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Michele Vig, Neat Little Nest Owner + Chief Organizer

Hello! Here I share my passion for creating both beautifully organized + designed spaces. I hope you find some inspiration.

-Michele

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A Twin Cities Guide to Donating and Rehoming Items When Downsizing (with Helpful National Resources Too!)

Updated: 14 minutes ago

Downsizing is a big step, and once you’ve decided what to keep, the next question becomes: Where should everything else go when you’re trying to declutter?


If you live in the Twin Cities, you’re in luck. Our community is incredibly generous, and you have plenty of downsizing and donation options to choose from. There are dozens of local organizations that will put your items to meaningful use from furniture and books to clothing and household goods.


Alongside these Twin Cities resources, a number of national programs can handle items that need more specialized recycling or disposal. This guide will help you confidently navigate donating, rehoming, selling, recycling, and responsibly disposing of items in the Twin Cities, so nothing goes to waste.


GENERAL DONATION TIPS

A few simple steps can make donating easier for you and more helpful for the organizations receiving your items.


What to donate

  • Items in clean, usable condition

  • Clothing without stains or tears

  • Furniture without significant damage

  • Kitchenware, linens, books

  • Medical equipment in good working order


What not to donate

(Usually best to recycle or dispose of these safely.)

  • Broken electronics

  • Hazardous materials

  • Mattresses

  • Old paint/chemicals

  • Large appliances


Scheduling pickups

Many nonprofits, especially in the Twin Cities, offer furniture and large-item pickup some for free and others for a fee. Book 1–2 weeks ahead when possible.


DONATION OPTIONS: Giving Your Items a Second Life
Donating helps give your items a second life.
Donating helps give your items a second life.

When your items are still in good shape but no longer serve you, donating them is one of the quickest and kindest ways to let them go. From thrift stores and donation centers to shelters and local community groups, there’s almost always someone who can use what you no longer need. Donating items keeps them in use, supports your community, and helps you declutter your home in a way that feels good and does good.


Appliances

  • Bridging Located in Bloomington, Roseville and Plymouth and accepts working appliances. Bridging gives these items to help move families into their first homes.

  • Habitat for Humanity Restore Locations in Minneapolis, Brooklyn Park and New Brighton and accepts working appliances and sells them at their stores for their mission to help build people homes. Call to discuss and schedule pickup.


Books

  • A Book of My Own Located in St. Louis Park and accepts new or like-new children's books published after 2020 and sends them to families in need.

  • Arc's Value Village Located throughout the Twin Cities, Arc accepts all genres of books

  • Twin Cities libraries welcome your books.

  • BookMooch - online community where you mail in your books and decide if you want to simply donate them or get points to get books for yourself.

  • BooksforSoldiers - you ship your unwanted books to active military or groups based on requests from the field.

  • Disabled American Veterans of Minnesota Located in St. Paul and has donation drop off bins throughout the Twin Cities takes books. You can schedule a pick up for a fee.

  • Global Gospell Located in Minneapolis and will accept Christian religious books.

  • Goodwill Located throughout the Twin Cities, goodwill accepts all genres of books.

  • The Little Free Library are located in neighborhoods throughout the Twin Cities and you can simply drop off your books into one of the libraries if space permits.

  • The Prop Shop Located in Eden Prairie and takes books in limited quantities and types.

  • The Salvation Army Twin Cities Locations throughout the Twin Cities and accepts book donations. They offer fee-based pickups.

  • Uplift North Located in Richfield and accepts hardcover books for children.


Building Materials

  • Habitat for Humanity Restore Locations in Minneapolis, Brooklyn Park and New Brighton and accept new or gently used building materials like cabinets, doors, windows, flooring, lumber, and lighting fixtures. Call to schedule a fee-based pickup.


Clothing, Shoes and Accessories

  • Arc's Value Village Located throughout the Twin Cities, takes all clothing, outerwear, shoes, jewelry and accessories.

