Spring is here, which means it’s time to swap out the sweaters and heavy blazers for blouses and light jackets. But your closet is already overflowing—now what? A new season is a perfect opportunity to refresh, organize, and streamline your wardrobe. We know it can be a little daunting, so here are a few tips to get you started.

Step One: Purge
Start by pulling items from your closet that you haven’t worn in a while. Ask yourself, “Does this item make me feel my best?” If not, it’s time to remove it from your closet (and your life). Consider the dreaded one-year rule. The hard truth is if you haven’t worn it in a year or more, you most likely are not going to. Toss.

Step Two: Store
Gather all seasonal items that you’d like to hang onto for next year and set them aside. Plastic storage containers, cardboard boxes, and even an empty suitcase are all great places for your seasonal items to be stored away. However, it’s important to keep them in a cool, dark, and dry place to prevent fading or mold.

Step Three: Organize
Now that we’ve decided which items are keepers, it’s time to organize them so that outfits are easy to put together. Order some organizational items, like shelf dividers, shoe holders, and non-slip hangers to really transform your space. When your closet is truly organized, it’s like having a whole new wardrobe.

Step Four: Donate
Don’t throw away old clothing—donate. It’s better for the environment and can really make a difference in someone’s life. Local organizations like Dress for Success and Suited to Succeed accept gently used professional attire for women seeking financial independence. Meanwhile, Goodwill, Salvation Army, and many other other collection centers around town take all clothing, as well as household items and furniture.

Springtime is often a time to clear out closets and get rid of unwanted or unworn items. While dropping things at a charity donation center is certainly better than chucking old items in the landfill, Americans generate so much textile waste that it can overrun the capacity of those shops. As much as 11 million tons of textiles end up in the trash each year in the U.S.

Ashley Ingraham Watts, owner of the organization company Home Perspective says, “I think it’s important to donate to locations that you know will be putting items donated to use.” She adds that you should organize your donations and label them with the contents. “The easier you make it for the donation locations to sort and get on the shelves, the better.”

Here are some of Ingraham’s favorite local donation destinations:

Renewal Upscale Resale at Hunt Valley Town Center: A resale boutique that takes clothing, accessories, cookbooks, small housewares, and collectibles. All proceeds benefit Johns Hopkins Hospital.

Ruth’s Closet in Owings Mills: A resale boutique that accepts clothing and accessories. All proceeds benefit House of Ruth.

Maryland SPCA: Will accept old towels, flat sheets, and blankets to use for their animals.

Scrap BMore: Accepts spare craft materials, fabrics, yarn, buttons, and more.

Maryland Book Bank: Perfect for books of all ages and varieties.

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Check out even more tips to take a sustainable approach to spring cleaning, here.

The sun is out and the breeze is cool, which seems it’s finally and officially spring. If you’re getting ready to pull out your warm weather clothes or prepping for your annual garage sale, take a look at some spring cleaning tips and tricks from Baltimore’s professional organizer, Amy Bloomer.

A Four-Step Approach

Stage One: Discovery & Distribution
Start small and get digging. “It’s the most difficult phase because you have to face your stuff, so I like to frame it as a discovery process—let’s be excited about what we’re going to find instead of horrified.” To ease up the intimidation, tackle a smaller, more confined space to build up the confidence to take on the abyss that you may call a garage. Then, distribute your discoveries into piles based on similarity rather than sorting to purge.

Stage Two: Decision Making
Once you’ve gathered and categorized, it’s time to make some decisions. But, don’t worry. Bloomer’s discover and distribution stage leads to easy decision making through the power of aggregation. “Instead of making a decision 50 times every time, when you throw everything in a pile and aggregate, it makes it easier to say, ‘Wow, ok do I really need all these scissors in my life?” Yet, don’t feel pressured to throw out everything and anything. “I really want people to be able to keep everything they feel that they need. Having said that, in order to transform a space there has to be a change in the number of things in that space.” Take that doorstep stash of shoes to the donation center or find them a new home on a shoe rack.

Stage Three: Determine a Zip Code
With everything out in the open, it’s time to get down to the real business—developing an organizational system. “Determining a spatial zip code is when you’re creating a system that is going to make life easier and more efficient for you,” Bloomer explains. “When you’re making a cup of coffee in the morning, do you have all of the things to make the cup: beans, coffee filters, a water source, coffee cup, and fixings all in one place or do you have them in five different places in the kitchen, making it five times as long to make?”

Stage Four: Dedication
The most simple, but perhaps the most difficult step is committing. You can spend hours discovering and distributing, but if you let the mess spill over a month or two later, you’ll find yourself back at stage one by next spring. So, create boundaries for yourself. For Bloomer, a simple rule is keeping a basket at the bottom of her stairs, “anything that kind of gravitates to the first floor that shouldn’t, I put into the basket and then at night I take five minutes, bring the basket upstairs, and I put the stuff back where it belongs.” Something just as quick and simple can keep the everyday mess under control.

Home

On Shared Spaces: Begin in spaces you have most control over, like your own bedroom. The more people that operate in a space, the more chaotic and difficult it can be to find a system that works.

On Living Spaces: It’s time to recycle those holiday catalogs! Always recycle as much as you can and look into transferring from paper to digital subscriptions to clear up the clutter and resist temptation.

