Moving? Leave These Items Behind

Girl Donating Clothes Before Moving In Gainesville

When it’s time to move, you may become overwhelmed by the number of things you own. But as you browse your inventory of items, you’ll probably find several items worth leaving behind, either because they’ve outlived their usefulness, or because they’re not worth the time, hassle, or expense of transporting them. But we get it — it can be difficult to know whether to toss something for fear it may be useful in the future. To help you discern keepers from non-keepers when it comes to your belongings, UF Mover Guys offers this handy list of things you shouldn’t be afraid to ditch when moving.

Hazardous Chemicals

Many of the cleaning and household products that people use on a regular basis qualify as hazardous chemicals. These include obviously toxic substances such as bleach, drain cleaners, and pesticides, as well as seemingly innocuous products such as air fresheners, dishwasher detergents, and carpet shampoos. In your everyday life, these products pose health risks only when they are ingested (either by small children or pets) or exposed to bare skin. When you’re moving, though, the danger posed from hazardous chemicals is that during transit they could spill in the moving truck and ruin other items.

If you’ve hired a moving company, you can ask the movers to pack any chemicals they find in plastic bags or containers that will contain a spill. However, it’s probably worth having the movers focused on heavier and more valuable items since you’re footing moving the bill.

Where To Go For Hazardous Waste Collection

To be environmentally responsible, dispose of hazardous waste only at designated waste collection sites. In Alachua County, you can drop household chemicals at the main waste collection center, located at 5125 NE 63rd Ave., in Gainesville, or at any of the county’s five rural collection centers.

Over- Or Undersized Furniture

Before you move, get an estimate of the size of your new home or apartment. The layout and square footage of the new floor plan can help you determine which furniture to bring with you. If a couch, dining table, bed frame, or any other piece of furniture isn’t the right size for your new home, don’t be afraid to move on from it.

How To Donate Furniture

Unless your furniture is completely trashed, you can probably sell it online to somebody locally — most pre-owned furniture buyers only pursue items near their homes. If the items are moderately stained, dented, or scratched, though, consider donating them to a worthy cause instead. The Habitat For Humanity ReStore in Alachua County specializes in selling used furniture to fund charitable initiatives; the organization will pick up donations in greater northeast Florida, and it also has a drop-off open during regular business hours at its Gainesville location. Furniture that’s too dirty or damaged to even donate, though, should be brought to a waste management facility, such as North Central Solid Waste Collection Center. If you need a vehicle to transport furniture, appliances, or other large items, UF Mover Guys has some of the most affordable truck rentals of any moving company in Gainesville.

Unfashionable Threads

Nobody’s saying you have to be a fashion icon. But we are saying those torn, stained, and funky-smelling T-shirts have got to go. Any clothing that you haven’t unpacked from your last move, or that has not been worn in a year or more, aren’t worth folding, packing, and shipping to your new place. Instead, ditch your less useful threads prior to moving.

How To Participate In A Clothes Drive

Sometimes, worn out shirts and pants are no better than disposable dish rags. Other times, such articles of clothing can be worth a fortune to vintage collectors. It all depends, but one place to find answers is Plato’s Closet. This store buys and sells clothing of all styles and sizes. If your wardrobe is worth a pretty penny (or just a penny), they’ll be the ones to let you know. And if you can’t sell your old clothes for a small fortune, don’t fret. You can earn some good karma by taking the clothes to local nonprofits, such as Goodwill thrift stores.

Once you’ve decided which things not to keep, UF Mover Guys can help you pack up the rest and safely transport your property to your new address, whether it’s in Gainesville or across state lines. Receive a free, no-obligation moving quote today!