  • Disabled American Veterans of Minnesota Located in St. Paul and has donation drop off bins throughout the Twin Cities accepting all clothing, outerwear, shoes, jewelry and accessories. DAV will pick up for a fee.

  • Give Back Box National program where you fill any box in your home, add a shipping label and send your donations via UPS. They accept clothes, shoes and accessories.

  • Goodwill Located throughout the Twin Cities and accepts clothing, outerwear, shoes, jewelry and accessories.

  • Habitat for Humanity Restore Locations in Minneapolis, Brooklyn Park and New Brighton and accepts clothing, outerwear, shoes, jewelry and accessories.

  • Hope Chest for Breast Cancer Located in Wayzata and accepts gently used, like-new women's designer clothing, shoes, handbags and jewelry purchased within the last 3-5 years. Hope Chest will pick up for a fee. All proceeds go to breast cancer research.

  • Prism Located in Golden Valley and accepts clothing, outerwear, shoe and accessories.

  • The Prop Shop Located in Eden Prairie and accepts clothing in all sizes, shoes and boots, jewelry, accessories. They also takes towels, bedding and other linens.

  • The Salvation Army Twin Cities Locations throughout the Twin Cities and offers fee-based pickups. They accept all gently used clothing for men, women, and children, including coats, shoes, and handbags

  • Sharing & Caring Hands Located in Minneapolis and accepts clothing and shoes and distributes them to the homeless and poor in the Twin Cities.

  • Uplift North Located in Richfield and accepts clothing in all sizes, shoes and boots, jewelry, accessories.


Electronics

  • Bridging Located in Bloomington, Roseville and Plymouth and accepts small appliances and electronics including TVs 65" or smaller.

  • Cell Phones for Soldiers Located in Austin, TX and accepts cell phone donations. They pay for shipping for donations of fewer than 10 devices.

  • Disabled American Veterans of Minnesota Located in St. Paul and has donation drop off bins throughout the Twin Cities stereos, radios, cameras, laptops, computers, and DVD players (but not TVs). You can also schedule a pick up for a fee.

  • Sharing & Caring Hands Located in Minneapolis takes TVs in good working condition and distributes them to the homeless and poor in the Twin Cities.

  • World Computer Exchange is an international organization and takes working computers, monitors, scanners and more and distributes them to schools in more than 70 developing countries.

  • The Salvation Army Twin Cities Locations throughout the Twin Cities and offers fee-based pick ups. They take working electronics like computers, cell phones, and stereo equipment (but not older TVs).


Furniture

  • Bridging Located in Bloomington, Roseville and Plymouth and accepts bed frames (not headboards or footboards), chairs/stools, coat racks, dressers, tables, futons, mattresses and stain/rip-free box springs, sofas, loveseats, ottomans, night stands, end tables, coffee tables (no stone/tile/glass tops), media consoles, bookcases.

  • Disabled American Veterans of Minnesota Located in St. Paul and accepts small furniture. Must call to schedule a fee-based pick up.

  • Habitat for Humanity Restore Locations in Minneapolis, Brooklyn Park and New Brighton and accepts a wide variety of furniture in good condition including sofas, chairs, tables, and dressers.

  • Hope Chest for Breast Cancer Located in Wayzata and accepts gently loved showroom ready furniture (including patio furniture) and home decor. Items must be from smoke-free/pet-free environments without damage or rips, stains, fading. Hope Chest will pick up for a fee. All proceeds go to breast cancer research.

  • The Prop Shop Located in Eden Prairie and accepts furniture, mattresses/box springs, but space is limited so you must call ahead. Limited furniture pickup is available.

  • The Salvation Army Twin Cities Locations throughout the Twin Cities and accepts small furniture items and offers fee-based pickups.

  • Uplift North Located in Richfield and accepts accepts small furniture.


