The process of getting rid of all your old, unwanted possessions seems pretty straightforward, right? You sort through your stuff, decide what is no longer needed, and then throw it out. Of course, throwing things away in this quantity is not always so simple, and there is also the fact that many of your old possessions are perfectly useable and so could easily find a new home (that's not the rubbish dump). A number of these items might still need to end up in a skip bin, and yet this is only the third step when it comes to the most efficient way to get rid of your old things.

1. Sell

Sure, there are many items you might plan to get rid of, but why not get some money for them if possible? Rather than simply throwing everything out, part of your home clean-out should include a garage sale. Put up posters, spread the word on social media and use online classified advertisement sites. Take a number of photos of the larger items (which can be more alluring than a mere written description) and be sure to specify clear hours for the garage sale (so that you don't have eager shoppers showing up when the sun is barely over the horizon).

2. Donate

After this, many of your old and unwanted possessions have become someone else's bargain, and so the amount of items that will still need to be disposed of will have reduced sharply. But still, there might be a reasonable number of things that went unsold at your garage sale. Listing them online and arranging individual pickups is possible, but not always the most convenient option. A better bet is to call a local charity of your choosing and arrange for everything to be picked up. Make sure that the items are in good condition, and as such, could conceivably be resold. The charity receives a donation, and you get rid of your unsold and unwanted items.

3. Dump

The final stage of renting a skip bin can arguably become easier than it otherwise would have been if you'd skipped the first two steps. By proactively getting rid of unwanted possessions before you hire a skip bin, you make loading the bin considerably easier, and there is also the possibility of renting a smaller skip bin that would have otherwise been needed. Unwanted items that are broken (rendering them useless for a garage sale or charitable donation) can be disposed of in skip bins. They will be sorted, and any recyclable components will be removed.

By taking the time to sell, donate then dump your cleanout will be easier and you won't be the only one to benefit from it.