Updated June 2, 2023
Getting rid of bulky, heavy items like appliances and furniture can seem like a daunting and costly task, but this isn't always the case.
As the saying goes, one man's trash is another man's treasure. You might be surprised to find out there is someone in your area who might be willing to pick up your furniture or appliance and give your used items new life.
Hometown understands that being savvy and saving money is important, so we've put together several different strategies to getting rid of old furniture and appliances for free.
We'll discuss appliance/furniture removal via:
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Energy Company Recycling Programs
Energy companies all over the country have adopted appliance recycling programs that can save you money, particularly for appliances that contain freon, like refrigerators, freezers, and air conditioning units.
These free pickup and recycling services are becoming increasingly popular as more and more communities make larger efforts to preserve the environment through recycling and responsible disposal.
Responsibly disposing of old appliances, especially when it comes to getting rid of refrigerators and freezers, is very important because of the presence of freon which is a greenhouse gas that can pollute the environment and result in hefty fines if not handled properly.
If your local energy company offers a haul-away service for old appliances, they'll oftentimes make the deal even sweeter by not just offering the service for free, but they may actually pay in you in utility credits or a refund check for using this service.
These services are often booked far in advance with wait times of weeks to sometimes months at a time.
If you're in a pinch and need your appliance removed ASAP, this program may not be the solution to your problem.
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Donation Centers
If there are resale stores, donation centers, or group homes in your area in need of lightly used furniture or appliances in working condition, they may send someone to your home to pick up your donation.
It may require some patience to find a group home or donation center that has a need for your old appliances/furniture.
While some programs will come to your home to pick up your items for free, some require you to haul them to their location.
Not all donation centers will accept appliances or furniture either, so make sure to call ahead before hauling your heavy items across town.
Someone Local
Listing your unwanted furniture and appliances as a free item for pickup on the internet, like Facebook Marketplace and Craigslist, can be a great option if they are still in working condition or if there is someone local who will upcycle your furniture or scrap your appliances for parts.
By creating a listing with a detailed description of your item and the condition it's in, as well as clear, well-lit photos, you may get lucky and find someone who will take it off your hands for you.
Be sure to specify in your listing that the interested party must come to your location to pick up your items.
It's always important to be cautious when making the decision to give away your address to strangers online.
Do your due diligence by checking the interested party's public profile to see if there are any red flags and signs of a catfish or untrustworthy character.
Arrange for pickup during the day and make sure you aren't the only person in the home when a stranger comes to pick up your free items.
If you have the strength and equipment to safely move your appliance or furniture to the road or on your porch, contactless pickup is an even safer way to carry out this exchange.
If you're able to place the items at the end of your driveway, you could avoid making an online listing by simply taping a piece of paper to the appliance or furniture with the word "FREE" written on it.
This is especially helpful if you live in a high-traffic area so that the items at the end of your driveway get a lot of exposure to people passing by.
Alternative Options
If these aren't options for you, or if you tried to get rid of your item for free and you weren't successful, hiring a local junk removal company is a great alternative.
Hiring a junk removal service to remove your appliance/furniture may not be free, but it's usually the fastest way to get the job done and requires the least amount of effort.
Junk removal crews are experts at getting rid of heavy, bulky, or large amounts of trash and junk at once.
Their goal is to be in and out as quickly as possible while leaving you with a fresh new space void of old clutter.
Most junk removal companies have availability within the week, if not that same day.
Hometown makes it easy to find local junk removal companies that service your zip code.
You can contact multiple junk removal companies in your area for quotes to remove your items and to find out when their services would be available.
If you have some other junk to remove from your garage, kitchen, or spare rooms, it's worth asking how much it would cost to have the removal company remove those items while they're there.
If you have a decent amount of furniture or appliances to get rid of, you may consider renting a dumpster.
Roll-off dumpsters feature a swinging back door(s) so that you can easily walk in bulky and heavy items, making them a great option for:
- Washer and dryer removal
- Couch removal
- Mattress and box spring removal
- Oven removal
- Dishwasher removal
Not all disposal companies will accept appliances like refrigerators in their containers and failing to follow their guidelines could result in additional dumpster fees and fines.
Be sure to speak with several different dumpster rental companies to ensure you find one that accepts your intended items and to compare pricing.
Hometown can help you locate and request free quotes from dumpster providers in your area.
You can also read verified reviews from real dumpster rental and junk removal customers to help you find a reputable and reliable company near you.
Get free junk removal estimates or dumpster rental quotes near you
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