On Bathrooms: It may be time for a linen refresh! Towels and wash cloths are used too regularly to neglect. The springtime is a perfect time to re-evaluate the condition of your bathroom linens. And instead of tossing old towels in the trash, Bloomer suggests donating them to zoos and pet rescues.

On Bedrooms: We often forget about our bedding, but this cozy oasis can harbor a collection of bacteria and dust mites. Take the time to wash you pillows every three to six months and invest in a mattress cover.

On Kitchens: The change of season is a good time to re-evaluate a lot of things, especially your pantry. Be sure to get rid of any expired foods and define an organizational rule like grouping grains with grains and sauces with sauces. Also, take a look at your kitchen sponge! This is another hub for bacteria that we sometimes don’t notice. Bloomer advises washing your sponge in the dishwasher or microwave once a week.

Clothes

On Hanging & Folding: Don’t labor over the KonMari folding method if it’s taking up more time and energy. Try different folding methods such as “Bloomer Bundling” or save space and take more delicate care of your clothing with felt hangers.

On Shared Closet Space: Like any shared space, it’s critical to designate areas that are your own. Compromise on ways to hang and store items so that all parties are able to easily visualize and access most items.

Car

On Trunks: Amy suggests this easy rule: Anything that isn’t a passenger in the car should be stored in the trunk. Keep your trunk spic and span with a trunk organizer and stay dedicated to keeping it from overflowing.

On Aux Cords & Car Chargers: There are many products out there, but twist ties are sturdy and simple. Roll cords together and place a twist tie to keep them from tangling or unraveling. Use different colored ties to differentiate cords.

Office

On Filing: Believe it or not, most files can likely be stored digitally. No need for large filing cabinets or multiple filing folders. Identify a boundary for yourself, such as keeping an inbox tray that you clear out weekly.

“The ‘water year’ begins October 1. That’s when water use drops after the periods of higher use from late spring through summer, meaning precipitation can go toward replenishing the water supply,” explains Jay Apperson, the deputy director of communications for MDE. “Snow that gradually melts into the ground is particularly good for recharging groundwater.” The Baltimore region has recorded 5.79 inches of precipitation thus far in 2017, 2.07 inches fewer than average. The drought warning triggers more frequent testing and evaluation by the MDE, and Maryland Secretary of the Environment Ben Grumbles says, “Water conservation and efficiency are always smart—especially during extended periods of reduced rainfall.”

The demands of modern life are plentiful and relentless. It’s no wonder we all feel overwhelmed from time to time. This manifests itself in varied ways, from disorganized closets to toxic friendships we can’t quite jettison. And all that confusion in your life adds stress and saps energy, diverting you from the things you really value.

We’ve outlined common priorities (love, friendship, career, health, etc.) and sought expert advice on how to cultivate these essentials, by tuning out the noise and focusing on what matters.

For those who feel like they have a handle on the metaphorical static, we also offer a guide to removing the literal clutter in your life—the clothes, shoes, old appliances, rusting paint cans, and batteries that clog your closets and gunk up your garage.

So, since spring is a time of renewal, here’s our primer on improving your life, body, and home in the hope that maybe one—or several—of these suggestions will help you spring forward to become your best self.

Life | Body | Home

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Love

So much time and energy is spent in service of the
“L-word,” either looking for it or trying to keep it. For those looking
for love, professional certified coach and licensed certified clinical
social worker Terry Schaefer has this advice: “You can’t go swimming for
dolphins in a swimming pool.” In other words, if you want to find love,
get out there. “It’s never too late as long as you’re open-minded about
it and put yourself out there,” he says. To increase the odds of
meeting someone with whom you’ll click, Schaefer recommends signing up
for activities and hobbies you enjoy. If you’re still having trouble, he
says it could be a case of unrealistic expectations. “Go back to some
of these preconceived notions that you have inherited from somewhere in
your past so you can start to seek out the right person,” he advises.

If
you’ve already found “the one” but want to keep the bonds strong,
Schaefer is a big proponent of a regular, mandatory “date night.” He
also acknowledges that communication is key and that admitting
uncertainty is healthy. “Admit when you don’t know, were wrong, or don’t
have all the answers. In my 50s, I realized, I don’t have to be the
smartest person in the room, I have to be the most inquisitive. I think
that is probably the wisest thing I can say to you.”

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Friendship

Friendships buoy us in tough times and make the good times even better. But what happens when one turns toxic? “People come into our lives for a reason, a season, or a lifetime,” says life coach Terry Schaefer, “but it’s our job to sort through what’s right for us and what’s wrong, keep the treasures and toss out the trash.”

Etiquette and image expert Cash Hester agrees. “When you feel like you’re being misused—not just used, but misused—then that’s a red flag,” she says. But in this day and age of social media, how can you end a relationship without igniting a Facebook war of words? “I have this mantra: Drift away, don’t stomp away,” says Hester. “Gradually disengage. Don’t communicate, or at least slow down the communication. Stop initiating contact. Before long, they will stop reaching out to you,” she adds. This can be as simple as hiding someone’s Facebook feed so you won’t be tempted to respond or as concrete as temporarily withdrawing from social interaction with that person. If a confrontation becomes unavoidable, Schaefer says to remain resolute but to also respect the friendship’s history. “Say, ‘Thank you for being a friend. I’m going to miss you being in my life.'”

