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Apartment Therapy has published the final installment of its free two-week Decluttering Cure program, guiding readers on how to donate, give away, or sell items collected in decluttering ‘outboxes.’ The guide recommends checking donation centers’ acceptance policies first, using resale platforms like ThredUp and Facebook Marketplace with safety boundaries, and recycling worn textiles through programs like Trashie’s Take Back Bag.
Apartment Therapy has published the final assignment of its free two-week Decluttering Cure program, a Day 14 guide that tells readers exactly what to do with the boxes of unwanted items left over after a whole-home declutter — including where to donate, how to give items away for free online, and which resale platforms will pay for clothes and household goods in good condition.
The guide, published two days ago on Apartment Therapy’s website, centers on the moment when a declutter is finished but the discarded items are still physically in the home. Readers are instructed to dispose of any remaining garbage and then sort through two designated containers: a “donate” outbox and a “sell” outbox. Each item is then routed to one of three destinations: a donation center or nonprofit, a free giveaway to friends, neighbors, or community groups, or a sale through an online or in-person marketplace.
For donations, the guide lists several confirmed options. National chains such as Goodwill and Big Brothers Big Sisters accept a wide range of clothing and home goods, but Apartment Therapy cautions that these organizations “can sometimes get overwhelmed with donations” and recommends checking smaller local organizations instead. The guide advises readers to call ahead to confirm a charity is currently accepting new donations before dropping items off, since acceptance policies vary and some centers only take certain categories of goods.
For textiles that are too worn to donate, the guide points to recycling programs including Trashie’s Take Back Bag and Madewell’s Do Well program, which operates in partnership with Blue Jeans Go Green and accepts denim jeans of any brand for recycling. For free giveaways, the recommended channels are Buy Nothing groups, Nextdoor, and Freecycle, along with simply asking friends, family, and neighbors — with the suggestion to set a pickup deadline so unsold or unclaimed items head to a donation center rather than lingering in the house.
On the selling side, the guide lists three routes: general marketplaces (Craigslist, Facebook Marketplace, OfferUp), brick-and-mortar consignment and thrift stores such as Plato’s Closet and Buffalo Exchange, and mail-in or self-listing resale platforms. ThredUp’s Clean Out Kit lets users mail in a bag of clothing and accessories; items that don’t sell can be returned for a small fee or recycled by the company. Poshmark, Depop, and Vinted let sellers photograph and list items themselves.
Why the Final Outbox Step Matters
The guide addresses a commonly skipped stage of decluttering: what happens to the pile after the sorting stops. According to Apartment Therapy, decluttering only produces a tidier home if the boxed-up items actually leave it. The Day 14 assignment is framed as the step that completes the process, and the guide warns that unsold sell-box items in particular risk becoming permanent fixtures unless a donation deadline is set.
The advice also has practical safety and financial relevance. Meeting strangers from online marketplaces carries known risks, and the guide explicitly recommends setting boundaries around meeting locations and time limits before moving on to the next buyer. For sellers, the difference between a mail-in service like ThredUp — which handles pricing but recycles unsold items by default — and a self-listing platform like Poshmark determines how much control and effort a sale requires.
Inside the Two-Week Decluttering Cure
The Decluttering Cure is a free 14-day email program from Apartment Therapy that walks participants through decluttering a home room by room and, according to the publication, implementing systems intended to prevent clutter from returning. The Day 14 assignment published this week is the program’s conclusion.
The guide also includes a closing instruction that has nothing to do with logistics: celebrate. Apartment Therapy writes that whether or not participants completed all 14 tasks, they should acknowledge the progress made — by enjoying the reorganized space, or by hosting friends and family. Apartment Therapy notes it may earn commissions on some linked products, and that prices cited were accurate at publishing time.
“Goodwill and Big Brothers Big Sisters are two options but they can sometimes get overwhelmed with donations. Consider looking into lesser-known places in your community to see if they can take your things.”
— Apartment Therapy, Day 14 assignment
What the Guide Leaves to Readers
The guide does not specify which categories of items specific charities accept, how resale payouts compare across platforms, or current wait times at donation centers — readers are directed to confirm acceptance policies directly with each organization. Timing details, such as how long to wait before donating unsold items, are left to individual judgment rather than a stated threshold.
Platform policies referenced in the article — including ThredUp’s return fee, Madewell’s denim recycling partnership, and each marketplace’s rules — are described as accurate at the time of publishing and may change; readers relying on them should verify current terms. The article does not address tax deduction documentation for donations, a detail readers handling large donations would need to research separately.
Signing Up and Finishing the Program
The Decluttering Cure remains open for new signups through Apartment Therapy’s website, with all 14 assignments delivered by email. Readers who follow the Day 14 guide can expect the process to end with emptied outboxes, removed online listings, and — per the program’s final instruction — some form of celebration of the completed declutter.
Anyone planning donations or sales in the near term should confirm current acceptance hours and policies with local charities, since, as the guide notes, capacity at major donation chains can fluctuate.
Key Questions
Where can I donate items after decluttering?
Apartment Therapy lists Goodwill and Big Brothers Big Sisters as national options but recommends also checking lesser-known local charities, and calling ahead to confirm they are accepting new donations before dropping items off.
What can I do with clothes that are too worn to donate?
The guide recommends textile recycling programs such as Trashie’s Take Back Bag and Madewell’s Do Well program with Blue Jeans Go Green, which accepts denim jeans of any brand for recycling.
What are the safest ways to sell or give items away online?
According to the guide, use platforms like Craigslist, Facebook Marketplace, OfferUp, Buy Nothing groups, Nextdoor, or Freecycle, and set boundaries around meeting locations and holding times, move on to the next person if a deal stalls, and take listings down once items are gone.
What should I do with items that don’t sell?
Apartment Therapy advises donating unsold items after a set amount of time so they don’t linger in the home. With ThredUp’s Clean Out Kit, unsold items can be returned for a small fee or recycled by the company.
Can I still join the Decluttering Cure program?
Yes. The program is free and Apartment Therapy says readers can sign up online to receive all 14 assignments by email, including this final Day 14 donation-and-selling guide.
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