If you haven’t had the urge to rifle through your wardrobe or kick out your kitchen drawers this year, are you even doing Lockdown? I thought as much. Our extended time at home is driving many of us cray cray; our own four walls are starting to seriously crowd us and every day is Groundhog Day. Random fact, fact fans. On Tuesday this week it was ACTUAL Groundhog Day. In the USA, 2nd February is the day that the Groundhog is said to come out of its burrow from the winter months - if it sees its shadow, winter will persist for another six weeks and if it doesn’t, Spring will come early. I can’t remember if it was cloudy on Tuesday but fingers crossed for Spring coming in with a vengeance. I’ve been filling my house with Spring bulbs (£1.49 from Aldi, a bargain) in an attempt to lure it to Yorkshire quick as, but as yet, not much joy. Bring me all the hyacinths, crocuses and bluebells, please - I’m in urgent need.

This week, my family also reached Lockdown Limit. So far, things have been fairly static. Get up, kids go to school (AKA move from bed to desk in their pants), Joe and I go to work (AKA sit at desks procrastinating and shouting at each other to answer the door or let the dog out), make dinner, eat it ridiculously early, watch TV and go to bed. I wouldn't describe it as scintillating, but it’s all gone okay to date. This week, it’s as if a threshold was reached. Family arguments over who sits where on the sofa. Coming to blows over who has eaten all of the Nutella spread. Meltdowns over what pretty much classes as entire sets of crockery left in bedrooms after eating whilst multi tasking playing on games consoles. Buddy has set up permanent residence outside the boys bedrooms, just waiting for his moment to dash in and scrounge whatever is left on the plates when they’re not looking. Buddy isn’t fussy. It could be a three day old chicken nugget or an apple core, if it was once edible, it’s fair game.

The first sort out of this lockdown was my vintage glass which is now nice and neat in a newly upcycled glass cabinet.

Anyway, next week, we have plans. Big plans. Cupboard clear outs, rearranging of bedrooms, disposal of clothes with holes in and wardrobe reshuffles (basically Max throwing all the clothes that don’t fit him anymore into Leo’s room). My own wardrobe is at crisis point. Back in the 1990’s, I worked for TopShop TopMan Head Office and I still have clothes that I picked up from sample sales over twenty years later. The utility room is stuffed full of abandoned school stuff that need to be sorted out, reassigned or disposed of and in addition to this, we still have Joe’s collection of University textbooks which are completely bloody pointless (Motor Industry Management, anyone?) and a collection of unallocated technical wires that would rival the National Grid. The kitchen cupboards are overflowing with stuff that is rarely used yet takes up entire drawers (read: food processor, Spiraliser and three blenders) and the garage is full of cardboard boxes filled with polystyrene. My house may look calm, serene and tidy on Instagram but underneath, it’s carnage.

The chances are that you too are doing similar as we stick it out at home for at least another month. It feels like a positive thing to do - making the most of the time at home to create a more organised space so that when we finally escape, we will be feeling super smug. Having a Spring (waiting for it) clean makes us feel in control for at least a little while and decluttering is proven to be a mood lifter. This is, of course, all well and good but we’re in a lockdown - what do we do with all the excess that we no longer need? We can, of course sell it on online selling sites such as eBay and Gumtree but if we are looking to donate or recycle, the charity shops which are the first port of call are currently shut and sites like Freecycle are currently on hold due to Covid restrictions. This week, in partnership with my lovely Instagram followers, I’ve compiled a list of donation and selling resources where you can STILL rehome or recycle, even if you can’t leave the house. From donating clothes to refugees to selling your old CD’s; to shipping off the old school textbooks to Africa, right through to trading in your kids Lego (oh, so tempting), there should be a link here that will help you clear your house whilst still giving back to those in need. The majority of these charities and companies offer free shipping, mostly via Collect+, or even courier collect from your door. And if I’ve missed anyone off, then do let me know and I’ll add them in. And in the meantime, if you need me, I’ll be doing my very best impression of Marie Kondo. Happy decluttering everyone.

DONATE

Care4Calais

Care4Calais is a charity set up to provide essential aid and support for refugees living in the worst conditions across Northern France and Belgium. They have drop off points across the UK - you can apply to be a volunteer yourself - and have a list on their website of what is needed, from mens tracksuit bottoms through to toiletries and kids skiwear. There is a postal address to send to or you can email them and they will let you know your nearest drop off point. They are currently running a campaign called #Coats4Calais collecting unwanted winter coats for redistribution. Click here for more info.