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Work

According to life coach Terry Schaefer, work doesn’t have to be drudgery. In fact, he posits, we are all best served when we are “doing things that make sense to who we are and how we show up in the world.” What this means is that the job you are really good at and the job you really want are probably one and the same. If you truly follow your instincts, you will “gravitate to the path of least resistance,” Schaefer explains. “You’ll do things that you know you can do quickly, easily, and with focus.” The trick, of course, is finding out what our “thing” is. Often times, that requires letting go of received wisdom. “I believe that our intuitive side is talking to us. Listen to that gut feeling. We get a lot feedback from friends, family, and school. How is that conditioning preventing us from doing what we’re best-suited to do?” Schaefer asks. Once we have a professional goal in mind, he recommends taking small, calculated steps to test that hypothesis. For instance, instead of enrolling in a graduate program, take one class to see if it’s a good fit. Then, if it is, go for it. Perhaps most importantly, don’t give up. “I don’t think it’s ever too late to find out what you’re passionate about,” he says.

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Diet

If you are confused about what constitutes a healthy diet, you’re not alone. We are endlessly subjected to a string of gurus telling us that a low-carb, or raw-food, or gluten-free diet is the key to everlasting health. But, according to University of Maryland Medical Center registered dietician and nutrition therapist Mary Beth Sodus, all we really need to know about healthy eating we learned in kindergarten. “Eat for variety, balance, and moderation,” she says. The simplest way to do this is by eating clean, fresh, seasonal foods whenever possible. This translates into fruits and vegetables, lean meats, whole grains, nuts and legumes, and some dairy thrown in for good measure. She further recommends buying as much of it as you can from area farmers’ markets and then—and this is key—enjoying it. “If anything, separate eating from weight loss,” she advises. “People want to follow rigid diets that will produce magical weight loss instead of eating a positive diet that is about slowing down and enjoying what you eat.”
If, however, you are looking to lose weight, she recommends finding “fun ways to cut calories,” such as swapping jam for butter on toast, using hummus instead of mayo on sandwiches, and using agave syrup as a sweetener instead of sugar. But easy does it, she cautions: “Make small changes. A lot of people want to change everything immediately and get very hard on themselves.”

Calorie-Cutting Swap

Small changes can lead to long-term success in weight loss and management.

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Skin

It’s the body’s largest organ and our first line of defense from the elements, yet many of us are cavalier about caring for our skin. If Dr. Mary Sheu, medical director of the Johns Hopkins Dermatology and Cosmetic Center, could make one practice mandatory, it would be wearing sunscreen, calling it “probably the most important thing one can do to have healthy skin, prevent skin cancer, and help aging skin.” The sunscreen should be a broad spectrum UVA/UVB formula with an SPF of 30 or higher. For those with sensitive skin or who are concerned about hormone disruption linked to synthetic sunscreens, Dr. Sheu recommends using zinc oxide and titanium dioxide, two finely crushed minerals that are not chemically derived. Getting enough sleep, drinking enough water, eating a healthy diet, and not smoking also help. Other than that, a lot of it is common sense: “In general, I recommend moisturizing the skin,” she says, “but I also don’t think it’s necessary to put many different products on the skin. Avoid excessive fragrances. Cleanse in the morning with a gentle cleanser, put on sunscreen with moisturizers, cleanse again at night, and then add a moisturizer with retinal. It’s nice to keep it simple.”

Get Pampered

April 21–27 is National Spa Week and dozens of area spas and wellness centers are offering deeply discounted treatments during the week. Check spaweek.com for
more information.

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Exercise

Gerald J. Jerome, associate professor of exercise science at Towson University, has a simple message when it comes to exercise: Do it. “Some is better than none, and more is better than some,” he declares. Experts recommend 150 minutes of moderate to vigorous exercise per week, which breaks down to about 30 minutes a day, five times a week. The important thing is to make sure there are sustained periods when your heart rate and breathing increase. “Sign up for an exercise class, get a workout partner, sign up for a race,” Jerome suggests, adding that making exercise an integral part of your day is the best way to ensure long-term health. To do this, he recommends people honestly evaluate their own ambitions. “I think it starts with making sure you know the reason why,” he says. “People who have a good reason for doing it find it easier to prioritize finding the time.” If your enthusiasm begins to flag after a strong start, Jerome says it’s usually due to a deviation from one or more of what he calls “The Four R’s”: [knowing your] reason, [having a] routine, [having] reasonable expectations, and renewing your commitment. “Spring is great,” he acknowledges. “Everybody wants to be outside and wants to be exercising more, but you should follow up on that. When that boredom creeps in, it’s time to renew your commitment.”

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Quit Smoking

It’s bad for you, it’s expensive, and it’s becoming harder and harder to practice in public anyway, so isn’t it time you quit? Lucky for you, there’s plenty of help available. The federal government—through a branch of the National Institutes of Health—runs smokefree.gov, a compilation of resources, support, and advice for those who want to quit. The state of Maryland offers a smoking cessation program through 1-800-QUIT-NOW and mdquit.org. Baltimore City has an Office of Tobacco Use Prevention and Cessation, which can be accessed at baltimorehealth.org/cessation.html. These programs are often free, especially if you have insurance.

