Donate to charity shops
Clean, working, saleable items are gratefully received by the charity shops in Worthing, Littlehampton, Rustington, Arundel, Chichester and the surrounding towns. Clothing, books, bric-a-brac, kitchenware and toys in good condition all find new homes. A few kindnesses: wash and fold clothes, bag things tidily, and only donate what you would be happy to receive. If you are a UK taxpayer, ask about Gift Aid so the charity can claim a little extra at no cost to you.
Pass on larger furniture
For sofas, beds and larger furniture, charities such as the British Heart Foundation and local reuse projects often collect from your home, which saves you a trip. Upholstered items usually need their fire-safety labels intact to be accepted, so check before you arrange a collection. Many West Sussex charities list what they can and cannot take on their websites.
Sell what has value
- Vinted for clothes, shoes and accessories.
- eBay for collectables, electricals and anything niche.
- Facebook Marketplace for furniture and bulky local pickups.
A gentle word of caution: selling can quietly become a reason to keep things. If an item has not sold by a deadline you set, let it go to charity. The space and the peace are usually worth more than the few pounds.
Give it away for free
If you would rather things just go quickly to someone who needs them, community apps and groups like Olio, Freecycle and local "free to collector" Facebook groups are brilliant. Things often vanish within hours, with someone grateful collecting from your doorstep.
Recycle the rest responsibly
For items past their useful life, West Sussex County Council runs Household Waste Recycling Sites across the county that take everything from electricals and textiles to wood and metal. Search the council's website for your nearest site and its current opening times before you set off, as these can change. Many supermarkets also have textile and battery recycling points for smaller bits.
A note on books, electricals and tricky items
Books that charity shops cannot use can go to community book banks. Working electricals can be donated; broken ones should go to a recycling site rather than the bin. For anything you are unsure about, a quick check of the council's A to Z of recycling will tell you exactly where it belongs. And if the sheer logistics of moving it all on is the bit that stalls you, that is something I am very happy to help with, getting decluttered things out of the house for good is part of the service.