Are you feeling overwhelmed by clutter? Or perhaps, you’re just looking to refresh your living space? Purging your home not only helps create a serene environment but also gives you a chance to contribute to your community. As a professional house cleaning service, Vibrant Cleaning is often asked where to donate items when our home owners are looking to downsize, purge or declutter. In this blog, we’ll guide you through the process of decluttering your home, where to donate common and unique items, and provide a list of local organizations in Medina County that would love to take items off your hands.
Step 1: Sorting Your Items
The first step in the purging process is to sort your items into categories:
- Clothing and Accessories: Separate these into wearable and damaged. Even textiles that are no longer wearable can be recycled.
- Books, DVDs, and Games: Check their condition. Remember, if you wouldn’t buy it in its current state, it’s probably not suitable for donation.
- Electronics: Set aside any old cell phones, computers, or tablets. These need special handling for donation due to data security and environmental laws. There are also kiosks that take old/used cell phones for money or organizations like Cell Phones for Solidier.
- Furniture and Household Goods: Evaluate the condition of each piece. Some organizations will not accept items that are broken or stained. Prescription Drug/over the counter drugs that are opened. Proper removal and disposal of medication is very important. Please be sure to never flush medication down the toilet.
- Unique or Valuable Items: Art, antiques, and collectibles might be better suited for consignment, pawn shops, or specialty shops.
- Food/Canned Goods/Toiletries: Catch a good sale or just cleaning out your pantry or bathroom closets? Food, canned goods and toiletries that are unopened and unused are always in high demand a local donation centers.
Step 2: Cleaning and Preparing
Step 2: Cleaning and PreparingOnce sorted, clean your items. This is huge! Many usable but dirty items go into landfills due to the time it would take volunteers to clean them. Take a minute to clean all your items before donating them and save the charity/non-profit hours of work. Wipe down electronics, wash clothes, and dust off books and other household items. This small step goes a long way in making your items more appealing to the next owner.
Step 3: Deciding Where to Donate
Common Items:
Clothes, Toys, and Books: Local thrift stores and shelters are always in need of these items. There a options like Goodwill or Salvation Army but also consider there are many local charities that accept donations like Marion’s Closet in Wadsworth, Places for Teens in Brunswick, Oasis of Hope in Medina and many other wonderful local charities. Local charities can sometimes have specific needs, special hours or donation requests. Be sure to check out the link below for all the details. download our PDF that includes what items are accepted, hours, phone numbers and addresses.
Click Here for the Medina Donation Guide by Vibrant Cleaning Services
Furniture/Appliances/Construction Materials/Home Goods: Medina’s Habitat for Humanity ReStore accepts and sells many items not taken at regular donation sites like washers, dryers, refrigerators, lamps, furniture, dishware, new building materials, etc. For a list of items they don’t take check out their website:
https://medinacountyhabitat.org/how-to-help/restore-donations/
Unique Items:
Tires/TVs/Electronics & Computer Equipment/Appliances: These unique items have to be disposed of properly for our health and safety. Items like small or large appliances that are in good working condition are better to donate than to throw away but need to be disposed of properly. Recycle Medina County is a great resourse for all things and were to donate or dispose as well as tips for how items need to be brought in. Check here for a list of items and how to donate: https://recyclemedinacounty.com/recyling-sites/
Community Shred Days:
Many communities have a designated shred day for homeowners to bring important paperwork to shred for free. This is typically in late April/Early May around Earth Day to Mother’s Day. Each location has limits and specifics so be sure to read carefully before you go! Currently we found: Westfield Center: https://villageofwestfieldcenter.com/village-shred-day/
Perscription and/or over the counter medications. Check with your current pharmacy as many locations have D.U.M.P. (Dispose of Unused Medication Properly) boxes. They look like a mailbox only it’s for medication and typically located near the pharmacy. Many Policy Stations also have D.U.M.P boxes for anyone to bring in medications. TIP: Prior to disposal, remove or black out the information on the prescription label. Ensure that all bottles or bags are securely closed and place all items in a clear zip lock bag. No Syringes please.
Police Stations that have drop off containers are:
- Brunswick Hills Township Police Department
- Hinckley Police Department
- Lodi Police Department
- Medina County Sheriff’s Office
- Medina Township Police Department
- Medina Creative Housing
- Wadsworth Police Department
Lastly, look around town for the wooden donation pantries/boxes: This is a grass roots community effort that if you need pantry items, it’s open to donate what you can and take what you need. A few local are:
- Prospect Street in Medina (clothing and food)
- Blue Heron Hiking Trail parking lot in Medina (books)
- Rte. 94 in Wadsworth (by Petits Car Wash) food
Purging your home not only gives you a refreshing space to live in but also helps support those in need within your community. Each item you donate can make a significant difference in someone’s life, so take the time to sort and prepare your items with care. Remember, the goal is not just to declutter, but also to contribute positively to your community.
Vibrant Cleaning Services proudly hosts a charity garage sale to benefit Cleaning for a Reason, a nonprofit organization that provides free home cleaning to people in the Medina area undergoing cancer treatments. The proceeds from the garage sale support their outreach mission to connect with local service providers, doctors, social workers, oncology units and churches to spread the words that our services are available when people are in need in Hinckley, Brunswick, Medina, Wadsworth, Valley City, Lodi or Seville, OH.
Happy Purging!