Smalls For All

Smalls for All is a Scottish charity which collects and distributes underwear to adults and children in Africa and the UK. In Africa, they help those living in orphanages, slums, IDP (internally displaced persons) camps and schools, as well as those in hospitals suffering from medical conditions like obstetric fistula. They also help charities that focus on alleviating poverty in the UK by providing them with underwear. From a pants point of view, donations need to be brand new but they accept new or ‘gently worn’ bras, including sports and nursing bras. Click here to find out the address to send to.

Marie Curie

Marie Curie is the UK’s leading end of life charity who provide frontline nursing and hospice care, a free support line and a wealth of information and support on all aspects of dying, death and bereavement. They have a fleet of drivers who will collect your donations across the country. Their collection slots are full at present but bookmark the site which will be updated soon. You can arrange a collection of a minimum of three boxes or bags of unwanted clothes, accessories and shoes. Click here to find out more.

The wallpapered wardrobes on the left are BEGGING for a clear out. Next job on list.

British Heart Foundation

The BHF have shops across the UK which are closed during lockdown but you can still donate by post. They particularly need premium quality branded clothing, jewellery, books, vinyl records, vintage toys, camera equipment and ornaments. Each freepost donation can weigh up to 10kg and be up to 60cm x 50cm x 50cm in size. Click here to get a Freepost label to attach to your parcel and take to a Collect+ drop off point. Easy.

Shelter

Shelter works tirelessly to help the homeless and even though the stores are shut, you can still donate by post. Go to the website and request a Freepost label - pack up your goods (up to 10kg) and take your parcel to the nearest Collect+ point. In addition, you can also complete a Gift Aid certificate so that the charity benefits even further. You’ll find the form when you are directed to print the label. Click here for details.

Refuweegee

Refuweegee is a Scottish community-led charity that gives people a way to welcome and embrace those newest to arrive. They strive to ensure that people who have been forced to flee their homes arrive in Scotland to a warm welcome and some of the things that will help people to feel more at home. They collate Welcome Packs and their website includes a list of what is needed, including things like jigsaws, old tech equipment, bags and children’s toys. You can send your donations (you need to pay postage) to this address on the website. Click here for all details.

Re-Fashion

The UK throws away 350,000 tonnes of good quality clothes each year. In monetary terms that’s £140 million worth of used, but wearable, clothing going to waste. Re-Fashion aims to reduce fashions impact on the planet by reselling unwanted clothes to raise money or sustainable causes. You can buy second hand clothes online or donate your own clothes by requesting a bag to be sent to you. You then send this off via Collect+ and sale profit is donated to charities such as Women’s Aid and CoppaFeel. Click here for details.

iCollect

iCollect is a collection service that will take your donations and collect them from your home - for every tonne of unwanted goods, the charity of your choice will receive £200. There are plenty of charity partners to choose from on the website including Heart UK and Troop Aid. You can package your unwanted goods into any bag or box and then go to the website to book a collection. iCollect will take a super wide range of donations including clothes, shoes, DVD’s, CD’s, books, technical equipment, soft toys and accessories. They will also take household appliances if they are small enough to be carried by one person. Click here for details.

OLIO

OLIO connects neighbours with each other and with local businesses so surplus food can be shared, not thrown away. This could be food nearing its sell-by date in local stores, spare home-grown vegetables, bread from your baker, or the groceries in your fridge when you go away. For your convenience, OLIO can also be used for non-food household items too. To access items, simply browse the listings available near you, request whatever takes your fancy and arrange a pick-up via private messaging. You can also donate unwanted household items, such as kitchen equipment. Click here for more details.

Missing charity shops terribly but they still need our donations to keep going.

Give Your Best

Give Your Best aims to empower people in need of women's clothes who are refugees, seeking asylum, destitute or with no recourse to public funds through access to choice. They contribute to restoring people's dignity as they choose what they want to wear from our catalogue of donated clothing. They are passionate about sustainability and tackling donation waste - they’re an LGBTQI+ inclusive platform and stand strongly and passionately for all human rights. Visit their website to register your items - you’ll need to take two photos including brand and size. When your item has been ‘shopped’ on the platform, you will be contacted to send the item to the person who needs it (you are responsible for postage). Click here for more details.

Reuse Network

Reuse Network works with its members in reducing poverty, tackling waste and offering a brighter and better future for the most isolated individuals in our society. They partner with locations such as Community Furniture Stores to make sure that your unwanted goods get to people who need it. You can put in your postcode on the website and it will give you locations to which you can drop off within your vicinity with donations ranging from furniture, paint, bric a brac and bicycles. Contact the nearest locations on your list to find out if they are able to collect from your home. Click here for details.

