As the spring cleaning season approaches, check out these expert tips for decluttering and organizing personal spaces, along with a list of where to donate items and throw away hazardous or electronic waste in various Dallas-Fort Worth area cities.

The specifics

Get Organized!, an organization that provides decluttering, photo organization and design services to homes and businesses around the Dallas-Fort Worth area offers advice on how to declutter and organize homes for the spring cleaning season.

Owner and president Lorraine Brock suggested starting with the smallest space to avoid being overwhelmed. She said that their organizers have a step-by-step process for cleaning, using the acronym SPACE to help. The SPACE process includes:

Sort: Take everything out of the space and place into boxes based on categories. Brock recommends using sticky notes to keep track of the boxes.


Purge: Ask these four questions to help make a decision on what to get rid of:
  • Can you identify when you will use this?
  • If there is no use, are you willing to display it?
  • Will family members want this?
  • Is the item of historical value for your family that your kin may want?
If the answer to all of them is no, it may be time to donate the item.

Assign a home: Find a spot for each item based on how tall or short something is or how often something gets used.

Containerize: Find a way to contain the items. Use household items like velveeta boxes to help store things.

Evaluate: Over time, things may change. Every few months or once a year, evaluate how everything is stored to figure out if things need to be moved around or changed to better make use of the space available.


What's next?

After organizing is complete, donate unneeded household items to a local donation center. To dispose of hazardous and electronic waste properly, check for city-specific guidelines of what is accepted and where it can be disposed of. Hazardous waste includes latex and oil-based paint, gasoline, batteries, brake fluid, drain cleaners and pool chemicals. Electronic waste includes phones, computers, microwaves, keyboards, printers and heaters.

Check out this list of donation centers and hazardous waste disposal guidelines by city.This list is not comprehensive.

Argyle
    1. Donation center


    Donate This Recycle That: The charity sells the donations to produce revenue that goes to Arms of Hope who offers residential and outreach programs for children and single-mother families in need. They accept kitchenware, working musical instruments, travel bags, lamps, sports and camping gear, furniture and electronics.2. Hazardous waste: An annual clean-up day will occur April 2 and include services from Republic Services to dispose of e-waste and hazardous waste.Celina

    1. Hazardous waste:     Drop off toxic waste with a voucher card that can be picked up at city hall.
    • Environmental Collection Center, 6616 Walnut St., Frisco
    Colleyville

    1. Donation center

    Goodwill:     The organization accepts kitchenware, small appliances, bedding, furniture, clothes and electronics. Donations create jobs and fund their job training programs for people with disabilities, disadvantages, and other barriers to employment.2. Hazardous waste: Call Community Waste Disposal to schedule a pick-up. A kit and instructions will be mailed.Coppell
      1. Donation centers


      Soles4Souls: The charity accepts shoes and clothes which is given to people in crisis situations, freeing up their financial resources. Soles 4 Souls also partners with nonprofits in developing countries to help entrepreneurs start and grow businesses that sell donated shoes and clothing.Donate This Recycle That: The charity sells the donations to produce revenue that goes to Arms of Hope who offers residential and outreach programs for children and single-mother families in need. They accept kitchenware, working musical instruments, travel bags, lamps, sports and camping gear, furniture and electronics.2. Hazardous waste: Hazardous waste is collected once a month for those who request the service. Bags will be delivered with instructions and waste will be picked up on the next available Wednesday.Flower Mound

      1. Donation center

      Donate 2 Impact: This nonprofit takes donations and recycles them into funding for local charities. They accept purses, backpacks, jewelry, linens, blankets, bath and kitchen items, books, toys, electronics, small appliances and small home decorations.
      • Donate 2 Impact, 900 Lakeside Parkway, Flower Mound
      • Flower Mound United Methodist Church, 3920 Bruton Orand, Flower Mound
      • www.r2sdfw.com
      2. Hazardous waste: Schedule a date for Republic Services to pick up hazardous and e-waste by contacting Republic Services. Residents will be mailed a kit with information, instructions, bags, labels and zip ties.Frisco

      1. Donation centers


      Frisco Family Services: This nonprofit helps Frisco and Frisco ISD families who are facing homelessness and hunger. They accept new and like-new clothes, household goods, lamps, and furniture. All donations are sold at Frisco Resale and funds raised go towards their programs and services. Donations can be picked up in Plano, Frisco, Prosper, Celina and McKinney.Donate 2 Impact: This nonprofit takes donations and recycles them into funding for local charities. They accept purses, backpacks, jewelry, linens, blankets, bath and kitchen items, books, toys, electronics, small appliances and small home decorations.
      • Donate 2 Impact, 10601 Ohio Drive, Frisco
      • Leadership Prep School, 8500 Teel Parkway, Frisco
      • First Frisco United Methodist Church, 7659 Preston Road, Frisco
      2. Hazardous waste: Residents can drop off toxic waste with their water bill and drivers license. Residents in apartments must bring their rent statement.Grapevine
        1. Donation centers