Kitchen, Household Goods + Home Decor

  • Bridging Located in Bloomington and accepts a wide variety of kitchen, household, home decor, bakeware, cookware, dishes, utensils, knives, cutting boards, sleeping pillows, storage containers, mirrors and framed artwork. Offers fee-based pickups.

  • Disabled American Veterans of Minnesota Located in St. Paul and has donation drop off bins throughout the Twin Cities takes household goods. Offers fee-based pickups.

  • Habitat for Humanity Restore Locations in Minneapolis, Brooklyn Park and New Brighton and accepts home goods, including decor, tools, and shelving.

  • Leonardo's Basement Located in Minneapolis and accepts crafting and art items. Must call to discuss what their inventory needs are.

  • Prism Located in Golden Valley and accepts kitchen items, home decor, working small appliances such as toasters, lamps, irons, clocks, vacuums, coffee makers and more.

  • Sharing & Caring Hands Located in Minneapolis and accepts kitchen, living room and bathroom household items and distributes them to Twin Cities homeless and poor.

  • The Prop Shop Located in Eden Prairie and takes dishes and utensils, pots and pans, kitchen countertop appliances, decorative items.

  • The Salvation Army Twin Cities Locations throughout the Twin Cities and accept bedding, lamps, pots, pans, dishes, and small appliances. Offers fee-based pickups.

  • Uplift North Located in Richfield and accepts home decor, small furniture and linens.


Medical equipment + medicine

  • Courage Kenny Rehabilitation Center Located throughout the Twin Cities and accepts transport wheelchairs, manual wheelchairs, two and four-wheeled walkers, canes, shower chairs/benches, raised toilet seats and commodes, reachers and sock aids.

  • Global Health Ministries Located in Fridley and accepts a wide array of hospital equipment including expired medical supplies, unused surgical instruments, manufacturer overstock, hospital beds, exam tables, surgical and imaging equipment.

  • Goodwill Locations across the Twin Cities and across the U.S. and accepts walkers, crutches, canes, shower chairs, transfer benches, hospital beds, scooters, portable ramps, lift chairs, scrubs in clean and good-working condition.

  • Matter Located in St. Louis Park and accepts a wide array of hospital equipment including expired medical supplies, unused surgical instruments, manufacturer overstock, hospital beds, exam tables, surgical and imaging equipment.

  • Mano a Mano Located in St. Paul and accepts durable used medical equipment (walkers, wheelchairs, crutches) and other supplies they ship to service Bolivia.

  • South Shore Trinity Lutheran Church Located in Ramsey and accepts walkers, canes, crutches, wheelchairs, shower chairs, commodes for their ministry.

  • The ALS Association, MN/ND/SD Chapter Located in Minneapolis and accepts good-working medical equipment and adaptive devices less than 5 years old.


Toys, Games + Puzzles

  • Arc's Value Village Located throughout the Twin Cities, Arc accepts all genres of books

  • Goodwill Located throughout the Twin Cities, goodwill accepts all genres of books.

  • Minnesota Toy Library Located in Minneapolis and accepts toys for kids 0-5 with a preference for wooden and non-toxic material toys that encourage learning. No puzzles, no stuffed animals. Toys can be donated during their lending events.

  • The Prop Shop Located in Eden Prairie and takes toys, games and puzzles.

  • Sharing & Caring Hands Located in Minneapolis takes toys and games (no puzzles) and distributes them to Twin Cities homeless and poor.


Vehicles


Local free give/take sites

  • Buy Nothing an app for giving, receiving, and sharing items within a hyper-local community. Users can post items they want to give away, ask for things they need, or express gratitude to others in their neighborhood


SELLING OPTIONS: Earn a Little Money Back
Your gently-loved items can earn you cash and cut clutter
Your gently-loved items can earn you cash and cut clutter

Some items are worth the effort to sell, especially high-value pieces, brand-name clothing, quality furniture, or anything still in excellent condition. Selling can be a great motivator during decluttering, but it’s easy to get stuck. So, set a simple rule: if it doesn’t sell within 30 days, move on. A few reliable online selling platforms can help you turn clutter into cash with minimal effort.


