose of stained/torn items in Ridwell's "Recyclable Threads" category. (If you're not a Ridwell customer, ask a neighbor who is if you can put them in their box).
Bring in old denim jeans to a Madewell store to receive $20 off a new pair.
Clothing
Take expired and unneeded
medications for people and pets
drop-off location.
For mail-in service, order free, prepaid, pre-addressed envelopes
Medications
Donate them to the Mountaineers Gear Library.
Gear that is less than 5-7 years old can be sold on consignment at Wonderland Gear Exchange.
Skis (and sometimes ski boots) that are outdated can be recycled through these local retailers.
Outdoor Gear
A stash of plastic twist ties and bread tags can be recycled for free through a pilot program at three PCC stores: Ballard, Burien and Greenlake Village. Ask a store associate to point you to the Tagback dropoff containers.
Ties and tags
When in doubt, try offering an item to your local Buy Nothing group. I have delighted countless neighbors by sharing seemingly random items that my family or my clients no longer needed - you'd be surprised what you can rehome!
King County's "What do I do with?" site is also a helpful recycling resource.