        GRACE Cottage in Grapevine: This nonprofit provides food, clothing, financial assistance and other vital necessities to people who are struggling with a limited income or a recent emergency.
        • Furniture donations can be dropped off at 418 E. Northwest Highway, Grapevine
        • Other donations can be dropped off at 1060 Texan Trail, Grapevine
        • www.gracecottage.org
        Donate This Recycle That: The charity sells the donations to produce revenue that goes to Arms of Hope who offers residential and outreach programs for children and single-mother families in need. They accept kitchenware, working musical instruments, travel bags, lamps, sports and camping gear, furniture and electronics.2. Hazardous waste: Drop off waste Thursday-Saturday.Highland Village

        1. Donation center

        Donate This Recycle That: The charity sells the donations to produce revenue that goes to Arms of Hope who offers residential and outreach programs for children and single-mother families in need. They accept kitchenware, working musical instruments, travel bags, lamps, sports and camping gear, furniture and electronics.
        • Arms of Hope, 2230 Justin Rd., Highland Village
        • Arms of Hope, 3060 Justin Rd., Highland Village
        • Arms of Hope, 4090 Barton Creek, Highland Village
        • www.donatethisrecyclethat.com
        2. Hazardous waste: Schedule a date for Republic Services to pick up hazardous and e-waste by contacting Republic Services. Residents will be mailed a kit with information, instructions, bags, labels and zip ties.Keller

        1. Donation center

        Christ's Haven for Children:         Donate household goods and clothes to help this non-profit care for the children living in their neighborhood homes. Items not given to the kids and teens will be sold at their resale shop to pay for annual operating expenses.2. Hazardous Waste: Call Community Waste Disposal to schedule a pick-up date each month and will receive instructions, a collection bag and labels.Lewisville
          1. Donation centers

          Donate 2 Impact: This nonprofit takes donations and recycles them into funding for local charities. They accept purses, backpacks, jewelry, linens, blankets, bath and kitchen items, books, toys, electronics, small appliances and small home decorations.
          • Thrift Giant, SH 121 Business, Lewisville
          • Thrift Giant, 128 S. Mill St., Lewisville
          • www.r2sdfw.com
          The Salvation Army: The Salvation Army accepts large furniture, beds, mowers, bicycles and, in some cases, cars. Donations help fund rehabilitation programs for those struggling with addiction. Residents wanting to donate can schedule a pick up or visit a drop-off location.2. Hazardous waste: Drop off toxic waste Wednesday-Friday by appointment only.McKinney

          1. Donation centers

          ReStore Collin County: Habitat for Humanity of Collin County re-sells community donations to the public. All donations and purchases go towards creating housing for in the Collin County area. Acceptable donations include gently used furniture, ceiling fans, cabinets, construction materials, hardware, doors and windows.Donate This Recycle That: The charity sells the donations to produce revenue that goes to Arms of Hope who offers residential and outreach programs for children and single-mother families in need. They accept kitchenware, working musical instruments, travel bags, lamps, sports and camping gear, furniture and electronics.2. Hazardous waste: Residents can request a toxic waste pick-up 12 times a year. Requests must be done by noon the day before collection day and items must be stored and labeled in cardboard boxes. Northeast Fort Worth

          1. Donation center

          The Salvation Army: The Salvation Army accepts large furniture, beds, mowers, bicycles and, in some cases, cars. Donations help fund rehabilitation programs for those struggling with addiction. Residents wanting to donate can schedule a pick up or visit a drop-off location.2. Hazardous waste: Drop off waste Thursday-Saturday.Plano

          1. Donation centers

          ReStore Collin County: Habitat for Humanity of Collin County re-sells community donations to the public. All donations and purchases go towards creating housing for in the Collin County area. Acceptable donations include gently used furniture, ceiling fans, cabinets, construction materials, hardware, doors and windows.The Salvation Army: The Salvation Army accepts large furniture, beds, mowers, bicycles and, in some cases, cars. Donations help fund rehabilitation programs for those struggling with addiction. Residents wanting to donate can schedule a pick up or visit a drop-off location.2. Hazardous waste: Schedule a pickup for household chemical items. Place items in a labeled cardboard box and set two-feet away from trashcans before 7 a.m.Prosper

          1. Donation centers

          Cornerstone Retail Boutique:           Donate gently used furniture, clothes, accessories and household items. Everything is sold to make money to offer financial assistance during difficult times and work closely with individuals to create budgets, set goals, and build lasting relationships.Grace Bridge: Donated clothes and home goods will be used to meet the needs of individuals and families within our community that have been vetted and approved and the remaining items will be sold through their resale stores.2. Hazardous waste: Republic Services will pick up waste once a year after residents request the service.Richardson

          1. Donation center

          Donate This Recycle That: The charity sells the donations to produce revenue that goes to Arms of Hope who offers residential and outreach programs for children and single-mother families in need. They accept kitchenware, working musical instruments, travel bags, lamps, sports and camping gear, furniture and electronics.2. Hazardous waste: Small electronics can be disposed of at the Home Chemical Collection Center and large electronics can be disposed of at a Richardson City Police Academy Alumni Association collection event.Roanoke

          1. Donation center

          Goodwill:           The organization accepts kitchenware, small appliances, bedding, furniture, clothes and electronics. Donations create jobs and fund their job training programs for people with disabilities, disadvantages, and other barriers to employment.2. Hazardous waste: Roanoke residents can drop off their waste with a voucher that can be picked up at the Public Works Department at 265 Marshall Creek Road.Southlake

          1. Hazardous waste:           Call Community Waste Disposal to schedule a pick-up. A kit and instructions will be mailed.