Maybe you have an old couch that’s been sitting in your garage for months, or a table that’s looking a little lackluster in your hallway. Whatever the case, you likely have old, used furniture that you want to remove. Luckily, you have several options for selling, donating, reusing or recycling used furniture in Burlington, Mississauga, Milton and the GTA.
1. Sell it online
In this age of technology and social media, selling items online has never been easier.
Facebook Marketplace allows you to sell an item conveniently through your Facebook account. You can list a price, location, category and add up to 10 photos of the item you’re looking to sell. You can also post your Marketplace sales post into a Buy and Sell group on Facebook. There are a variety of these groups made specifically for buying and selling furniture in Toronto and the GTA. Simply search for relevant groups, request to join and share your post to an even wider audience.
You can also sell furniture through posting ads on sites like Kijiji, eBay or Craigslist. Although these sites use emails or cell phone numbers instead of Facebook, the approach is essentially the same. You can post your ad with a specific location to ensure that you reach people in the area you live. On some sites, you can also pay to promote your ad so that it reaches more people.
For any of these online sites, you can increase your chances of selling a furniture item by taking high quality photos. Before you post your ad, you can also search on the site to see what similar items are selling for so that you can price yours accordingly.
You can also increase your chances of getting a sale by including all of the relevant information in your post, so you don’t leave people wondering about furniture material, dimensions or other important details. Finally, ensure you check your email or Facebook messages regularly so that you’re not missing out on inquiries from potential buyers.
2. Have it picked up from your home for free
Habitat for Humanity ReStore locations across the GTA offer free home pickup for used furniture and other items. Simply arrange a pickup through a Habitat website, and our professional team of volunteers will come to your home and pick up items from your garage, driveway, moving room or a room inside your house.
Accepted furniture items include sofas, tables, chairs, desks and more. Check out a full list of accepted items by following this link. The proceeds of sales from your donated furniture will go towards Habitat’s efforts to build affordable housing for local families in need of a place to call home.
You can sign up to have your used furniture picked up for free using Habitat’s online pickup scheduling form. You can also contact pickup@habitathm.ca or call (905) 828-0987 ext. 427. Habitat’s pickup team strives to respond to all pickup requests in two business days or less, so if you haven’t heard back then try calling to follow up.
When you donate used furniture to Habitat, you will receive a charitable tax receipt for donations valued at $100 or more.
3. Drop it off to a local charity
If you’d prefer to drop off your used furniture to a local charity, you have lots of options for that as well. Habitat ReStores have drop off locations where you can bring your furniture donations. You will still receive a charitable tax receipt with this option — plus, you can spend some time looking around the ReStore to see if there are any new additions you’d like to purchase for your home.
The Mississauga Furniture Bank also accepts drop-off donations of used furniture to their warehouse. They accept sofas, couches, chairs, shelving, dressers, desks, mattresses, bed frames and more. Donated furniture is distributed to individuals referred to the Furniture Bank by social service agencies. Find out more information on Furniture Bank Mississauga’s website.
Salvation Army Thrift Stores also accept donations of used furniture, which can be dropped off at a Donor Welcome Centre. They can also arrange free pickups for donations of more than three items in certain areas. Proceeds from items sold in Salvation Army Thrift Stores go towards supporting their social services and emergency relief efforts. Learn more by visiting The Salvation Army’s website.
4. Upcycle it
If you’re not happy with an item of furniture but are not quite ready to part with it, consider upcycling it to give it a new life. A simple search on Pinterest can give you a plethora of DIY options. Some options are as simple as adding a fresh coat of paint, and some go as far as to completely transform a piece of furniture into something that has an entirely new function.
Upcycling a furniture item can be a fun summer project for you and a friend. It’s a great way to breathe new life into your home and discover a new hobby. Plus, you’ll be keeping your furniture item out of a landfill, so you can feel good about the environmental impact of your decision to upcycle. You can also find upcycling inspiration by checking out the Habitat ReVive website. Our ReVive Centre in Mississauga is a unique space dedicated to upcycling items to be sold in Habitat ReStores, and we have lots of great examples of furniture that we’ve given the DIY treatment.
5. Recycle it through your region
Depending on where you live, your local region may have furniture disposal options. If your furniture is in good condition or has only been gently used, consider donating or upcycling before recycling. However, if your furniture isn’t in great condition, then look into recycling through your region.
The Region of Halton considers household items over 50 pounds to be bulk waste, and has a three item limit for each bulk collection day. Peel Region asks residents to bring items such as sofas, tables and chairs to a Peel Community Recycling Centre so that they can be reused.
When you notice old furniture lying around your house, don’t just let it sit there and gather dust. You have a plethora of options including selling your used furniture, donating it or upcycling it. These are environmentally-friendly options which save your used furniture from the landfill and give it a second chance at life, either in your home or in someone else’s home through being sold in a thrift store. So take action, and do something with your used furniture today!