CONSIGNMENT

Consignment is an easy, low-stress way to make money from items you no longer use without handling the selling yourself. A consignment shop or online platform manages the photos, pricing, and buyers, and you earn a percentage when your item sells. It’s a simple way to declutter, give your items a second life, and earn some cash.


Clothing, Shoes and Accessories (and some furniture)

  • Fashion Avenue Locations in Edina and Wayzata and accept good condition higher-end fashion clothing and accessories for both men and women.

  • June Located in Minneapolis and accepts good condition higher-end fashion clothing and accessories for women.

  • Buffalo Exchange Located in St. Paul and accepts men’s and women’s clothing & accessories in good condition from current styles to vintage pieces and unique finds.

  • Nu Look Located in Minneapolis We accept new or gently used pieces that are stylish, contemporary, and within three years of their original release.

  • ThriftHaus Located in St. Louis Park and accepts gently used clothing, footwear, and accessories.

  • TurnStyle Nine locations in the Twin Cities and accepts a wide variety of designer-quality items, from clothing to accessories, furniture, home and seasonal decor

  • The Real Real​ - Online consignment that accepts authenticated high end fashion items. Call a Twin Cities representative who will review your items at your home and then sell those items online for you.

Clothing, Shoes and Accessories: Maternity + Kids


DIGITAL MARKETPLACES/APPS

There are many online marketplaces and apps where you can sell your unwanted items. Some options require a fee, while others let you sell your unwanted items for free.


  • Craigslist Allows sale of virtually anything from furniture, cars, clothes, household where pick up is coordinated between buyer and seller.

  • eBay- One of the oldest and biggest global auction and fixed-price marketplaces where you can sell collectibles, electronics, fashion, antiques. Great for items that can ship and for reaching a wide audience.

  • Facebook Marketplace - A built-in buying and selling platform inside Facebook that connects you with local buyers to sell almost anything.

  • Listia Focused on free exchanges / low-cost trading. Good for decluttering and getting items without necessarily spending money.

  • 5 miles A neighborhood-oriented app where distance matters (hence “5 miles”) and allows sales of a wide variety of goods.

  • Mercari Sales of everything from electronics, home goods and clothes. Mercari is especially good for items that need to be shipped because the platform is built around simple, prepaid, hassle-free shipping.

  • Offerup Sales of everything from furniture and electronics to baby gear and tools. In-person meetups are common, and they even provide “safe trade” spots

  • Poshmark Sales of clothes, shoes, accessories especially secondhand/boutique items.

  • ThredUp you requested bag from the site, fill it and mail your items in to sell online

SELLING SPECIALTY ITEMS

Baby + Kids Items

Books


Furniture and Antiques

  • Loft Antiques Located in Minneapolis and may buy your furniture and antiques. Call them to discuss your items.

  • Hunt and Gather Located in Minneapolis and may buy your furniture and antiques. Call them to discuss your items.


Musical Instruments


Sports equipment

Wedding dresses


RECYCLE OR SAFELY DISPOSE UNWANTED ITEMS: Let it go responsibly
Don’t let old tech end up in a landfill and recycle it responsibly
Don’t let old tech end up in a landfill and recycle it responsibly

Not everything can be reused, but that doesn’t mean it has to end up in a landfill. Across Minnesota, many counties, retailers, and specialized recycling centers offer programs for safely disposing of electronics, batteries, chemicals, textiles, and other hazardous waste.


Proper disposal keeps harmful materials out of your home and the environment, and it’s often easier than you think. For anyone in Minnesota looking for clear guidance on where to take household hazardous waste, the Minnesota Pollution Control Agency (MPCA) is your go-to resource.


Appliances

  • Certified Recycling Located in Burnsville accepts most large “white goods” (washers, dryers, refrigerators, etc.). offers both drop-off and pick-up.

