Clear Your Space, Free Your Mind, Help Your Neighbors

The KondoMari Method

Before we delve into where we should bring our unwanted clutter, we have to decide what stays and what goes. One of the most effective methods for this has been the KondoMari method. Created by tidying expert Marie Kondo, this nationally-renowned — and more efficient — six-step process has gained attention for its emphasis on tidying bringing more permanent joy into your life, rather than providing a temporary, aesthetic fix.

If you’ve already committed yourself to making sure you get rid of unwanted clutter in your home, you’ve already passed the first step. You need to approach it with the right attitude, however. Make sure you have a clear goal in mind — you could sketch what you want your house to look like if you want — and stay optimistic. In turn, you’ll find the energy and motivation needed to purge your unwanted clutter.

Next comes the purge, where we discard any items that no longer bring joy into our lives; but don’t go from room to room. Go by each category instead. We often store the same type of item in more than one place. You may hold onto a shirt, thinking you don’t have enough when there’s another wardrobe you haven’t gone through yet. Kondo has found through her experience that it’s more efficient to go from easiest to most difficult: clothes, books, papers, miscellaneous, sentimental items.

It’s with the sentimental items that you only need to ask yourself one question, “does it spark joy in my life?” Pay close attention to how your body responds. If you’re still unsure, follow Kondo’s definition of how you should be feeling, “a little thrill, as if the cells in your body are slowly rising.”

You may have your own process to find closure for any items that don’t meet that definition. Think of it as a way to say thank you for the purpose they’ve served, alleviating any sentimental guilt you might feel.

For more information on the KondoMari method, visit konmari.com, where you can find additional resources on tidying up your home: books, courses and more.

Next, we move on to the groups, organizations and places that can assist you with re-homing, disposing or recycling your items. 

PLACES YOUR ITEMS CAN FIND NEW HOMES:

The Buy Nothing Project

The Buy Nothing Project is a non-profit organization that ‘s free to join and connects local community members with each other via their app, or through one of their many Facebook groups. The best part is that everything donated is free, so you don’t need to worry about haggling over price.

These groups are established with geographical boundaries, so you will be giving and receiving alongside your neighbors, offering you the chance to meet people in your community and establish new friends.

Simply post the item and if anyone is interested, they can leave comments and arrange to swing by and pick it up. Not only do you get to gift your neighbors with new-to-them treasures, but also directly make sure your items have a new home to go to.

Groups in our area include:

• Buy Nothing Windermere, FL
• Buy Nothing Winter Garden, FL
• Buy Nothing Horizon West

Please note: Organization rules indicate that you may only be a member of one Buy Nothing Project group at a time. Please check each group for specific rules and geographic boundaries.

Goodwill Donation Express Drop off in Lakeside Village

A non-profit organization, Goodwill has thousands of chain stores nationwide whose mission is enhance the dignity and quality of life of individuals and families. They accept a variety of donations, from clothing and tools to toys and various home furnishings that are tax deductible.

They also have an express drop off on site where you simply pull up in your vehicle, unload what you want to donate and be on your way, such as Goodwill Express in Lakeside Village, located at 6506 Old Brick Road, Suite 150, 34786.

A quick drop-off option like this offers an excellent resource to incorporate chipping away at your clutter as part of your daily routine out of the house.

Bear in mind that donated clothing must be in good condition. They also don’t accept certain items such as car seats and large furnishings. More information can be found at their website on goodwillcfl.org.

A Heart to Give - Resources for Families in Need

It takes a village to raise a child. That saying couldn’t be any more true today, when there are parents out there barely making it, and don’t know where to turn for extra help. That’s what inspired its founder, Terrie Scott, to start A Heart to Give. A non-profit, the organization takes tax-deductible donations that offer an extra hand to struggling parents:

• Gently used clothes of all sizes
• Food
• School supplies
• Diapers
• Baby formula 
• Personal hygiene items
• Toys
• Home goods
• Baby items / necessities (new or gently used)

Contact A Heart to Give to arrange donation drop offs.

Facebook Marketplace

Facebook Marketplace is an ideal resource for buying and selling used items. For the purpose of this list, it’s an excellent resource for getting rid of clutter and making a little extra cash in the process.

The process is a little tedious, but you’ll get the hang of it by the time you get to the fifth item; upload a photo of it, fill in some information, such as the condition and any other details you think the buyer should be aware of and post it. Be aware that the value you think your item holds may not be seen the same away by someone else. For that reason, be prepared to bargain and not get the money back you initially paid for it. 

Local buy and sell Facebook groups offer another similar opportunity to sell online, but to folks in our community.

