Our Top Tips on how to get rid of unwanted furniture

If you’ve ever found yourself with old, unwanted furniture that no longer fits into your home, you may be wondering if it’s time to get rid of the whole lot. 

We've all seen those great ideas on TV and in magazines that look like they could make the most out of our belongings, but are there really any good reasons to keep them? 

Before you make the move, take a look at some ways you can get rid of those old furniture items for good.

Does it really make sense to get rid of your furniture at the recycling centre?

If you've been looking at the possibility of getting rid of a bunch of furniture, but are not sure if it's a good idea then your not alone.

Just under a third of people (30%) have thrown away furniture, electrical items and homewares in good enough condition that they could have been re used, sold or donated. Similarly, less than a third (31%) have taken advantage of second hand sites like eBay and Gumtree.

A survey also found that despite the financial pressures of buying a first home or taking on a new rental property, only two in five UK adults (41%) have bought second hand furniture and homewares.

If you want to know how to sell unwanted furniture for free, you're in luck. There are a variety of ways of getting rid of your furniture that won't cost you a penny.

We decided to check out some of the greenest options available and have put together a list of our favorites.

When it comes to clearing out furniture, there are several questions that you need to ask yourself before making a decision. Should you recycle furniture, or should you donate it?

We've got some fantastic tips and ideas to help you get rid of your old, unwanted furniture for good. But how do you know which are the best ones from an environmental perspective? You could recycle furniture? You could donate furniture? You could leave it outside and hope for the best? (don't do this its actually illegal)

Is it a good idea to be eco friendly when getting rid of furniture?

According to the waste think-tank in the UK we throw away more than 300,00 tonnes of reusable furniture per year. With cost spent on the energy of recycling these items its advisable to look and judge if they could be better reused or donated. If you have unwanted furniture rather than throwing it away donating it to charity or your local Reuse Network.

Donating furniture to charity isn’t just eco friendly, it helps others. Even donating one piece of furniture can help someone who could use it.

You should definitely consider donating your unwanted furniture to charity. Check what their websites have on their no-acceptance lists, for items they don’t accept (e.g. cots, mattresses, etc. are usually on the no-go list, along with anything that’s heavily soiled).

Can I sell my furniture online?

You could make some money from selling your furniture online using marketplaces like Gumtree, Preloved, Nextdoor and Facebook Marketplace. 

These sites allow you to list your items for free and there aren't any fees unlike on a site like eBay. You can specify collection and pickup details and add images to show the items you are trying to sell. With Facebook there is also the added benefit of adding the listing to local groups meaning you can get the item in front of local people in your area.

Being realistic about the value of any items is really important. We always suggest doing your research as its unlikely you will make anywhere near the amount you paid for the item.

Not every item is antique or on trend which means there might just not be any value in what you are trying to sell. Things like soft furnishings are typically more difficult to sell than functional furniture with lots of storage options.

A fifth of 16-24 year olds (19%) don't know how to recycle or donate. Over 55s were far less likely to get rid of items than those age 16-24 (21% vs 45%)

Can I give away my Furniture online?

Giving away your furniture online is a fantastic option if you're not wanting to make money out of selling it. Giving items away can be the best and quickest way to move on a piece if furniture. Like selling your furniture online, you can give away your furniture using marketplaces like Gumtree, Preloved, Nextdoor and Facebook Marketplace. 

A survey found that despite the financial pressures of buying a first home or taking on a new rental property, only two in five UK adults (41%) have bought second hand furniture and homewares. Similarly, less than a third (31%) have taken advantage of second hand sites like eBay and Gumtree.

Are car boot sales good for getting rid of furniture ?

If you can transport the furniture items in your van or car then a car boot can be great way to nget rid of unwanted items. You will likely hasve to pay a small fee for a pitch and having some kind of cover for the weather will help. We would always suggest taking a range of items to the car boot just due to the costs of setup involved.

What's the best way to recycle furniture?

The best thing to do with the furniture you’re not using is recycling it. This is an important step if the furniture is unsuitable for being reused.

At the end of their useful lives, furniture items can often be recycled. Items made of wood and metal are the most likely to be recycled.

Some items can be trickier, though. For example, according to the National Bed Federation (NBF), only about 19% of mattresses are recycled. This is because the springs in most mattresses can seriously damage machines

If you want to recycle furniture the best place to start is at your local recycling centre.

Just under one in five UK adults aged 16 24 (19%) admitted they wouldn't actually know how to donate or recycle furniture and homeware. This was reflected in stats showing that just under four in five respondents aged 55+ (79%) have never thrown away furniture, electrical items and homewares in good enough condition that they could have been re used, sold or donated compared to under three in five respondents aged 16-24 (55%).

How do I get big items to the tip or recycling centre?

Using a local man with a van service is one way to get rid of large and bulky items of furniture if you can't get them there yourself. Ensure that they are licenced waste carriers and check their reputation on local social media groups and on their website.

Nearly half of Londoners (45%) have thrown away good quality furniture, electrical items and homewares.

Reasons people don't donate items to charity include not having the means to transport it (20%) wanting to get rid of things as quickly as possible (16%) and finding it easier to take it to the dump (9%).

What services do you offer to get rid of furniture?

Whether you are looking to clear a sofa or a fridge there is no need to put your back out trying to lift things yourself.

We offer a fully licensed Man and Van service ensuring a quick, clean and professional clearance with the piece of mind that we will endeavour to ensure that any items don't go to landfill.

Our team will do all the heavy lifting and loading and will take items from white goods to metals and even some chemicals and more.

For Man With a Van Pricing Visit here

Our Man With A Van Service is also suitable for Retail Waste Clearance