‘Make Clutter Count’ this APDO Spring Clearing Week

It’s Spring Clearing Week! Yes, the annual decluttering bonanza run by the Association of Professional Declutterers and Organisers is back with more fantastic advice on where to donate, sell, recycle and ditch your things so you can ‘make clutter count’ as you refresh your space in lockdown. It’s so important to prioritise wellbeing right now.

It is a privilege to be accredited by such an amazing association and to rub shoulders with the best in the business from the UK and beyond - find out more about how to make your home glow on the APDO blog here.

It has been a challenge to find places that are accepting donations of household goods at the moment with the Level 5 restrictions still in place in Ireland, but I found some treasure to share with you below so you can see the corners of your living room again. Even if you’re not sure where to start.

1. Donate

Here are some very worthwhile places accepting donations in Ireland right now - they are few and far between will all recreation centres, churches, antique shops and of course charity shops closed right now.

Tech: Trinity Access Program's Tech2Students Campaign will pick up laptops and iPads less than 5 years old from your doorstep to refurbish and give to students for online learning. I used this service a few weeks ago and it was as easy as filling out a quick survey and handing it to them at the door.
Specs: The Lions Club will take prescription glasses to send abroad to people who need them.
Clothes: Clothes Pod have collection containers at locations all over the country to facilitate clothing donation and recycling - just be sure not to leave anything next to them if you find one full as that is legally dumping (good to know!).

2. Sell

iPhones: Swappie will buy your old iPhones, refurbish them and re-sell them so you can make a bit of cash while helping keep them out of landfill. You send your phones to them via post.

Books: TheBookShop.ie will buy boxes of 25 used books for 40c per book which is a fantastic way to get heavy books out the door in one go via post.
Cos Clothes: You can now resell your preloved Cos Clothing on their resell website (my favourite things come from here!).

3. Recycle

Here are some very cool places that will recycle goods from Ireland right now:

Jeans: When you finish with your old Mud jeans (I have two pairs) you can send them back to be recycled alongside any other brand of jeans. They fully embrace the circular economy philosophy.
Tights: Swedish Stockings not only make insanely comfortable and ladder-resistant tights, they will recycle all tights and stockings via their 'recycling club' when you send them to them in the post and get 10% off your next purchase - win!

Packaging: Terracycle Ireland have locally sourced drop off zones all over the country for many kinds of packaging like Ellas pouches, crisp packets, sweet wrappers and many more. If you’re stuck with boxes here are 25 ways to use them up.

4. Ditch

Here are some handy ways to get rid of things that can't be donated, upcycled or sold in Ireland:

Your Local Bring Banks: I will never stop raving about the map on MyWaste.ie where you can drop in your address and they will show you every bring bank, recycling centre and WEEE disposal location in your vicinity 🤯 🤯🤯

Food: Olio App lets you post food that needs picking up quick for people who live near you, as well as non-food items like craft supplies - try it out!
Junk: No space for a skip? No car?? Kollect.ie have got you covered with their nifty junk removal service starting as small as 1/8 of a van.