Hamlin / Horizon West Buy and Sell! is one local group, but searching Facebook for terms like "garage sale groups near me" may reveal additional neighborhood or area sale groups.

Please note, selling items online and meeting up with people carries risk. Research best practices for your safety.

Habitat for Humanity ReStores

Many people with a home simply cannot afford to fill it with new appliances or furniture that make it just that, a home. Habitat for Humanity ReStores accepts donations such as furniture, appliances, building materials and more. They also have a crew of volunteers dedicated to helping with home repairs, such as roof, window and door replacement, and electrical, plumbing and HVAC work.

Have an old car taking up space on your property? Consider giving Habitat ReStores a call, as they accept car donations that are potentially tax deductible. Additionally, the organization has a home ownership program to help potential home buyers. Applications are currently closed as of the time of this writing, but you can still keep an eye on it. Take advantage of this time also to read through their prerequisites for qualification. 

Urban E Recycling

A lot of times we worry about getting rid of electronic devices such as computers, because we don’t want sensitive data being seen. You don’t have to worry about that when it comes to Urban E Recycling, however. They offer hard drive shredding along with a certificate of completion upon request. Cell phones, radios, cd players — if it’s electronic they take it, with certain exceptions:

●    Televisions

●    Large home appliances

●    Household batteries

●    CRT monitors

●    Televisions

●    Paint, varnish or other chemicals

Not only are all of their services free of charge, but they also pick up your items directly from your home!



Clothing and Shoe Donations at Orange County Schools

Since January 2018, the Foundation for Orange County Public Schools has partnered with Charity Recycling Service to turn unwanted clothing and shoes into meaningful support for local schools. Through this ongoing program, 179 participating OCPS schools have collectively diverted more than three million pounds of clothing and footwear from landfills, giving these items a second life while raising more than $300,000 to support school programs and initiatives

Donation drop boxes are available at many Orange County schools throughout Horizon West, making it easy to declutter while directly benefiting nearby campuses. Schools earn funds based on the total weight of donated items, so every bag truly adds up.

Accepted donations include gently used clothing, shoes and select household items. A full list of acceptable items can be found at crspickups.com/acceptable-items. If you have large donations that will not fit in a drop box, home pick-ups can also be scheduled online or by calling 800-459-1256 x10.

Important note: Charity Recycling Service is a for-profit organization, and donations made through this program are not tax-deductible.

The Mustard Seed of Central Florida - Furniture Pick Up

When decluttering goes beyond closets and drawers, The Mustard Seed Furniture and Clothing Bank offers a meaningful way to pass along larger household items to those rebuilding their lives. The organization’s mission is to help families and individuals recover from disaster or personal hardship by providing essential furnishings and clothing, while remaining environmentally responsible within the community.

The Mustard Seed picks up large donations such as furniture and mattresses, making it a valuable option for residents replacing major household items or downsizing. Mattresses in good condition are accepted for reuse, and as part of the organization’s recycling efforts, mattresses with rips, stains or tears may also be donated. A $12 deconstruction fee is requested for these mattresses to help keep them out of the landfill.

For furniture donations, a $25 pickup fee is required to help offset fuel costs, though donors are welcome to contribute more if they wish. All donated items must be located on the ground floor to ensure safe and efficient pickup. For general inquiries, or to schedule a furniture pick up, please call 407-875-2040.

For items that can be challenging to donate elsewhere, The Mustard Seed provides a practical and compassionate way to give them a second purpose.

Images: The Mustard Seed of Central Florida Facebook

Orange County Curbside Trash Pickup

If, for whatever reason, none of the above resources work out, remember you tried, and at the end of the day, you still need to get rid of whatever clutter you have; your mental and physical health depends on it.

Orange County curbside/trash pickup has an automated curbside collection program that picks up trash, recycling and bulk trash once a week. You can learn more about what is accepted as trash versus recycling as well as find out your collection days on our website at HorizonWestMagazine.com/waste.

 For larger items, they ask for no more than three cubic yards (one small pickup truckload), keep them separate from yard waste and on the curb by 6 a.m on collection day.

You can contact Solid Waste Management Division if you have any questions at 407-836-6601 or via email.

Letting Go Makes a Difference

Community means everything at Horizon West, even when it comes to purging our unwanted items. Letting go can be surprisingly powerful. By choosing where your donations go, decluttering becomes more than a to-do list item. It becomes a chance to give back. From closets to kitchen cabinets, the things you no longer need may be exactly what helps someone else move forward.

That’s the heart of purging with purpose.