How to Get Rid of An Old Couch

From time to time, we all have old furniture that we need to get rid of. If you have an old couch that is taking up space in your home, there are several ways to get rid of it. If you live in a college town, cash-strapped students are constantly in need of old couches for their dorms or apartments. Donating your couch to charity or giving the couch away to a friend are two more options. Read on for more ideas on how to get rid of an old couch.

Things You'll Need

• Paper
• Markers (for flier)
• Digital photo of your couch

Instructions

1. Create fliers advertising your old couch. Include a description and photo of the couch and your contact information. Post the fliers in areas where they'll likely be seen, such as your local coffee shop or a college campus.

2. Tell your friends. One option is to send out a mass e-mail to all of your friends informing them that you are giving away an old couch. Include a digital photo. If you are really serious about getting rid of your couch, tell your friends that you are willing to help them with the moving.

3. Check with your city to see what their policies are for disposing of large items. Many cities will allow you to schedule a pickup of old furniture for a fee. If this is an option, you will probably need to carry the couch to the end of your driveway for it to be picked up.

4. Give your old couch a new home. List the couch on the Freecycle Network, an online movement of people who give away their used items in order to reduce waste and keep things out of landfills. Freecycle is active in all fifty states and the District of Columbia and is simple to use. Simply upload a digital photo of your couch and tell people the details of how they can pick it up.

5. Donate your couch to a local charity. If your couch is clean and in fair condition, bring it to a local charity, such as the Salvation Army or Goodwill. Keep your receipt to deduct the donation from your taxes. Call the charity ahead of time to see what days of the week they accept donations. If you don't have a truck to haul the couch, try to find a charity that will pick the couch up from your home.

Tips & Warnings

• If your city allows it, simply place your couch at the end of your driveway and attach a sign saying "Free Couch." Most likely, someone will take the couch.

References

• Free Cycle
• Goodwill
• Salvation Army

Resources

• Read this Article in Spanish