You might be in the middle of a decluttering process due to moving, or you just want to refresh your interior design and wonder what you can do with those old chairs, couches, bed frames, and shelves you aren’t going to use anymore. 

Throwing them out might be the first option that comes to mind, but we here at Habitat for Humanity ReStore have a better idea: Why not give donating furniture a go? 

Chances are, there are hundreds or even thousands of people in your local community who might make good use of your furniture donations.

As such, in this article, we will give you pointers on where to donate old furniture and the benefits.

Donating Old Furniture: The Benefits

Apart from giving back to your community, the benefits of furniture donations may also include tax incentives, environmental advantages, and more.

• You help preserve the environment: This is a perk you might not have considered. Still, furniture donations can go a long way in helping the environment. For instance, when you donate an old couch to a family, you literally extend the furniture’s life and keep it away from ending up in a landfill. With this, you directly benefit the environment because fewer possible pollutants are in the landfill, and the resources needed to manufacture a new couch are reduced. It works pretty much like recycling. 
• Giving back to the community: When thinking about furniture donations, helping those in need is probably the first thing that pops your mind. An old piece might not hold any value to you, but furniture donations may make a huge, life-changing difference for those in need. This is why the things you no longer want around your home can be invaluable gifts. All in all, this is one of the main reasons you should consider donating furniture. 
• Tax Write-Offs: No matter whether you run a business or are a homeowner, you should know that donating old furniture can also have its monetary advantages. Furniture donations are tax-deductible, meaning that you can benefit from them at the end of the year. Usually, when dropping off your old or unused items, you will get a tax receipt. If you want to take advantage of these write-offs, keep the receipt until tax season, file it, and save some money.

How to Donate Old Furniture? 

Better yet, where to donate old furniture? After you’ve decided that you’re going to put your unused furniture up for charity, you need to choose an organization that usually accepts these donations. For starters, there are always a handful of charities and nonprofit organizations in every city, meaning you’ll have several options. This being said, you can take your time to decide where you want to make furniture donations. 

How to donate old furniture if smaller nonprofits simply can’t handle your donations at the moment? If that’s the case, you can also opt for nationwide organizations for donating furniture. As a matter of fact, there are probably a couple of prominent names you’ve already heard about. Below, we’ll talk about some of the largest furniture donation centers in the country.

Goodwill

This company has more than three thousand stores across the country, meaning you probably won’t have a difficult time finding the nearest donation center if you opt for making a furniture donation. 

Goodwill aims to help the community with employment placement services, job training, and other programs. Also, it has stores selling used and new goods at more affordable prices. 

If you choose them for donating furniture, you can simply drop off your unwanted items at one of their donation centers or opt for their pick-up services. The money they make from selling your old furniture directly goes to financing their causes and help programs.

Donation Town

You can always visit Donation Town’s website if you aren’t sure about the best option for making furniture donations. Here, you just enter your zip code, and you will see all the available charities in your area, near your city. Once you’ve found the organization you prefer the most, just schedule a free pick-up, and soon there will be someone at your door to pick your donation up.

Salvation Army 

How to donate old furniture to the Salvation Army? With around 1,500 thrift and family stores around the country, it shouldn’t be that challenging. The Salvation Army’s stores follow a similar concept to Goodwill’s stores. They also sell used items at more affordable prices, and the proceeds go to the organization’s rehabilitation centers that help people with various problems transit back into society. 

Habitat for Humanity ReStore 

Lastly, you can always come to us if you are looking to donate large pieces of furniture. Habitat for Humanity ReStore can be your ideal choice if you want to donate things like couches, cabinets, or dining tables. We are among the top charities in the Miami area, working under the Habitat for Humanity nonprofit organization, with the proceeds being used to help build homes and shelters across the globe. If you choose us to help your community but don’t have the time or means to drop off these large pieces of furniture, just ask for our free pick-up options, and we’ll be on our way.

How to Donate Old Furniture: Preparation 

Now that you know your best options, there are a couple of things that might come in handy to know before you schedule your pick-up or drop-off day. These guidelines should be able to make the process of donating old furniture as smooth as possible.

Examine the Furniture Closely

Make sure that the pieces you want to donate are in good condition. Most charities will have certain standards, meaning they won’t accept a piece if it’s unusable. If there are any visible damages on your furniture, like a torn mattress or stains on the couch, make sure to check with the organization of your choosing to see whether you have the green light. 

Take note of all imperfections and address them before you schedule anything. Ask yourself these questions when deciding whether you should donate a given piece or not:

• Is it in at least decent condition besides the minor flaws?
• Is it in working condition? There’s no point in donating it if it’s broken and can’t really function in any living environment. 

Know the Limits

Specific charities will accept only certain items, no matter their pristine condition. For instance, some charities simply won’t take bed frames, box springs, or mattresses. Do your research online beforehand or call the organization to ensure your furniture donation is appropriate. 

Clean it Up a Bit

You don’t need to go overboard, but put in a little effort and wipe down the pieces you are putting up for charity. 

Give Back

When you’re decluttering, the last thing you want to do is throw everything out. As you can see, a handful of charities will ensure that your unwanted pieces of furniture won’t end up in a landfill. Expand their lives and enable them to bring joy to those who need them the most.

Reach out to us today if you have any old pieces that you can spare.