With spring around the corner, it’s time to get amped up for the much-welcomed warmer weather. Also, it’s a reminder that maybe your home is starting to feel cramped: kitchen gadgets, random knick-knacks, unread books, and clothes you don’t remember buying. You know what we’re going to say – time for spring cleaning!
We know, spring cleaning can sound seriously overwhelming. How easy is it to just procrastinate sorting your piles of clutter? Not to mention, the pangs of guilt you might feel throwing away that hole covered sweater you love. Sentimentality is just one roadblock. There’s always that creeping thought: “what if I need to use it later?”
Good news! The things you can’t bear to see in a landfill can be given a second life. Better yet, what if we told you that you can de-clutter your home and give back to the community?
Bissell Thrift Shop is always looking for donations!
Every item donated to our thrift shop is sorted to ensure our community members have access to free clothing. The remaining items are sold at the Bissell Thrift Shop. 89¢ of every dollar goes back to supporting our community.
Let's spring into action with five tips on how to sort through your clutter!
1. Before you get to sorting stuff, check what we accept. It’ll make deciding what items can be donated easy.
2. Check your clothing and linen for stains, rips or tears, broken zippers, or missing buttons. Household items like mugs, casserole dishes or plates need to be inspected for chips and cracks. Make sure you check the pockets of anything you donate! Once items are sorted, it is hard to locate them again if you leave something behind.
3. Looking to donate electronics? Ensure that they’re in good working order. If your electronics aren’t working and you’re unsure where they need to be discarded safely, we’re also an electronics recycling drop-off location for Quantum Lifecycle Partners.
4. Any items that you drop off need to be laundered and cleaned. Bedding, linens, and towels that are worse for wear can always be donated to one of the many local animal shelters. If you have clothes in rough shape, they can always be repurposed – if you’re feeling crafty, check out our DIY Blog on making a denim pouf! Hop onto YouTube for inspiration on turning clothes into new items like a t-shirt blanket or a tote bag.
5. When packing donations, ensure that clothing and linens are folded and placed in a bag or box. If you have a lot of kids clothes and jackets, organize and label them by size and type. This makes the sorting process easier for us. Once your donations are ready, you can drop it off at Bissell Thrift Shop – 8818 118 Avenue or 12769 50 Street.
Although we take an array of donations, we can’t accept everything. Make sure to visit an eco-station near you so nothing winds up in a landfill.
Bissell Centre offers life changing programs to members of our community. Check out Michelle's story to see how Bissell Centre supported her and her family.
Take a peek at our It’s Time to Spring Clean Your Closet blog for more spring-cleaning tips.