Daylight Savings has arrived. The sun is shining and the first day of spring is around the corner! Are you preparing to list your home for the spring real estate market and your agent has advised you to declutter? Are you planning to tackle spring cleaning to re-organize your home? Whether your goal is to clean out your garage or your closet, where do you take all the “stuff” cluttering your home? Look to these resources in our area for your usual and unusual items taking up space in your life.
Let’s start in the garage. Every night I come home and there’s that pesky old paint can that needs to be pitched. Latex paint can be dried up with cat litter or sand and put in the garbage or Habitat for Humanity Restore will take it for $2/can. Tractor Supply and Valvoline will take your used motor oil. An old tire? Most tire companies will recycle those for a nominal fee. Battery Wholesale will take car or rechargeable batteries and Gross Electric will take fluorescent compact bulbs and tubes.
All of us with a home office know we would love a neat and tidy space! But where do you dispose of those items taking up space in those bookshelves and on your desk? Lott Industries, a local nonprofit that supports those with developmental disabilities, will recycle cardboard, newspaper, junk mail and magazines. Return your empty ink jet cartridges to Best Buy or Office Depot/Office Max. Old cell phones, computers or tablets can be recycled at Virtual PC, Recell One and Computer Discount. Did you buy a new smart TV and need to get rid of your old one?
Try Accushred or Best Buy - although fees can apply. Used books can be taken to your library or local nonprofit, Family House.
In your kitchen, we all have that spot where we collect plastic grocery bags. First, ask your agent to give you a Danberry reusable grocery bag! Then take plastic bags from your dry cleaning, grocery store or food items to Kroger, Meijer, Target or Lowes. Drug Take Back day is planned for April 25, but most cities always accept medicine returns at their police stations. The USPS Stamp Out Hunger food drive is the largest one-day food drive in the nation. On May 9, you can leave non-perishable and canned goods in a bag at your mailbox to be collected by your postal
worker. Balance Grille has a subscription compost recycling program or the Toledo Zoo has TerraCycle bins that can accept household plastics.
Furniture can always find a new home! Epworth United Methodist Church has a furniture ministry that accepts furniture for those in need. Habitat for Humanity ReStore in Findlay and Maumee is a nonprofit home improvement store and donation center, which will pick up furniture, appliances and some home renovation items. Grandma’s old piano is just sitting out of tune? Toledo Public Schools will accept used pianos in good condition. Find out more at craigskeyboards.com.
If your closets are packed full of clothes (guilty!) or your linen closet is overflowing, several local nonprofits locations are looking for donations. St. Timothy Episcopal accepts clothing and the American Cancer Society Discovery Shop takes clothes as well as shoes, handbags and jewelry. Scrap4Art is a not-for-profit organization that donates craft materials to students and educators and sells items at its retail store. It accepts all craft items, puzzles and games, carpet scraps, tile, wires, CDs, DVDs, silverware and tons of other items. The Toledo Area Humane Society will accept bath towels and lightweight blankets for its furry friends and Family House accepts linens, baby items and cleaning supplies.
You have all the information to turn your house into an organized and clutter-free dream. Now you just need the time and energy to do it! Good luck and happy spring!