Every year, spring is a small new beginning and is therefore a wonderful time to make a fresh start in life and rid ourselves of old burdens. This applies both to the mind, but especially to our houses and flats. So spring cleaning is on the agenda. And since Marie Kondo, it is also clear: with cleaning up comes sorting out.
The trend towards minimalism continues unabated. And a good spring cleaning with extensive clearing out not only creates space in the four walls – a tidy flat makes you happy and clears your head because you have separated yourself from old ballast. In the process, there are always things that simply deserve a second life and are far too good for the landfill. But what to do with furniture, decoration, or clothes that no longer fulfill the basic rule – to spark joy? Here are 4 tips on how you can give your old things a new life.
The Circle of life: Swapping
Swapping is actually the simplest and most sustainable way to give things a second life. In addition to swapping activities among friends and acquaintances, *swap parties – i.e. exchange parties – are also very popular. This type of swap is particularly suitable for clothes and small decorative items. Some online platforms have also specialised in swapping.
Back on the market: selling
Once you have decided which pieces should no longer accompany you, selling them can be an attractive option. Some pieces of jewelry, in particular, fetch high prices, especially on the internet. For furniture and decoration, platforms such as willhaben or ebay Kleinanzeigen are particularly suitable. In this way, beloved pieces can quickly find a new home and earn some money, For fashion and accessories, second-hand platforms are a good choice. They make selling (or swapping) super easy and also offer a nice shopping experience. By far the biggest platform is vinted. For a special designer or vintage pieces, the luxury platforms Vestiaire Collective or Revolve are particularly suitable. If you want to experience a real market feeling, it’s best to rent a stand at a local flea market. Setting up the stall and also selling is really fun and you also make exciting new acquaintances. In general, however, you can say that higher sales prices can usually be achieved on the internet. On the other hand, bric-a-brac sells well at the flea market.Help someone: Donations
Of course, targeted donations are always a good thing. Many charitable organizations also accept donations in kind. Depending on the orientation of the organization, however, very different things are usually needed. Therefore, you should always find out what is needed before you hand in your donation. Donated items and clothing should be fully functional and in perfect condition. Donating is not a form of waste disposal – even if this is sometimes confused. Cutlery, crockery, blankets, and small pieces of furniture are almost always needed and are gladly accepted by organizations such as Caritas or women’s shelters. Some organizations like Caritas or Humana also run their own shops. Here, donations are accepted, sometimes also processed in social projects, and the sales proceeds then flow back into development projects. The selection is large and varied. Clothing donations in containers are often sent for recycling or even shipped to landfills. There are better alternatives here.
Turn old into new:
Upcycling and downcycling
As the name suggests, there are many ways to give objects a second life. The internet is full of instructions and hacks. With just a few steps and a little creative energy, you can quickly make flower pots out of yogurt pots (= upcycling) or rubber rings out of a bicycle inner tube with a hole (= downcycling). We have summarised the most popular ideas for you here:
- Garden furniture from pallets
- Shopping bags made from old T-shirts
- Vases made from painted or glued milk bottles
- Household cleaner made from orange peel
- You can find many more ideas here.