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Free Classes

The Spa at the Four Seasons Hotel Baltimore offers a free wellness class the fourth Tuesday of each month. This month’s event, held April 29 from 6–7:30 p.m., will focus on chakra balancing. For reservations, call 410-223-1440.

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Sleep

Sleep is a necessity, not a luxury, says Dr. Jessica A. Mong, an associate professor in the Department of Pharmacology at University of Maryland School of Medicine who has done sleep research. “We are a sleep-deprived society,” she warns. “The recommended amount of sleep for an adult is eight to 10 hours. I would say, on average, we get five to six.” The risks associated with insufficient sleep go beyond mild crankiness and dark circles under the eyes. “Our physiological needs are met by sleep. Studies are finding that by not getting eight to 10 hours of sleep, we increase our risk for type 2 diabetes and weight gain, and poor sleep habits may exacerbate some symptoms of psychological diseases,” she says. Plus, for women in particular, sleep loss is associated with a greater risk of heart disease. So, in order to maximize our sleep, Dr. Mong recommends limiting the use of electronics two hours prior to bedtime. “What affects the circadian system is light. It’s enough to trick the brain into thinking that it’s not bedtime,” she says. It’s also important to know whether you’re a lark (morning person) or an owl (night lover). Once you know this, plan accordingly: “Set a reasonable bedtime, turn off devices two hours prior, limit caffeine, make your setting comfortable and dark, and keep it quiet, especially if you’re a light sleeper,” Mong advises.

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Whether you’re looking to earn a little scratch from, do some good with, or just recycle your belongings, here are some businesses and organizations happy to take them off your hands.

How to Throw a Great Yard Sale

The yard sale is a great warm-weather weekend tradition. To maximize your earnings and make sure you move the most inventory, follow these tricks of the trade.

• Advertize with signs and online. Notices can be posted for free at online marketplaces such as Craigslist and eBay Classifieds.
• Price items accordingly. Ten to 30 percent of the original price is standard.
• Organize. Group like items together, affix price tags to every item, and put the best merchandise up front to draw interest.
• Have plenty of change (both paper money and coins)
  on hand.
• Have a working electrical outlet
  available to prove items are functional.
• Be willing to bargain, especially toward the end of the day.

• Pick a holiday weekend. Too many people will be traveling and unable to attend.
• Hold a yard sale
  more than twice per season. Your neighbors will thank you.
• Forget to put
  all info on your signs including date(s), time(s), and location.
• Let your pets roam. They may be friendly, but customers
  won’t know that or may be allergic.
• Leave your money unattended. Wear
  a fanny pack (really!) to keep it safe.
• Accept checks or
  credit cards. It’s
  generally more trouble than it’s worth.
• Forget to remove your signs afterwards.

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Clean your Cleaners

We think we’re doing a good thing when we break out the scrubs, sprays, and powders for a thorough scrubbing, but it’s not quite so. Most household cleaners contain chemicals called volatile organic compounds (VOCs), which an increasing number of studies have linked to adverse health affects in humans and animals. “People don’t realize there may be any problem because these are all legal products that are allowed to be sold in stores,” says Maryland-based consulting environmental health engineer Albert Donnay. Also a toxicologist, Donnay says that most people have too many cleaners and that they use far too much of them. “I’m not suggesting people live in dirty homes, but regular soap and water can clean a lot of surfaces just fine,” he says. When called in for a home consultation, the first thing Donnay does is look under the sink, pull all the cleaners out, and put them in a garbage bag for storage. “If they really miss something, they can go back and get it,” he says. Then he recommends transitioning to cleaners without fragrances or dyes, or, better yet, a homemade cleaner made from common ingredients, see recipe. For a list of chemicals contained in household items, visit the Household Products Database maintained by the Department of Health and Human Services at hpd.nlm.nih.gov.

Recipe

Homemade All-Purpose Cleaner

• ½ gallon water
• ½ cup white or
• apple-cider vinegar
• ¼ cup baking soda
• ½ lemon, juiced

Mix ingredients in container. Store in a cool, dark place.

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Household Hazardous Waste Days

Anne Arundel County
April 12, 8 a.m.–2 p.m.
Millersville Landfill & Resource Recovery Facility
389 Burns Crossing Rd., Severn
aacounty.org/dpw/wastemanagement/householdwaste.cfm

Baltimore City
April 4-5, 9 a.m.–5 p.m.,
Northwest Citizen Convenience Center
2840 Sisson St.
publicworks.baltimorecity.gov/recycling/householdhazardouswaste.aspx

Baltimore County
April 6, 9 a.m.–1 p.m.
Central Acceptance Facility
Warren Rd., Cockeysville
baltimorecountymd.gov/agencies/environment/groundwatermgt/hazwaste.html

Carroll County
April 19, 8 a.m.–12 p.m.
Carroll County Vehicle Maintenance Facility
1250 Old Meadow Branch Rd., Westminster
ccgovernment.carr.org/ccg/solidwaste
*event also includes paper shredding