Air Ambulance Service

The Air Ambulance Service relies entirely on voluntary donations and support from communities and businesses. It flies across the counties of Warwickshire, Northamptonshire, Derbyshire, Lincoln and Rutland. They have donation banks in non Covid times but currently you can send donations of clothes, shoes and accessories to them free of charge, up to 10kg. Go to the website to scan a label for your box and take to Collect+. Click here for details.

Shrub Cooperative

Based in Edinburgh, the Shrub Cooperative is working hard for a world without waste. They empower their community to live a low carbon life. If you’re local, you ca become a member and learn to fix a bike, swap your preloved things, enjoy some rescued food and be inspired by new ideas. They’ve got a Swap Shop where you can take your preloved items to be swapped for tokens to be used in the shop. Click for details.

Against Breast Cancer

You can donate bras and clothes to this fund raising charity. Their bra recycling scheme takes your unwanted or unloved bras and through our network of bra banks raises vital funds for pioneering breast cancer research. The same bras also help to support small businesses in Africa. Together with their recycling partners, their textile recovery project prevents these bras going into landfill before giving them a new lease of life in developing countries such as Togo, Ghana and Kenya, where bras remain too expensive to produce locally. There is also a doorstop recycling service which takes away your unwanted clothes for recycling - click here for details.

Books2Africa

Books2Africa is a UK charity that collects and sends donated books, computers and educational resources to increase the quality of education in Africa by helping individuals and communities to access, read, and understand books, and to extend the life and impact of books by decreasing book waste and increasing book ‘readcycling’. Package your resources and either drop them off at their office in Canterbury or arrange a collection via their website (cost applies). They also take computers, shoes, sports gear, games, educational toys, DVD’s and duffle bags. Click here for details.

SELL & DONATE

Thrift+

Thrift+ is an online selling site with a difference. You order a Thrift bag and send off your good quality second hand clothes by Freepost using Collect+. Thrift+ photographs and lists them in their store and when they sell, they take off their selling fees and split the profit equally between you and your chosen charity. You can then either spend your payment in their online store or receive a John Lewis gift card. Click here for more details. They have also partnered Thrift+ X Farfetch which gives you credit to spend on Farfetch - click here for details.

Loopster

Loopster is a sustainable clothing initiative with an online sales site. You go online and order your Loopy Clear Out bag which comes with a prepaid label to take it to the Post Office. They check that the clothes are in good condition. Loopster cannot accept items that have stains, tears, missing buttons, broken zips, children’s names written in them, or are noticeably worn out. They then send you an email with an offer price for the clothes you have sent. Once you confirm you are happy with that price, they will pay you either by bank transfer or via Paypal. All clothes that are not accepted will either be donated to the charity, Traid, or returned to you at your own cost, depending on what you have specified. Click here for more information.

Locations such as the Community Furniture Stores are still taking donations.

Ziffit

On Ziffit, you can sell your books, CD’s and DVD’s by scanning in the barcodes and getting a price. Package them up, then send via the free courier or drop off service before you are paid via Paypal, bank transfer or cheque. They’ve also partnered with Virgin Money Giving so you can choose to donate your sales money to a charity instead. Click here for details.

Recycle Your Electricals

A dual purpose site, you can find where your nearest donation or recycling point is for your unwanted electrical equipment by entering your postcode. It also gives plenty of hints and tips for selling and lists sites which deal specifically in the sale of preloved electrical equipment, such as Fat Llama and Zapper. Click here for details.

Build A Bundle

Build A Bundle will buy baby, kids and maternity clothes from you in an easy hassle-free way. You don’t need to sort them or take photos (although they do need to be freshly washed) – just stick them all in a bag or box, and send them to their office in Barrow In Furness. You can include different sizes, genders, brands and seasons within the same parcel. Click here to see the process and the selling price list. Please note that you will need to pay for postage yourself.

Ian Snow

Ian Snow have set up an initiative which is currently paused (presumably due to having a great response!) but bookmark anyway for future. They will take any fabrics/old clothing that you no longer want in exchange for Ian Snow vouchers! Everything sent to us will he put to good use and not a thing will be wasted, all buttons, zips and the fabric will be used. Payment is made per kilo and they offer a free Collect+ service for up to 10kg. Click here to find out more.

Music Magpie

Music Magpie accepts CD’s, DVD’s, Lego, books and technical equipment. Visit their website to log the barcode and they’ll give you a price. Box them up, send them free of charge and you’ll be paid direct into your account when they’re received. Click here for details.

Recycle, Donate, Sell: How To Repurpose In Lockdown