7 Ways to Dispose of Old Furniture

Has your old and grimy couch or broken dresser been sitting in your garage or attic for quite some time now?

Are you looking to get rid of them?

We know disposing of old furniture is both exhausting and emotional. 

You can hire a professional junk removal company or do the heavy lifting yourself.

This blog will share numerous methods to make furniture removal easy for you. 

Let us break them down for you.

1. Rent a Roll-Off Dumpster

One of the most affordable options for removing old and broken furniture is renting a roll-off dumpster.

These dumpsters come in different shapes and sizes and can accommodate any piece of furniture, from broken chairs to dining tables, dressers, couches, home office furniture, etc.

A temporary dumpster is ideal for large attics, garages, and home or office cleanouts. 

What Size Roll-Off Dumpster is Appropriate for Disposing of Your Old Furniture?

Remember, selecting the right dumpster size is also necessary during furniture removal.

• A 20-yard roll-off is suitable for medium-sized furniture cleanouts, like multiple couches, dining room sets, dressers, and unwanted or old furniture. 

• A 40-yard roll-off dumpster is ideal for accommodating office supplies, equipment, workstations, document junk, etc., for small and large-scale office cleanouts or relocations.

2. Sell Your Furniture Online

Whether you’re moving a house or preparing for a condo move, some furniture items may not fit into your new place. 

Armchairs, sofas, recliners, TV stands, kitchen cabinets, and bookshelves that are still in good condition and usable can be given away.

You can simply take well-lit photos, add clear descriptions, and sell them to online marketplaces such as Craiglist, Facebook Marketplace, OfferUp, etc. 

Pro tip: If you want to recoup the money faster or dispose of your furniture or junk sooner, try selling the item at a lower price.

3. Toss Your Furniture at a Landfill

Another way to dispose of old furniture is to arrange a large pickup truck, load the items onto the truck, and dump them in the waste landfill near your house.

You can also load your items into your car and haul them away at a local landfill. 

Things to consider: Not all landfill areas are for public disposal or might have restrictions on specific types of furniture. You can contact the landfill service to learn more about the days they allow you to dump your junk items. 

4. Arrange a Yard Sale

Disposing of your old furniture doesn’t inevitably mean you have to toss them for good.

Sometimes, you can use this opportunity to recoup some money by planning a yard sale. 

It is one of the easiest ways to free up space and make money, and it does not necessarily require a permit.

A successful yard sale helps you clear the clutter. In addition, decluttering and downsizing before moving makes more room for new items and helps reduce moving costs. 

4 Tips for Arranging a Yard Sale Before Moving

1. Be clear about your date and time

The timing of your yard sale matters the most.

Try planning it one month before your move.

Ensure that your dates don’t coincide with long weekends or holidays when people are out of town.

2. Advertise online and offline

The best way to attract customers is to create road signage and a social media post.

To promote it, diligently place yard sale signs at intersections and crossroads.

Post plenty of pictures and details on Facebook groups dedicated to yard sales. 

3. Choose your location wisely

Your location should be convenient and accessible to afternoon and early shoppers.

Hence, look for places with high-traffic areas where people will likely buy your stuff.  

4. Keep a calculator and some cash on hand ready

You should always have a calculator handy for accurate transactions to speed up the process.

Also, keep some spare change and coins to make transactions smooth. 

5. Donate your Old Furniture

Donating your stuff, especially furniture can positively impact families with empty houses. 

Are you wondering where to donate your stuff?

You can donate unused items or old furniture to homeless shelters, food banks, thrift stores, NGOs, charities, etc. 

• Donate mattresses, side tables, headboards, etc., that you no longer need at local furniture banks.
• You can also contact your local collection council, which picks up bulky pieces such as furniture fixtures, chairs, tables, sofas, etc., and donates them through its charitable community-driven programs. 

6. Put Your Furniture for a Curbside Pickup

If you have fewer household items to get rid of, you can bring them to the curb.

These can be your old, frayed couch, extra dresser, old mattress, dining table, chairs, ottoman, etc.

You can also put up a “free” sign to let pedestrians or drivers stop by and pick them up. 

Tip: Please contact your local trash collection company before you bring your furniture to the curb. Sometimes, they do not pick up bulk or oversized items. 

7. Hire a Junk or Furniture Removal Company

The quickest way to dispose of furniture is to hire a junk or furniture removal company.

This way, all your old, unwanted furniture doesn’t end up in a landfill or at your curbside, where local authorities might not allow you to keep stuff outside your home premises. 

4 Benefits of Hiring a Professional Junk Removal Service 

1. Expertise in handling all furniture types

A professional junk removal company is well-equipped with the skills and techniques to handle bulky, oddly shaped, or fragile items effectively.

With professional junk removal services, disposing of your old furniture, such as dressers, bookcases, office desks, entertainment units, etc., becomes easier.

They can maneuver narrow hallways or tight spaces with the right furniture handling, moving supplies, and equipment.

Be it commercial debris, estate cleanouts, or residential, they will safely load and unload your junk items onto their trucks. 

2. Saves time

Removing unwanted furniture can take valuable time and effort.

Booking junk removal services can help you eliminate all types of furniture much faster, such as coffee tables, kitchen cabinets, bar stools, couches, futons, and nightstands. 

3. Prevent the risk of injuries.

Clearing the clutter can be overwhelming, especially when bulky furniture is involved, whether you’re moving to a townhouse, apartment, or a different state.

When decluttering, hiring professional junk removal services can help you prevent injuries.

