Spring cleaning: How to make money and clean up

March 18, 2016

Spring cleaning can be a daunting task to get through. Being able to sell your old stuff is a great motivator for getting through more stuff (and selling as much of it as possible). Here is our top list of things to look out for when you are doing your yearly purge.

Items with the tags still on (or still in their original box)

Items with the tags still on: sell them!

If the tag is still on, you clearly haven’t used it, and you could use that space for something better. Couple that with the fact that marking an item “New in box” (or NIB if you are down with the lingo), or “new with tags” (NWT) is more likely to result in your ads getting some attention or replies, and this one is a no-brainer. If you haven’t used it, sell it, and spend that cash on something you will use.

Gifts that you never liked in the first place

If you don’t like it, why is it still in your house? Sell it and make space for something you do like. We won’t tell Aunt Mable that the duck-themed tablecloth she was so proud of has found a more loving home if you don’t. Clutter that you just don’t care for should not take up space in your home (or your life). If you never liked it, you probably didn’t use it too heavily either, which will be a selling point to someone who does like it.

Things that clash with the rest of your décor

Mix-matched or eclectic décor is one thing, but sometimes, there is something that just doesn’t belong. Maybe you love it, maybe you hate it, but maybe, you are just plain used to it. It could be anything from a too-large sideboard throwing off the scale of your room, to an antique Duncan Phyfe table that just doesn’t go with your modern couch and console table, to a space-age sputnik lamp throwing off the balance of your otherwise Victorian home. Do yourself (and someone else) a favor, and find the item a home where it belongs.

Stuff you haven’t touched in months.
With the exception of seasonal items, if you haven’t touched it in the past 4 months, you probably don’t need to hold on to it. It is collecting dust and taking up space, so do you really want to hold onto it?

Clothes that don’t fit

With a few exceptions (kids who will grow into things, pregnant women who are fluctuating sizes), there really isn’t a reason to keep clothing that doesn’t fit or flatter you. If you try it on, and it looks bad, or doesn’t fit right, it probably isn’t doing your self-esteem any favors. Post an ad on Kijiji and find a new home for the clothes you loved years ago, and let someone else love them in the present tense.

Items you are being overly sentimental about
Everyone has different levels of sentimentality, and it can be hard to let go of memories. Ask yourself: why am I so attached to this item? What memories are associated with it? Are there other items with a similar association I am more attached to? Try to determine which item you are most attached to, and find new homes for the extras. Focus your sentimentality on the favorite item, rather than diluting it among all the clutter. Identifying which mementos really hold special memories or make you happy will help you let go of the rest.

Things you have multiples of

Though there might be a few cases where there is a good reason to have more than 1 of a very similar item, this is generally a good category to find superfluous things. How many classical guitars does one person need? Is there a valid reason you have 4 slow cookers? When was the last time that more than 1 was used at a time? Just keep your favorites and cash in on the rest.

Admit it, when you read this list, certain items came to mind, didn’t they? Identifying which items need to be sold is half the battle. Start posting your ads today, and your home will be spic and span before you know it!