ReStore Blog

Spring Cleaning Checklist: Donations by Room

Written by ReStore Staff | May 17, 2024 1:56:04 PM

If you're doing any spring cleaning, chances are that you'll end up finding items you no longer need. Rather than keeping unused furniture or materials, consider donating to ReStore! Donating is a sustainable option that also helps families in the Twin Cities achieve their dreams of homeownership.

We've created a simple room-by-room checklist so you can find out what donations we accept as you tackle your spring cleaning.

Donation Checklist by Room

All donated items should be clean, pet-free, in working condition with all parts—no rust, broken parts, mold, or hand-painted items. View the complete list to find out what items we cannot accept.

Whole House

  • Washing machines and dryers (10 years or newer)

  • Residential interior and exterior doors (wood, metal, bi-fold, or glass); please remove hardware

  • New carpet (rolled, 12’ x 10’ to 12’ x 20’, pick up only)

  • New sheet vinyl (8’ x 6’ to 12’ x 20’, pick up only)

  • Clean, unstained, pet-free rugs

  • Three+ unopened boxes of luxury vinyl plank, laminate (U.S. made); hardwood; tile (ceramic, porcelain, or stone); one+ unopened boxes of mosaic tile

  • Chandeliers, flush mount lights, pendant lights, and sconces (must include all mounting hardware)

  • Unopened grout, mortar, or adhesive

  • Table lamps, floor lamps, new-in-box LED light bulbs, and new-in-box ceiling fans

  • Paint supplies: brushes, rollers, and paint trays (drop-off only)

  • Electrical parts, wire, hardware, outlets, plate covers, and light switches (residential and current code only)

  • New only: air conditioners, furnaces, central air systems, venting materials, and water heaters (residential size only)

Architectural & New Building Materials

  • Mantels (factory painted or stained), columns (10 ft. maximum), framed stained glass, and wrought iron railings and spindles

  • Drywall (4′x4′ or 4′x8′)

  • Lumber (6′ or longer), plywood or OSB (2′x4′ or larger), and baseboard and trim (6′ or longer)

  • Unopened bags of concrete

  • Residential doorknobs, hinges, and locks, original boxes of fasteners (drop-off only)

Bathroom

  • Plumbing supplies

  • Sinks without faucets and vanities with top smaller than 5′ (20 years or newer)

Bedroom

  • Dressers

  • Nightstands

  • Beds (must include headboard, footboard, side rails, and hardware)

Dining Room

  • Dining tables and chairs

  • Hutches (photo required, pickup only)

Garage

  • Bricks and blocks (clean and not broken, drop-off only)

  • New edging and fencing

  • Lawn or patio furniture

  • Gently used grills

  • Yard tools

  • Brand-name working power tools, lithium-ion cordless power tools, and hand tools with all factory-installed safety features.

  • Working lawn mowers (accepted seasonally Apr. 1 to Oct. 31)

  • Working snow blowers (accepted seasonally Nov. 1 to Mar. 31)

  • Metal or plastic shelving

  • Shop vacs

Kitchen

  • Refrigerators, freezers, stoves, and vent hoods (10 years or newer)

  • Cabinets: doors/drawers/hinges attached (20 years or newer, stained or factory painted; box cabinets only)

  • Sinks, stainless only

  • New uninstalled laminate countertop

  • Cabinet knobs and other cabinet hardware

Living Room

  • Leather/upholstered chairs, couches, and loveseats (photo required, pickup only)

  • Futon frames

  • Side and coffee tables

  • Framed mirrors

  • Large, framed art

  • Lamps

  • Flat-screen TV stands

New Exterior

  • New only: insulation (bagged or sheets), shingles (three+ bundles, one year or newer; seasonally accepted Apr. 1 to Oct. 31), and gutters (seasonally accepted Apr. 1 to Oct. 31)

  • New shutters

  • New complete window units with all sashes and frames (6’ wide or smaller) and new metal screens

  • New storm doors and new sliding patio doors (72” x 80” or smaller; please remove and bag hardware)

Office

  • Bookshelves

  • Desks (4’ wide or narrower)

  • Office chairs with five wheels

  • Lobby or breakroom furniture.

  • Two-drawer file cabinets (upright, 16” wide)

Ready to Donate?

Donating to ReStore is easy and efficient! Bring your donations to either ReStore location in south Minneapolis or New Brighton. Or, you can schedule a free or priority pickup online. When you donate, you'll even get a coupon for your next shopping trip to ReStore!