Looking for thoughtful gifts? Try giving memories over merchandise

Whether you celebrate Valentine’s Day (Feb. 14), Galentine’s Day (Feb. 13), or Random Acts of Kindness Day (Feb. 17), we’ve got tips for giving thoughtful and sustainable gifts of experience, from no-cost to splurge-worthy. 

Because let’s be honest: How many teddy bears and trinkets does one person really need? 

Skills over Stuff 

• ReBuilding Center: Take a hands-on class to learn woodworking, furniture building, or home improvement skills.  

• SCRAP PDX: Sign up for one of many different types of crafting workshops, including some for kids and others for adults. 

• And so much more: Just search the web for Portland-area gardening classes, music lessons, bike repair, and more.  

Trips over Trinkets

Plan a day or weekend trip out of town for a change of scenery. Head over to the gorge, or coast, or take the train to Seattle. 

Cooking over Collectibles

Learn how to make a new meal or sharpen your knife skills at one of Portland’s many cooking schools. 

• Kitchen Culture PDX on Southeast Foster Rd. 

• Cookshop on Southeast 26th Ave. 

• Hipcooks on Northeast MLK Jr. Blvd. 

Adventures over Accessories 

• Plan a day of hiking at Forest Park or snowshoeing on Mount Hood.  

• Book a food cart tour, brewery tour, river cruise, or hot air ballon ride.  

• There are so many options to play tourist for a day! 

Shows over Shopping

Portland hosts incredible theater, music, and comedy shows. Book a show and then look for a nearby spot to grab dinner before.

Chores over Chocolate

What chore would you love someone to do for you? Laundry? Dishes? Taking the dog out in the rain? Give someone the gift of doing their least favorite chore for a week – or a month, if you’re feeling generous. 

Actually, chocolate’s pretty great. Especially when it’s from one of Portland’s many great chocolate makers. So maybe offer chores and chocolate. 

Give gifts of experience a try 

Gifts of experience create lasting memories without the environmental toll of manufacturing, packaging, and shipping physical goods, which often end up as waste. By choosing experiences over stuff, you cut down on carbon emissions, reduce landfill waste, and give a gift that lasts.  

Resolve to Reuse: A Sustainable Start to the New Year

Looking for a New Year’s resolution that helps people and the planet? Make a goal to donate and buy reused!

Have still-usable items gathering dust in your home? Declutter your space and donate items to a local nonprofit—you’ll prevent waste and make a positive impact in your community. Ready to refresh your wardrobe or update your home decor? Buying secondhand is budget-friendly and saves the energy and resources needed to create new items.

Local Spots to Donate and Shop in Portland

Portland has an amazing network of nonprofit organizations that make donating and buying used easy and impactful.

Furniture, housewares, and clothing

• Saint Vincent De Paul: Donate furniture, housewares, books, and clothing at their thrift store on Southeast Powell Boulevard. While you’re there, shop the thrift store: Proceeds fund wraparound community support services.

• William Templehouse: Donate clothing, furniture, household goods, and electronics at their Northwest Glisan Street thrift store location or schedule a pickup. Shop for items at their thrift store.

Craft supplies

• SCRAP PDX: Donate craft supplies of all types (check their acceptance list for details). Shop their Creative Reuse Center store for supplies – and inspiration – for your next project.

• Disco Fibers: Donate secondhand yarn and fibers at their partner drop-off locations, Northwest Wool in Southwest Portland and Hook & Needle in Vancouver. Purchase secondhand yarn supplies at their location in the Memory Den vintage mall in Southeast Portland.

• Schoolhouse Supplies: Donate school and office supplies to their Northeast store or shop their online store. School supplies and proceeds from the store go to supporting students in need and the Free Store for Teachers.

Bikes

• Community Cycling Center: Donate gently used bicycles, parts, tools, and accessories to their shop on Northeast Alberta Street. Shop their selection of affordable, refurbished bikes.

• Bikes4Humanity: Donate used bikes to connect the community with affordable bikes and repair classes.

Building materials

• ReBuilding Center: Donate building materials, lighting, and more at their large store on North Mississippi Avenue. Purchase unique and affordable building materials at their store or online.

• Habitat for Humanity ReStore: Donate building supplies, furniture, tools, lawn and garden tools and supplies, and home goods: Drop off in person or schedule a pickup. Shop for building materials, furniture, décor, and more in their stores or online. There are multiple locations throughout the Portland Metro area: Find the one closest to you!

And don’t forget to clean out (or add to) your kitchen: Kitchen Culture is a locally owned shop in Southeast Portland where you can sell kitchenware you no longer need and shop for high-quality and affordable used and vintage pots and pans, dishware, cutlery, and more.

This list is just a start! Find even more organizations on the Resourceful PDX map.

Tips for Successful Donations

1. Check what’s accepted: Before dropping off items, visit the organization’s website to confirm their current needs. Inventory lists can change frequently.

2. Choose high-quality items: Donate gently used goods that someone else will find useful and valuable.

3. Keep It Local: Supporting local nonprofits ensures your donations benefit your community directly.

Swap, Share, and Resell

Looking for even more ways to reuse? Check out these resources:

Resourceful PDX Map: Discover local options for swapping, sharing, and reselling items. From Buy Nothing Groups to repaired furniture and household goods, there’s something for everyone.

Tool Libraries: Borrow tools for home projects and renovations from Portland’s extensive network of tool libraries. Save money and storage space!

