Out With the Old, in With the New(ish)

Last Saturday marked the official start of spring, the season of cleaning. After you unclutter those closets, basements, and garages, we hope you’ll find new homes for your old stuff. Here are some suggestions:

To unload books, CDs, DVDs, and video games (and update your collection with new ones), join SwapTree. Members list what they're trading and what they want. Then, algorithms find the items they can get in exchange. The site is free — users pay only for postage (usually a mere $2).

Got kids? Check out ThredUP, a site that lets you swap outgrown duds for ones that fit. Thousands of users get clothing matches based on their children's ages and preferences.

To give new life to furniture, clothes, appliances, and other household items, dial 211. United Way runs call centers in 46 states that match donated items to nonprofits that need them. The operators also provide information about where to recycle electronics.

--Wendy Becktold