Harford County
May 10, 10 a.m.–2 p.m.
Harford Waste Disposal Center
3241 Scarboro Rd., Street
harfordcountymd.gov/dpw/envaffairs

Clear Your Clutter Day
April 26, 10 a.m.–2 p.m.,
Harford Community College
401 Thomas Run Rd., Bel Air
clearyourclutterday.org
*$5/carload, some restrictions apply

Howard County
Every Saturday, April–Nov., 8 a.m.–4 p.m.
Alpha Ridge Landfill
2350 Marriottsville Rd., Marriottsville
howardcountymd.gov/hhw.htm

Don’t Flush Them:

You can dispose of old medications at hazardous waste disposal sites, see above, and at disposemymeds.org

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We all have it. That room—or maybe it’s a closet (or three)—filled with stuff that we don’t need, but just can’t bring ourselves to part with. Maybe it’s that peasant skirt you’re hoping is going to come back in style (again); the upright piano that would be so much fun at a holiday sing-along (if you ever actually had a holiday sing-along); the 20-year-old slicer-dicer-blender-doohickey wedding present thing that you’ve never taken out of the box. Whatever the case, it’s time to take a deep breath, get in touch with your inner Zen, and just . . . let go. Okay, so once you’ve gotten past your over-dependence on your stuff, now what? How does one actually go about getting rid of a lifetime’s worth of junk? We found that there is at least some truth to the old adage “one man’s trash is another man’s treasure.” Most of your stuff can be sold or at least donated to a good cause. (But as for that mysterious wedding gift? It will probably end up in the dumpster.)

Jewelry

That galloping horse pendant seemed like such a good idea when you drunk-dialed QVC in a fit of 4 a.m. sleeplessness. There’s no need to hold onto jewelry you don’t care for anymore—or never cared for to begin with—especially when you can sell it.

If you want to sell: There’s definitely no shortage of jewelry stores that will buy all sorts of jewelry and even collectibles. Radcliffe Jewelers (1848 Reisterstown Rd., Pikesville, 410-484-2900; Towson Town Center, 410-321-6590, http://www.radcliffejewelers.com) is happy to buy your unwanted bling. Heirloom Jewels Ltd. (The Village at Cross Keys, 5100 Falls Rd., 410-323-0100, http://www.heirloomjewels.com) is always on the lookout for eclectic and antique jewelry. Pawnshops, too, can pay top dollar for a wide array of jewelry. The two locations of the super-friendly and quaint Carroll County Jewelry & Loan (1950 Dickenson Rd., Eldersburg, 410-549-7977; 2 Bond St., Westminster, 410-751-2111, http://www.carollcountypawn.com) are good to start out with, especially if you’re new to pawn shops. Another option is Northwestern Loan Company (1701 Pennsylvania Ave., 410-669-5454, http://www.nwpawn.com), the oldest pawn shop in Maryland. And, if you don’t feel like leaving the house, Precious Metals Trading Group (410-654-0821), sponsor of the popular Nusinov Jewelry Roadshow (nusinov.com), a heavily-advertised, Baltimore-area jewelry buying event (at big-name hotels about six times year, including April 1 at the White Marsh Hilton)—will come to your home to evaluate and possibly purchase your jewelry from the comfort of your living room.

If you want to donate: If you’re not hankering for the cash and would rather be more altruistic about it, most of the same places that accept women’s business attire and prom dresses (see page 175) will also gladly accept jewels.

Exercise Equipment

You were so well-intentioned when you bought that treadmill last year. Now the hulking machine is the biggest (and most expensive) clothes rack you’ve ever had. It’s time to get rid of it.

If you want to sell: Since there are no used exercise equipment stores in the Baltimore area, selling your machines proves a little tricky. A good standby is a reputable pawn shop like Northwestern Loan Company (see “Jewelry,” left). While the store can’t pick up machines from your home, they’ll gladly help you unload it once you’re at the shop. Another option is Baltimore’s craigslist (baltimore.craigslist.org), a popular online bulletin board where users buy and sell just about anything. Write an ad (it’s easy, trust us) and slap on a digital photo and you could have a potential buyer (who’s willing to pick the darn things up!) in days—or even minutes.

If you want to donate: Baltimore City’s Department of Recreation and Parks (410-396-7900, http://www.baltimorecity.gov/government/recnparks) is always on the lookout for stationary bikes, treadmills, free weights, benches, Stairmasters, and universals. Equipment should be in good condition (no missing hardware or rusted tubing) and pickup is usually within three business days. The Maryland Department of Public Safety and Correctional Services will gladly accept that old weight rack or Bowflex, depending on its condition. Gifts are tax deductible; e-mail the public information office at docpio@dtscs.state.md.us for more information. Calling your local elementary, middle, and high schools to see if they’d like donated equipment isn’t a bad idea either—but make sure your equipment is up to challenges of a heavy-use school environment.

Computers

If you can start dinner, flip through your mail, and call your mom while your ancient computer’s booting up, you already know it’s time to upgrade. Whether you have a weathered old desktop or a reasonably new laptop, it’s easy to either sell or donate your computer. Just remember to delete all of your personal information off the hard drive (can you say “identity theft”?). Oh, and be sure that no matter what you decide, don’t throw it in the garbage (see “Toxic Trash”).

