A guide to decluttering that you can use all year-round

For lots of us in the UK, Spring is the time when we think about having a good old clear out. But, decluttering is not exclusively a Spring thing…and there are lots of ways that we can make the most of what we have whilst freeing up some extra room at any time of year.

If you have a few things cluttering up your home that you no longer use - like old phones, clothes or furniture - there are actually lots of ways you can give them a second life without having to bin them, simply by sharing them with neighbours, selling them online or having a car-boot sale, for example.

So before you head off to your local tip, check out these tips for how you can swap, share, and offload your stuff in a more sustainable way.

Borrow from friends and neighbours 

As a group of friends and neighbours, you might have everything you need between you - meaning you don't have to buy things that you only need on a one-off or use rarely in the first place! Tap into friend groups or a neighbourhood WhatsApp and ask around – maybe someone will have the item you are looking for, or would like what you want to give away.

Share locally

Find people nearby giving away or lending out stuff for free on apps like NextDoor and Streetbank. The Freecycle network has been running since 2003, and the website has 9 million members who collectively save 1000 tonnes a day from landfill by giving their stuff away for free instead of binning it. 

Short term renting

Can’t find what you want for free? Renting an item for a short period is a cheaper choice and saves storage space. Keep an eye out for Manchester’s first Library of Things (based in Levenshulme) where you’ll be able to borrow all sorts of items - from power tools to pizza cutters - on a short term basis.

Want a bit more choice locally? Try out the Fat Llama app and see what people in your area are happy to lease out - and maybe there’ll be a few items around your home that others would like to borrow too.  

Buy and sell online 

There’s a whole network of places to buy and sell goods online! Of course, there’s the old classics eBay and Gumtree, and relative newcomers like Facebook Marketplace and Preloved.  

Boot sales and swap shops

Car boot sales, local markets and swap shops are a fantastic way to offload some of your pre-loved things. There are all sorts of markets in Manchester too, from Whalley Range’s ‘rummage in the range’ to Future Fashion Fair’s clothes swaps. If you’re looking to switch up your wardrobe, Stitched Up run clothes swaps, repair sessions and various other events throughout the year too.

Looking for a car boot sale? Check out this article from Manchester’s finest featuring the best car boot sales in Manchester.