They come well-equipped with appropriate dollies, hand trucks, and bungee cords, making furniture lifting easy and risk-free.   

4. Protects from unwanted legal issues

Some local or municipal trash collection companies do not pick up your junk from the curbside.

Moreover, some localities might not allow placing old furniture outside your home.

This may lead to a violation of rules and cause a financial burden on you.

Professional junk removal companies know local area restrictions and offer straightforward services where they responsibly pick up, haul, and dispose of, giving you the peace of mind you want when disposing of your junk items. 

What Type of Furniture do Junk Removal Companies Remove

Now that we have discovered how beneficial hiring junk removal companies are, learn how these companies remove almost every item from your property.

Be it your backyard furniture, garage items, or office furniture, they make disposal easy. 

• Sofas and Couches
• Mattresses and Box Springs
• Old Tables and Chairs
• Dressers and Cabinets
• Desks and Filing Cabinets
• Kitchen Cabinets
• Office Cubicles and Chairs
• Treadmill
• Pianos
• Wall Unit

How to Dispose of Tricky Furniture Items

Some furniture pieces are challenging to fit into the garbage bin, even when completely empty.

These are called oversized and large furniture items, which are oddly shaped, expensive, and tricky to lift and handle.

When planning to throw them away, it takes additional time and hassle to figure out when, where, and how to start. Don’t worry. We are here to help. 

How to Dispose of a Mattress

• Rent a roll-off dumpster, a 20-yard dumpster to fit in the mattress.
• Check with your local trash service for curbside disposal options.
• Use a junk removal company, as they know how to lift and maneuver a mattress for disposal.
• Consider recycling at recycling centers such as Re-Mat and A Bedder World. 
• Donate for good at The Salvation Army, Habitat for Humanity. 

How to Dispose of a Couch

• Contact local charities, thrift stores, or furniture banks accepting furniture donations.
• List your couch on Facebook Marketplace or Craigslist. Put lower prices to get rid of your couch sooner.
• Rent a 20-yard roll-off dumpster.
• Hire professional furniture removal companies who do the heavy lifting for you.
• Haul it away to the nearest landfill if your couch is not in good condition.
• Carry your couch to the nearest scrapyard, as they take the metal for recycling.  

How to Dispose of an Old Chair

• Many charities or shelters accept gently used chairs and donate them to families in need.
• Place your old chair at your curbside and check your local area council for bulk pickups.  
• Consider recycling, find a metal scrap yard to dispose of metal or recycle wood by composting. 
• For irreparable chairs, drop them off at a local landfill.
• Rent a 10-yard roll-off dumpster for disposal.
• Hire junk removal companies as they pick up, haul, recycle, or dispose of, reducing your disposal challenges. 

How to Dispose of Beds, Bed Frames, or Headboards

• List it on online marketplaces. 
• Donate them to furniture banks or charities that offer free furniture pick-ups. 
• Give away scrap metal at metal scrap yards or simply use wood for composting. 
• Rent a 20-yard roll-off dumpster.
• Hire a junk removal company that adopts eco-friendly methods of disposal. 

What is the Cost of Furniture Removal?

Removing furniture can be done alone or by hiring a professional junk removal company.

The range for the average cost of disposing of furniture comes between $0-$600.

Conclusion

Considering all the facts, we agree that letting go of your furniture is hard.

Whether revamping your space or moving to a new city, disposing of your old, broken furniture is necessary.

You can rent a truck, bring your furniture to the curb, or get help from a professional junk removal company.

All these ways help you declutter your home more efficiently.

Remember, in the end, every unique method has its perks and drawbacks, so choose wisely before getting rid of your valuable belongings. 

FAQs

1. How do I repurpose my old furniture?

Giving your old furniture a new life can be done in many ways.

You can refurbish it using DIY painting methods or get professional help.

For example, your dresser can be a bookshelf or a vanity stand.

You can convert your old wooden door to a coffee table top.

There are many more innovative ways of repurposing furniture that help you give your new or existing home a fresh look. 

2. How do I recycle my old furniture?

When your furniture is not in good shape and cannot be donated, you can find some sustainable ways of getting rid of it.

For instance, you can send your metal furniture to a scrap metal dealer, who will melt and reuse the metal.

In your backyard, you can also compost wooden furniture and natural fabrics like cotton, wool, and linen.

In addition, take your old furniture, such as bedframes, mattresses, dressers, dining tables, etc, to a nearby recycling center. 

3. How do I get rid of a heavy piano?

Whether moving a piano or letting go of it, you can repurpose it in many ways.

If your piano is in good condition, try donating it to schools, community centers, social groups, nearby churches, retirement homes, and charitable organizations.

You can also dispose of your piano at piano forums, sell it online on Craiglist, sell its parts, or call a piano disposal company.   

4. How can I choose the right furniture removal company?

The right furniture removal company will pick up and haul your old furniture and dispose of it responsibly.

While removing your furniture, ensure that the company you choose recycles it themselves or at a recycling center.

You can also check if they give your furniture a new life by sending it to furniture repair experts, recycling metal or composting wood, and making junk removal eco-friendly.

Most furniture removal companies recycle up to 60% of junk and donate these items to charities. 

5. Can I mix other items when I keep my furniture in a roll-off dumpster?

During a residential cleanout, you can mix other household items with furniture in a roll-off dumpster.

However, avoid placing hazardous items or flammable waste, such as bulbs, batteries, perfumes, motor oil, bleach, and disinfectants.