If you want to sell: Selling a used computer all depends on its condition, of course, but a great place to start is on eBay. If you’re intimidated by the idea of selling something on the gargantuan online marketplace, storefront businesses like iSold it on eBay (12101 Darnestown Rd., Gaithersburg, 301-990-2040, http://www.i-soldit.com) will sell your items for you. For a more immediate sale, most pawnshops will be happy to take an unwanted computer off your hands.

If you want to donate: Schools are always on the hunt for used computers in good shape. Save some legwork and visit iloveschools.com, where local teachers post wish lists of their classroom needs, which includes everything from computers to rugs and art supplies. The Lazarus Foundation (6520 Freetown Rd., Columbia, 410-531-8485, http://www.lazarus.org) distributes recycled computers (less than five years old) to nonprofits and educational institutions.

CDs/DVDs/LPs

We all like to hold onto music that brings back memories. But, really, how many times have you listened to that C + C Music Factory CD in the past, oh, 10 years or so? (We thought so.)

If you want to sell: If the inside of your car is looking more and more like a Sam Goody than an actual vehicle, and you’ve officially run out of room in that fancy entertainment center for another DVD, then maybe it’s time to bring Gonna Make You Sweat and Ernest Goes to Camp over to your local Record and Tape Traders (several locations, including 3003 N. Charles St., 410-662-9610, recordandtapetraders.com) for some cold hard cash or store credit. The longtime chain (30 years and counting, says owner Kevin Stander) also buys records and video games. Sound Garden (1616 Thames St., 410-563-9011, http://www.cdjoint.com) in Fells Point is an area favorite as well, and “buys what sells,” according to store manager Dave Policastri. The shop buys DVDs as well, but not LPs. Discs don’t have to be in perfect condition at Record and Tape Traders or Sound Garden, but you’ll get significantly less for scratched items. Also featured in the “Books” section (see page 177), Normal’s (425 E. 31st St., 410-243-6888, http://www.normals.com) buys records and CDs. But when buying music, Normal’s is on the lookout for less mainstream artists, so you’ll need to take that Hootie and the Blowfish album somewhere else, dude.

If you want to donate: You know the drill: you receive an ill-conceived CD, DVD or video game that—after the grin-and-bear-it smiles are over—just sits and molders in its shrink wrap. Instead of letting perfectly good pieces of entertainment go to waste, why not donate them to a hospital? Children’s hospitals such as the Johns Hopkins Children’s Center (410-955-6276, http://www.hopkinschildren.org) love getting brand-new CD/DVD/game donations; just make sure they’re child-friendly (that means leave Die Hard: With a Vengeance at home, folks). Most libraries accept similar gifts and it’s even okay if those are gently used.

Cars/Motorcyles/RVs/Boats

They say the two greatest days in a boat owner’s life are the day he buys the boat and the day he . . . sells his boat. While that’s not always true of cars, motorcycles, and RVs, here are some good tips to get rid of yours.

If you want to sell: It doesn’t take a rocket scientist to figure out the basics of selling a vehicle. There’s the dealer/trade-in route, increasingly popular Carmax (http://www.carmax.com, with locations in White Marsh, Rockville and Laurel), classified ads (on-line or in the newspaper), and the good old-fashioned sign on the car (just make sure you’re abiding by Maryland Motor Vehicle Administration guidelines, detailed on their website at mva.state.md.us, if you decide to sell your vehicle on your own).

If you want to donate: Donating your vehicle can easily make you a hero with a local or national nonprofit organization (and get you a nice tax deduction in the process). Rockville-based American Kidney Fund (800-638-8299, http://www.kidneyfund.org), provides direct financial assistance to kidney patients, and accepts car, truck, RV, and boat donations (even if your vehicle isn’t in working condition) with pick-up services included. Maryland Public Television’s Motor Donor (888-777-9633, http://www.mpt.org/modo) program accepts cars, boats, motorcycles, and RVs to support its programming, education, and outreach efforts and will also provide pick-up. The famous Habitat for Humanity organization welcomes vehicle donations—including cars, motorcycles, RVs, boats, and trucks—for its Cars for Homes program (877-277-4344, http://www.habitat.org/carsforhomes), and provides pick-up service across the country. And be sure to check your favorite nonprofit—like animal shelters!—to see if they accept cars, too.

Art

It’s been languishing in your attic for 20 years. Maybe it’s time to dust off that old landscape and see if it’s of any value.

If you want to sell: Alex Cooper Auctioneers in Towson (410-828-4838, http://www.alexcooper.com), Timonium-based Richard Opfer Auctioneering (410-252-5035, http://www.opferauction.com), and Laurel Auction (410-880-0864, http://www.laurelauction.com) are all experienced at selling art, antiques, and collectibles and hold regular auctions. If you’d prefer to sell your pieces at a storefront gallery, Flinner Gallery (505 N. Charles St., 410-727-1863, http://www.flinnergallery.com) buys antique art—prints and works on paper—but owner Craig Flinner recommends calling before you stop by to see if he’s interested. If he is, he’ll even make a housecall to check it out.