  • Better Futures Minnesota Located in Minneapolis accepts most appliances for a fee.

  • Metro Appliance & electronics Recycling Located in Otsego, processes both residential and commercial appliances and offers pick-up services.

  • J.R.'s Advanced Recyclers Located in Inver Grove Heights accepts nearly any household appliance and offers custom pickups for multiple or large items.

  • Hennepin County Drop Off Facilities Two main sites in Bloomington and Brooklyn Park and accepts appliances including refrigerators, stoves, washers, dryers, dehumidifiers with a small fee for large items. Must be a local resident in Hennepin County.

  • B & E Recycling Station Located in Elk River accepts both appliances for a small fee.

  • Saint Paul Bulky Item Collection The city of Saint Paul will pick up “bulky items” including appliances. Must schedule pickup at least two business days in advance.


Cardboard

If you’re downsizing and have excess cardboard, start by checking your local municipality’s recycling rules. Many areas offer cardboard drop-off locations or allow bulk cardboard recycling with your weekly curbside pickup, sometimes for a small fee. Visit your local waste management site to confirm accepted materials, preparation guidelines, and costs so you can recycle cardboard responsibly and declutter efficiently.


Clothing

  • H&M has recycling boxes in all clothing stores where you bring your clean, previously loved clothing or textiles and you’ll be rewarded with a voucher.

  • Goodwill Located throughout the Twin Cities, goodwill accepts clothing and recycles the textiles they cannot sell.


Electronics

  • Apple Retail locations throughout the Twin Cities allows you to trade-in old Apple devices (iPhone, iPad, Mac, etc.) for credit or recycle them for free. Apple will help you through the process of wiping the electronics clean. Apple also accepts the batteries, cables, cases and more for recycling.

  • Best Buy Retail locations throughout the Twin Cities accepts many electronics including TVs (flat-screen up to a certain size), laptops (must be wiped clean).

  • Electronics Recycling of Minnesota (E‑Cycle MN) Located in Minneapolis and accepts computers, laptops, cell phones, tablets, printers, TVs, monitors, audio gear, batteries, and more. Provides certified data destruction and hard drive shredding for sensitive devices. They also pick up items for residents and businesses.

  • Free Geek Located in Minneapolis, Free Geek Twin Cities recycles several tons of electronics each year, but the primary focus is getting the donated technology reused.

  • Hennepin County Drop‑Off Facilities Located in Bloomington and Brooklyn Park and accepts audio/video equipment, cell phones, computers, game consoles, printers, TVs, rechargeable products from residents (must show ID). Fees are $10 for TVs, computer monitors, and laptops. Limits: Up to 5 of the same type per household per year.

  • Ramsey County Environmental Center Located in Roseville and accepts TVs, computers, monitors, keyboards, printers, gaming consoles, cell phones, and other common electronics from residents (must show ID). Data is handled by Repowered, which physically or electronically wipes devices.


Mattresses and Box Springs

  • Hennepin County Drop‑Off Facilities The Brooklyn Park Transfer Station accepts mattresses and box springs for a fee of $25 per piece. Not all mattresses accepted (eg. memory-foam, waterbeds, bedbug-infested, etc.).

  • Second Chance Recycling Offers curbside pickup for mattresses and box springs in Hennepin county for $35 per item and a location-based pickup fee.

  • City-based Large Item Recycling In Minneapolis on your recycling week, you can set out mattresses and box springs for city crews to pick up, You must mark the mattress "For Solid Waste" when setting it out. Other cities have a similar program, but you must check on your cities website.


Paint


Downsizing isn’t just about letting things go. It's about sending them somewhere they’ll be used, appreciated, and needed. With so many resources in the Twin Cities, you don’t have to figure it out alone.


Whether you’re donating, selling, recycling, or simply passing something along to a neighbor, every choice you make keeps valuable items out of the landfill and puts them back into the community.


Here’s to a lighter home, a clearer mind, and a second life for the things you no longer need.


Michele




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