It’s that time of year again—you’ve just put away the Christmas decorations and taken down the tree, but the house feels kind of empty and off without the warm glow of twinkling lights. You might find yourself wanting to spruce things up and make your home feel special again. Tempted by sales on organizers, bins, and closet makeovers? Before diving into organization, it’s a good idea to start with a decluttering round.
Whether it’s toys piled up in the kids’ closets that they’ve outgrown or tired of since last holiday season, soccer cleats and t-ball bats that are now too small, or clothes you used to love but aren’t quite your style anymore, the start of the year tends to inspire a fresh start. It’s time to clean out what you’re no longer using.
Once you’ve decided it’s time to declutter, the next step is tackling the task. But what do you do with the items you no longer need? (And no, driving around with them in your trunk for the next four months isn’t really a solution—sorry, don’t shoot the messenger!) Don’t worry—I’m here to help you find the easiest ways to donate, recycle, or resell your gently used items in ways that are not only convenient but also helpful to others.
My Top Tips for Where to Clear the Clutter
1. Resell Your Items
When I have items in excellent condition that I think would be in high demand and likely to sell easily, I generally list them on Poshmark. Creating an account is free, as is making a sale listing. A small portion of your sale is collected by the website to cover costs, including a pre-paid shipping label.
I love this because I can recycle boxes from past orders, like Amazon or Target boxes, to ship items, freeing up space in my recycling bin. While there are other platforms to resell items (like Plato’s Closet, ThredUp, or eBay), I find Poshmark gives the highest return, the fastest sales, and the easiest shipping process. You can even schedule a free pickup at USPS.com to avoid a trip to the post office.
Once the buyer receives your item, they have three days to accept it, and then your funds are released to you. Funds can be transferred to your bank or sent via check. Items that sell best on Poshmark include women’s clothing from mid- or high-priced brands, shoes, beauty products, and children’s clothing.
2. Drop-Off Locations for Donations
Finding convenient drop-off locations has gotten a little trickier in recent years. I used to always take donations to two specific thrift stores, and the Goodwill truck in the Palm & Bullard parking lot near Red Carpet Ride & Shine. However, in recent years, the Goodwill truck stopped parking there, and the stores I was dropping off with have turned away items they don’t need or have too many of (totally fair of them to do), making it challenging to unload a trunk full of donations efficiently.
My top recommendation for convenient drive up donations now is Mission Thrift, located on the south side of Sierra Avenue between Blackstone and Fresno Street. They’re open daily (except Sundays) from 9 a.m. to 8 p.m., accept almost everything (even cars!), and their team will greet you at your car to help unload. Their wide acceptance policy makes it easy to declutter a variety of items in one go, and if you love thrift shopping, their selection is always worth browsing.
3. Contactless Porch Pick-Up
Prefer not to drive anywhere? No problem! There’s a fantastic local service called Just Porch It that offers free, contactless porch pick-up. Your items will be retrieved within 72 hours, and you’ll receive a text confirmation with a specific pick-up time.
Just Porch It partners with local non-profits, schools, charity thrift shops, and churches to ensure your quality items help those in need. Even stained or worn-out items are recycled through eco-friendly processes, keeping them out of landfills. Cool, right? To schedule a pick-up in the Fresno area, visit their website or call 1-800-965-6519.
Decluttering your home is a task, but definitely worth tackling, and with this list of trusted places to help get the stuff out of your home and trunk as easily as possible once you’ve gathered it, you’re now ready to grab those bins, sort through your stuff, and start the year with a lighter, brighter home!
- Cool Off in Fresno with Korean Desserts from Café Daldal - July 17, 2025
- A New Tea Spot in Northwest Fresno Worth Getting Excited About - July 10, 2025
- Fresno Area Fireworks Show Roundup 2025 - July 3, 2025
Leave a Reply