If you want to donate: The Baltimore Museum of Art welcomes donations, but must adhere to a strict set of guidelines—including whether a potential gift is in line with the museum’s collection—when deciding what pieces to take, according to Jay Fisher, the BMA’s deputy director of curatorial affairs (call his office at 443-573-1740). If the artwork is not up to museum standards, the BMA may suggest another museum or academic institution that could make better use of it. A similar procedure exists at The Walters Art Museum(410-547-9000, http://www.thewalters.org), where they recommend that you send along a photo of the work. The Art Connection (617-338-7668, http://www.theartconnection.org)—a Boston-based nonprofit that links art collectors to nonprofits and public agencies in search of art to display—has less stringent policies about accepting donations. If you’d like to make a donation, send slides or photos of your artwork. Detailed instructions on their website.

Clothes

Here’s the rule of thumb: If you haven’t worn an article of clothing in a year, get rid of it. You won’t miss it. (We promise.)

If you want to sell: Selling clothing in excellent condition can be a lucrative activity, and Baltimore has some great shops, especially for women’s clothing. Fells Point’s Fashion Attic (1926 Fleet St., Suite A, 410-276-0817, http://www.thefashionattic.com) buys and sells tons of trendy clothing, and consignors get 50 percent of the selling price. If you’re looking to cash in on some couture, Vogue Revisited (4002 Roland Ave., 410-235-4140) will give you a chance to get top dollar for all the brands the girls go ga-ga for.

If you want to donate: Goodwill Industries of the Chesapeake (410-837-1800, http://www.goodwillches.org) is more than happy to take any clothing at all (and give you a receipt for tax deduction purposes), regardless of its condition. Baltimore’s YWCA (410-685-1460, http://www.baltimoreywca.com) has a constant need for women’s and children’s clothing (especially women’s business attire and baby clothes) for homeless and transitional women and children. Ladies, if you have unwanted business suits and accessories (purses, belts, etc.) that are taking up valuable space in your closet, there are a number of local organizations dedicated to providing women in need with business attire, such as Suited to Succeed (410-528-1799, http://www.suitedtosucceed.org) andSuccess in Style (443-535-0333, http://www.successinstyle.org). If your college-aged daughter has left the nest, but left her prom dresses behind, contact the Priceless Gown Project (http://www.pricelessgownproject.org). Co-founded by Rebecca Davis in 2004, the organization collects and then donates gowns to Baltimore’s prom-going high school girls who wouldn’t be able to afford a dress otherwise through an annual “boutique.” The project also welcomes accessories (with the exception of shoes) and is especially on the lookout for sizes 16 and up. Fluffy bridesmaids gowns double as fantastic prom dresses, too.

Furniture

Has chic turned to bleak in your living room? Fear not, options abound when it comes to finding your furniture a new home.

If you want to sell: There’s always the furniture-rich Baltimore craigslist (http://www.baltimore.craigslist.org), where many a grad student is thrilled to get a good deal on a gently used bedroom suite. Another option is consigning your contemporary or antique furniture at a specialty consignment shop such as Cornerstone (2175 Greenspring Dr., Timonium, 410-561-3767, http://www.onlycornerstone.com) or the time-honored Turnover Shop (3855 Roland Ave., 410-235-9585; 3549 Chestnut Ave., 410-366-2988, http://www.theturnovershop.com).

If you want to donate: The Salvation Army (800-229-7156, http://www.tsabaltimore.org) has a standard large-item pick-up policy. Up to 25 trucks a day are out on the road picking up large donated items like furniture for all seven Baltimore area Salvation Army thrift stores. Unlike Goodwill Industries of the Chesapeake (410-837-1800, http://www.goodwillches.org) —which will only pick-up multiple bulk items (an entire dining room set, for example)—the Salvation Army will gladly stop by to get that old couch or loveseat within a day or two, just call ahead to make an appointment. A different route is the Baltimore Free Store (31 North Haven St., 410-522-0722, http://www.freestorebaltimore.org). This environmentally conscious organization accepts everything from furniture to children’s toys and makes them available to individuals who may not be able to afford them otherwise. Donations are accepted every Saturday and Tuesday from 10 am to 3 pm.

Books

It’s a great book and all, but do you really need four copies of The Catcher In the Rye?

If you want to sell: At Normal’s (425 E. 31st St., 410-243-6888, http://www.normals.com) if a title is in print, you’ll get 10 percent of the cover price; if it’s out of print, that jumps to one-fourth of the cover price. If you have an enormous collection of fantastic books (or music) to sell, they’ll even come to you. The Book Escape (805 Light St., 410-576-8885, http://www.thebookescape.com,) gives sellers two to three times as much in-store credit and accepts “virtually anything,” says co-owner Andrew Stonebarger. Keep those old medical books at home, though.

If you want to donate: The Book Bank (501 N. Calvert St., 410-783-1479, http://www.baltimorereads.org,), the donation arm of the Baltimore Reads program, welcomes books of any kind, but has a special interest in children’s and young adult titles. The Bank is set up like a library where teachers, day-care staffers, and health-care workers can stop by and take up to 50 books in a single visit. If you have an especially large load to donate, the Bank is happy to swing by and pick up your donation—something they do about once or twice a month. (Mark your calendars for the first Saturday in May for the Bank’s annual Books for Kids Day.) The Baltimore County Public Library System (410-887-6100, http://www.bcponline.org) and Enoch Pratt Free Library (410-887-6100, http://www.epfl.net) both have annual book sales and gladly accept donations of all kinds. If you’re looking to unload books after hours, the Book Thing of Baltimore (3001 Vineyard Ln., 410-662-5631, http://www.bookthing.org)—dedicated to ensuring that everyone in the city has access to as many books as they need—has a drop-box at their headquarters.

