How to Get Rid of Old Furniture (Without Breaking Your Back)

Old furniture: there’s no way around it. You loved that living room set, but now it’s time to replace it. When it comes to moving it, though, you can quickly find yourself in trouble. You want to get rid of that sofa, but you don’t have the manpower to make it happen.

You’re not alone.

Furniture removal is a big job, and figuring out how to make it happen can be tough. Luckily, it gets easier when you understand your options.

5 Ways to Get Rid of Old Furniture

You bought a new sofa, which means your old couch needs to be removed. What are your choices? Can you leave it on the curb? Will the city pick it up? Can you put it in your car and take it to the dump?

The answer may be more complicated than you think.

Today, many cities don’t allow specific furniture items on the curb. In San Francisco, for example, it is illegal to leave furniture or appliances on the sidewalk. Sidewalk dumping can result in citations and fines unless you have a scheduled pick up from a licensed hauler or donation facility.

For city pick-up, meanwhile, you need to rely on their tight schedule. And if you want to take it to the dump on your own, you need to do all the heavy lifting.

Luckily, there are a few avenues you may not have considered, plus a few things to keep in mind when deciding what action you want to take.

What type of furniture it is
The amount of it you have
What materials it’s made of
How much time and manpower you have

1. Opt for Curbside Pick-Up

Bay Area trash services like Waste Management and ACI offer one free large or bulky waste pick-up per year. These pick-ups require you to request a special collection at least a week in advance. If you leave old furniture items out on the curb without doing this, the city will cite and fine you for illegal dumping.

Keep in mind that some municipal trash services will not haul certain items, so it’s always smart to double-check that your item is acceptable before you take them to the curb.

2. Sell it

Your ability to sell an item will depend on its quality and condition. If you want to sell used furniture, Craigslist is an excellent place to start. Apps like Letgo and OfferUp can help match you with local buyers. Facebook’s Marketplace for your city is another great option.

If you are considering selling your items, check for scratches, dings, missing pieces, and other blemishes.

When posting your item for sale, you will want to take these things into consideration and make sure you mention any of the above in your listing. It may take some time to sell your items, so having the time and proper storage to house your items is something to keep in mind.

3. Donate it

You can only donate or sell used furniture that’s in good condition. You should also note that most donation centers don’t accept furniture made out of press board. Sorry IKEA lovers!

Make sure to check that items don’t have any significant damage and that upholstered furniture such as couches and chairs don’t have stains, bad smells, rips, or tears.

It’s also important to note that each store has different donation guidelines, so call ahead to check if your local donation center will take these items.

Here are some common furniture items that almost all donation centers WON’T accept:

Children’s Cribs and Car Seats
Mattresses/Box Springs
Large China Cabinets
Pianos

After you evaluate your old piece of furniture and decide that it is something that can be donated, here are a few ideas for spots in the East Bay to donate your used furniture:

You can also consider passing your used furniture along to friends and family. Someone who has a child heading to college may appreciate the offer!

4. Haul it to the Dump

If you don’t have a truck to haul your items, this one can be tricky to organize logistically. Additionally, many landfills and transfer stations have high minimums, and may also charge a California recycling fee (depending on the item). Because of this, recycling may not be cost-effective – especially if you’re only getting rid of a single item – like a couch.

5. Hire a Junk Removal Firm

Because getting rid of the old furniture can be such a hassle, most people decide to simplify the entire process and hire a junk removal company, instead.

When you work with a junk removal team, they’ll take care of the legwork for you. The team you choose can donate your furniture or recycle it when possible. Customers don’t have to worry about logistics, heavy lifting, or the time it’d take to DIY the process.

Here are some common furniture items that Nixxit can remove: