6 Ways to Responsibly Get Rid of Your Dorm Furniture

Summer break is coming up, and we know it's an exciting time for college students. You get to head home, catch up with friends and family, and take a breather from school. But there's also the big move out from your dorm rooms.

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Finding secure and affordable storage, especially for your dorm furniture, can be tough. And lugging it all home with you is not ideal.

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The easiest solution may be to toss the furniture in the dumpster or leave it on the curb, but that has a huge environmental cost.

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Every year, Americans throw away over 12 million tons of furniture. This clogs our landfills for decades.

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There are easy, sustainable ways to get rid of your dorm furniture:

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Host a sale

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Instead of dumping your furniture, why not host a yard or garage sale to make some extra cash? You could even invite some friends to join and sell their stuff too — the more variety, the better! If an in-person sale isn't possible, try listing your stuff on online yard sale groups or Facebook Marketplace. Be sure to start a month before moving out as negotiating and closing deals can take some time.

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Secondhand online furniture stores

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If your furniture is in good shape and can be reused by someone, you could even list it in secondhand online furniture marketplaces such as AptDeco and Chairish. To increase your chances of selling, make sure you clean, prep, and take good photos of your furniture.

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Donate to a charity

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Many charities, including The Salvation Army, Habitat for Humanity, Green Drop, Pickup Please, Goodwill, AMVETS National Service Foundation, Arc Thrift, Furniture Bank Network, and Pick Up My Donation, accept furniture donations. Some of them even offer pick-up services. They sell your old dorm furniture at a low cost and use the proceeds to support important causes such as drug rehabilitation, affordable housing, and support for people with intellectual and developmental disabilities. 

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Give it to neighbors

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If you are unsure about donating, you can give it to your neighbors. You can easily list your items on local Buy Nothing groups. These groups are perfect for giving away stuff you don't need anymore, including furniture. You could also try leaving it on the curb for a few days. Someone might just pick it up. But remember, check the weather and trash collection schedule first!

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Store it with a friend

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If nothing else fits, why not ask a local friend to store your dorm furniture? It could be a real money-saver and save you a lot of hassle. Imagine coming back from break and just continuing with your old setup. 

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Rent a self-storage unit

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You could also consider self-storage for your stuff but it can be a bit of work. Without a car on campus, you'll have to figure out how to get boxes and move your stuff. This could mean an Uber ride to pick up boxes or even renting a truck. If you can find a friend who is also looking for storage and can share a unit, it will bring down the cost and effort. Check out self-storage units around your college early, they fill up fast in the summer. And don't forget, you'll need to do the lugging again when you move back in. Plan ahead to make it easier.

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