Pianos

Pianos are meant to be played, and that baby grand in your living room is collecting more dust than a Swiffer pad. So unless you—or the kids—plan on finally learning the Moonlight Sonata, it’s probably best to find a smaller stand for family photos.

If you want to sell: “A used piano’s value is in its function,” says Phil Heiliger, owner of Maryland Piano in Columbia (9139 Red Branch Rd., 410-997-8388, http://www.marylandpiano.com). The shop will buy or consign your piano but be warned: just because you have grandma’s old upright doesn’t mean it will be worth much, if anything at all. In fact, Heiliger explains, many times the cost of repairing a used piano—or even picking it up—outweighs its actual worth. As with all used piano buyers, the price Maryland Piano will pay for your piano varies on a case-by-case basis. The Piano Man in Catonsville (624 Frederick Rd., 410-747-0200, http://www.pianomanusa.com) has a restoration facility on its premises, so Nick “Piano Man” Margaritas may indeed be interested in buying an older model that needs a little refurbishing. Both shops will come to residences to assess potential buys, but only after evaluating them over the phone to see if they’re worth the trip.

If you want to donate: If you’d rather donate your piano, give local retirement homes, schools, and churches a call to see if they’re interested, advises Anne Levit, manager of Jordan Kitts Music in Lutherville (which only buys used Steinways in good condition). The problem with donating pianos, Margaritas explains, is that donation is sometimes a last resort for piano owners who can’t find a buyer because their piano isn’t in the best shape, so Levit recommends calling a piano technician for a checkup (usually about $75-125). “If you want to donate a piano, make sure that it can hold a tune, and that it’s an instrument not just a piece of junk,” she says. (FYI: If your piano is indeed a piece of junk, dealers such as Maryland Piano and Jordan Kitts will come to your home and haul it away, but this can run $200-300 due to moving manpower and landfill fees.)

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Yard Birds

A great way to clean house is a well-executed yard sale. But when’s the right time to hold one? How do you attract customers? And, most importantly, how do you move your merchandise?

Dean Minerd, an executive producer of The Learning Channel’s Clean Sweep recommends putting aside an entire weekend (sunny weather is best, of course) and getting the word out far and wide. “The real key is advertise, advertise, advertise,” he says. Good old neighborhood fliers work wonders—especially when they have a sense of humor, he adds—and online message boards such as craigslist.org can attract customers from outside your immediate area.

As for goods, “price them to go,” Minerd says. “You’d be surprised how dollars and 50 cents add up. People are paying you to clean out your place, look at it that way. You’re not paying to haul it away; anything you get for it is more than before.”

Peter Walsh, Clean Sweep’s on-air organizing expert and author of It’s All Too Much: An Easy Plan for Living a Richer Life with Less Stuffand How to Organize (Just About) Everything advises yard sale novices to visit other area yard sales in the weeks leading up to your own to get an idea of the going prices of everyday items. He also recommends that sellers keep like things together (all kitchen items should go on one table, for example) and bundling objects together. “If one book is 25 cents, sell six for a dollar,” he says, and you’ll be surprised how fast things disappear.

Another handy tip to keep things moving: Keep an extension cord handy to allow shoppers to try out electrical goods while they browse.

Two hours before you shut down, slash prices, Walsh says. Anything left over shouldn’t go back into the house; instead, take it straight to charity.

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Toxic Trash

Although cleaning house may give you a deep sigh of relief, your household junk could be doing major damage to the environment. Before you go on that trash-bag rampage, take a moment to evaluate what you’re about to put curbside.

Our collective need to have the latest and greatest in technology makes electronic waste—such as computers and televisions—a big problem in landfills these days, says David Mrgich, division chief of recycling and marketing at the Maryland Department of the Environment. Older computer monitors (read: the big ones that take up half your desk) and old-fashioned tube TVs contain dangerous heavy metals such as lead, copper, cadmium, and chromium that can enter local ecosystems by contaminating ground water. If you can’t donate your computer but have designated it as trash-worthy, check with your local recycling center (listed by county and city at mde.state.md.us/recycling) for details on electronic recycling, which is easy and convenient across the state.

If you’re cleaning out basement trash—perhaps you’re in the midst of a renovation down there—other common potentially toxic household items are mercury thermostats, which, like the traditional thermometers of yesteryear, contain actual mercury. Paints, uncured adhesives, and pesticides are also dangerous to toss (or dump in the backyard), reports Scott Lupin, associate director of the University of Maryland, College Park’s Department of Environmental Safety. And, for all you garage warriors out there, dangerous household chemicals also include fertilizers and yes, you guessed it, gasoline. Another toxic trash item many folks don’t think of? Car batteries, Lupin says. All of these chemical-laden items can be safely disposed of through local household hazardous waste days where residents can drop off hazardous waste at city or county-designated locations free of charge.