Get Rid of the Junk: A Local Spring Cleaning Guide

Our possessions reproduce rampantly over the winter months — it's a known fact. From the time you bought replacement mittens only to find the lost pair an hour later to the hoarding of clothes you might fit into in a season, a year can mean a lot of stuff.

Even if you do an annual spring cleaning, life has a way of giving us an entire collection of things we don't need — leftover macaroni covered in paint from your second-grader's school project, "unique" sweaters from grandma, empty aquariums and socks missing their match.

Usually when you're done sorting, though, you're left with looming piles of junk and an even more looming question — what do I do with all this? Sometimes the process of getting rid of the stuff is as much work — if not more — as the initial cleaning. You don't want to throw it away, because you know someone out there is dying to own your 1980s jewelry collection, but you don't know where to take it.

If you live in Plum and Oakmont, however, there are a lot of places in the community and just outside it where your things can find new homes.


Paper

If you've decided to part with your backlog of five years of Time Magazine or non-confidential records from the last decade, you can recycle your paper while helping a local organization.

Most local fire departments, churches, schools and nonprofit organizations have a big paper-collector bin outside their establishment. If you drop off your paper, it goes to a larger company which uses it for printing and pays the nonprofit for their collection.


Books

If you have old, dusty paperbacks from the 1970s: Donate them to a thrift store. They'll fit right in on the shelves crammed with similarly old and ugly covers. Plum residents can drop books off at the Society of St. Vincent de Paul thrift store at 1730 Golden Mile Highway, not far over the border into Monroeville. Oakmonters can cruise up Freeport Road to Goodwill at 1210 Pittsburgh St. in Cheswick.

If you have paperbacks and hardcovers in good condition: Donate them to your local library. has a bookstore called , which collects donated books and sells them. The money helps support the library.

If you have new-quality, rare, or expensive books: Sell them for some extra cash. Half Price Books at 3757 William Penn Highway in Monroeville (near Michael's) buys books. While you won't receive a lot of money for a pile of aforementioned 1970s paperbacks, a set of good-quality books can bulk out your wallet. Bring your driver's license if it's your first time selling.


Clothes, Shoes and Accessories

If you have older or not-name-brand clothes: As with books, donate them to a thrift store — Society of St. Vincent de Paul for Plum residents and Goodwill in Cheswick for Oakmonters.

If you have good-quality, newer or name-brand clothes: Donate them to on Allegheny River Boulevard in Oakmont. Money made from selling the items helps fund Bethlehem Haven, which supports homeless women. Ambiance also has a consignment service. If you would like to sell brand-name teen clothing, stop at Plato's Closet in Monroeville at 308 Mall Blvd.

Another option for clothes of any quality is to donate to the Vietnam Veterans of America. You can arrange a pick-up online.


Decorations and Collector's Items

Head down Allegheny River Boulevard to Verona and try your luck selling at one of the many antique stores, or cross the Hulton Bridge to stop into one of Blawnox's many antique shops.

Try:

• E.N. Miller Antique Mall, 615 E. Railroad Ave. in Verona
• Ages Ago Antiques, 722 Allegheny River Blvd. in Verona

Linens

You can donate old bed linens to the Animal Rescue League Wildlife Center in Verona, which provides care to wounded wildlife. The shelter also is in desperate need of heating pads in the spring due to the amount of baby animals coming in. Drop off at the shelter at 6000 Verona Road, or call 412-793-6900.


Tools and Building Materials

If you're cleaning out the garage or remodeling, Construction Junction is your best bet. The Point Breeze non-profit will pick up large donations for free. Call 412-243-5025 as far in advance as possible to set up a date for pick up. 

Miscellaneous or Specialty Items

If you have items that fall in the "etcetera" category, your best bet is Pittsburgh Craigslist or eBay. Use these resources if you're unfamiliar with how to go about doing so:

• How to Sell on eBay
• How to Sell Items on Craigslist