You can get rid of your old furniture by donating to charity, giving it to family or friends and even using a retailer's takeback scheme.
While you can do any of these yourself, it is best to seek help from a professional house clearance company. They will handle the heavy lifting and ensure goods are removed from the property with minimal risk of damage to the property.
In this guide, we'll take you through everything you need to know about getting rid of old furniture.
Use Recycling Centres
Many local councils have a Household Waste Recycling Centre or 'local tip' as it is known, where you can take unwanted items that cannot be collected at your home. Most furniture is made from various materials including wood, metal, and plastic. But you can still recycle them, you just need to separate the materials.
Some things to keep in mind when looking at your local recycling centre are:
- You will likely need to book a slot on their website
- You may need to prove you are a resident of the local area
- You may not be able to bring a van
If you want to recycle heavy items, you don't drive, or have access to a van it’s worth using our house clearance comparison service. You’ll be able to find a company near you that specialises in junk removal, including furniture and other items. Our house clearance partners hold a Waste Carrier Licence and have Public Liability Insurance in place.
Donate to Charity
Charities like the British Heart Foundation, are always looking for furniture donations such as old sofas. But that doesn’t mean they will take anything and everything. It really will come down to the condition of the furniture. If it is in good condition the answer will likely be yes.
There are some things to consider:
- Upholstered items must have a fire safety label
- Ripped or stained items will not be accepted
If your unwanted items, such as a wardrobe, are in good enough condition, the charity shop(s) will take them. But you might need to deliver to them, as not all charities have the capacity. Some do provide free collections including the following:
Charity | Free Pickup? | National / Regional |
|---|---|---|
Shelter | Partial house clearance only | Regional |
| DEBRA UK | Free | Stores in England & Scotland only |
| British Heart Foundation | Free (must have safety tags attached) | National |
Donating to charity can feel a bit of a chore at times. But house clearance companies may have connections with local and national charities, so they can facilitate this for you.
Man and van might be another option. They will take items to your chosen charity for you. Some will help with the removal and labour of taking away the wardrobe too. Most man and van services charge between £36 and £120 per hour. But you can book them for ½ or full days if you have bulky furniture, as they only have one van. It will depend on how many trips they need to make.
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Sell Unwanted Furniture
To sell your unwanted furniture, there are websites such as Facebook Marketplace, eBay, Gumtree and Vinted which are perfect for selling to local people. Depending on the terms of the sale, you might be the one responsible for getting the furniture to the buyer.
| Website | Cost to List | Platform Fees | Responsible for Delivery/Collection |
|---|---|---|---|
| Facebook Marketplace | Free | 0% | Buyer or Seller |
| eBay | Free* | 0% | Seller |
| Gumtree | Free | 0% | Buyer or Seller |
| Vinted | Free | 0% | Seller |
Services such as man and van are perfect for these types of jobs, as they generally charge by the hour, serve local areas, and can deliver multiple items.
*Fees only apply when you sell more than 300 items within a 1 month period.
Request Council Collection
Your first thought might be to get your local council to come and collect your large items and dispose of them, especially if you don't have access to a van yourself. This would be done through their bulky waste collection service.
But, there are a few downsides to this service:
They charge depending on the amount of items
They have higher charges
Must be booked several days/weeks in advance
They can be very specific with what and how it is taken
Example of Council costs
| Cost | No of Items |
|---|---|
| £59 | 1-3 items |
| £118 | 4-6 items |
| £177 | 7-9 items |
*Data taken from Buckinghamshire Council
Some of the items that your local council won't collect might include pianos and kitchen units. Hiring a house clearance company will ensure that the job is done quicker, and more cost-effective and they can remove many different items.
Retailer Takeback
Many furniture providers on the market have a takeback program, Ikea will buy back your old items if they are in good enough condition. Some other retailers will dispose of your old sofa, wardrobe, etc. if you have just purchased with them. Many of the latter programs will charge you an additional fee which varies depending on the item
Some of the main outlets that offer this waste take-back program and the types of items they'll collect include:
| Retailer | Cabinet/Wardrobe | Sofa/Sofa Bed | Coffee/Dining Tables | Mattress | Bulky Items |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Dunelm | ✔ | ✔ | ✔ | ✔ | ✔ |
| Next | ✔ | ✔ | ✔ | ✔ | ✔ |
| Furniture Village | ✗ | ✗ | ✔ | ✔ | ✗ |
| SCS | ✗ | ✔ | ✗ | ✗ | ✗ |
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Use a House Clearance Company
Whatever decision you have made regarding your old furniture. Using a house clearance company is the most effective way of getting rid of your old furniture.
- They may have connections with local and national charities
- They're likely to specialise in junk removal, including furniture
- Will ensure that the job is done quicker and is more cost-effective
- They can dispose of multiple items at once
Give to Friends or Family
If you know a family member is looking for an additional sofa, you could always give it to them instead of disposing of it. If the furniture, like a coffee table, is in good enough condition, it might be worth either upcycling or giving it to a family member or friend to upcycle instead.
If you’ve thought that a piece of furniture is destined for the dump, you’re not alone. 45% of people in the UK have suggested ‘no one else will want them’ when asked why they threw away their old items. What you might consider rubbish, someone else will have a different opinion.
1 in 4 Brits are upcycling more with 39% of those choosing to upcycle furniture. So giving an honest assessment of the furniture is the first step to working out what to do with it.
Find House Clearance Providers
Compare My Move can connect you with up to 6 verified clearance companies that can assist with your house clearance service. Simply fill out our house clearance comparison form and you can compare quotes and save up to 70% on your house clearance fees.
All our house clearance partners are covered by Public Liability insurance and have a Waste Carrier Licence. This means that they can be trusted to ensure that all belongings are removed efficiently and safely from the property.