Start the Year with Purpose

By committing to reuse in the New Year, you’re doing more than decluttering. You’re building sustainable habits that support your community, save money, and protect the environment.

Fixing your electronics just got a lot easier

Oregon recently passed one of the strongest right-to-repair laws in the country. This will make it easier and cheaper for Oregonians to repair phones, computers, appliances, and other electronic devices.   

The right-to-repair bill ensures parts, manuals, and diagnostic tools are readily available to the public and repair businesses.  

What is right-to-repair? 

It means that when you buy an item, you should have the right to modify and repair it as you see fit (repair.org).  

Right-to-repair laws, like Oregon’s SB 542, have been created as a response to large electronics companies making it increasingly difficult for consumers to seek independent repair of their items. Consumers fear the threat of voided warranties or error messages from using non-name brand part replacements.   

Easy-to-repair electronics is a win for consumers and small businesses 

Oregon’s right-to-repair bill makes it easier for small repair businesses to fix electronics – which lowers the cost of repair for consumers.   

Ben Bolokhovskiy, CEO of local electronics repair shop Fixoid, notes that “repair shops tend to be cheaper, even if you have repair coverage from a phone provider. If you pay for your provider’s repair coverage at $9/month times 12 months, with a $200 deductible, costs can add up.”  

At Fixoid locations, customers could expect to pay a fraction of the price for a one-time screen crack replacement on most cell phones.  

Repair is the greenest option 

Extending the life of our electronics through repair has big environmental benefits. For every item that doesn’t have to be purchased new, you’ve saved the energy and natural resources needed to manufacture it – as well as the carbon emissions from extracting raw materials, turning them into new products, and transporting them to stores.   

More affordable electronics expand access 

Alonso Melendez, a Digital Equity Coordinator at the City of Portland, says right-to-repair is a win for digital equity. 

He describes digital equity as “people having access to all the tools they need and the training to participate in our digital economy.”  

Access to a computer or smartphone is often necessary to apply for jobs, pay bills, and interact with the world. But the high cost of purchasing and maintaining electronics can be a barrier to that access. 

Melendez emphasized repair access “keeps low-income communities going, so they can get ahead and avoid the costs of buying a new device.” 

Learn how to fix your electronics – or get them fixed by someone else 

These Portland non-profits and businesses promote electronics repair and repair skill sharing: 

• Repair PDX organizes Repair Cafés where volunteers fix broken household items for free. They also offer repair education and workshops to help people fix their own items. 

• Free Geek offers refurbished laptops, tablets, and phones through their online store. They accept donations of computers, laptops, and other technology.

• Fixoid is a repair business with locations in Portland, Vancouver, and Seattle. It offers affordable repair of electronic devices like cell phones, computers, tablets, and game systems. In certain instances, Fixoid offers price matching and price cuts for repair quotes from larger companies.    

When you can’t repair, recycle responsibly  

Electronics should never go in your trash or recycling bins. Here’s why: 

• Electronics’ built-in batteries can get crushed in the disposal process, sparking or exploding and causing fires that endanger workers and can cause millions of dollars in damage. 

• Some electronics have harmful materials like lead and mercury that must be handled safely and disposed of properly to keep them out of our air, soil, and water. 

Thankfully, in Oregon, it’s free and easy to safely recycle TVs, computers, laptops, printers, monitors, and tablets at designated drop-off locations. 

You can take devices to Metro Central transfer station and other organizations or businesses like Free Geek and Best Buy for free recycling.  

Or search Find a Recycler. If you can’t find your item in the search tool or would rather talk with someone, call Metro’s Recycling Information Center at 503-234-3000 Monday through Friday, 8:30-5 p.m., or submit a question online.   

Tool Libraries: Borrow and Save

At Portland’s community-run libraries, you can borrow tools for your home, yard, and garden – from drills and saws to lawnmowers and weed whackers. Whether it’s a minor repair or a major project, they’ve got tools for carpentry, plumbing, electrical work, and more.  

How it works  

1. Find your nearest tool library 

• East Portland 

• North Portland  

• Northeast Portland 

• Southeast Portland  

• Green Lents 

• Southwest Portland  

2. Sign up to become a member 

Go to your nearest tool library’s website and look for a “become a member” section. Many tool libraries ask you to fill out a membership form on their website and then bring an ID and some proof of address (like a bill) to the tool library to confirm you live in the neighborhood to finalize your membership.  

Everyone is welcome to join, whether you live in a house or apartment, rent or own. 

3. Find out when they’re open 

Most tool libraries are open on Saturdays from morning through early afternoon. Some are also open during an evening or two during the week.  

Tip: Check tool availability before you go 

Check your tool library’s website to see if they have the tools you need and if they’re in stock when you need them. If the tools are checked out, you can see when they’re due back.

Save money and space 

You can save money by borrowing tools for free instead of buying them. Just make sure to return them on time to avoid late fees. Some tool libraries ask for a suggested donation when you join, but no one will be turned away for a lack of funds.  

Plus, borrowing tools will avoid cluttering your closet, basement, or garage with tools you only use once a year.   

“Everyone who comes in here says it’s amazing. People can’t believe we have everything they need.” - Thomas C., NE Portland Tool Library volunteer 

Meet your neighbors and get advice 

Tool libraries are a great place to get advice from neighbors on which tools will work best, how to avoid common mistakes, and which local shops offer the project supplies you need. Plus, some tool libraries offer workshops on repair and remodeling.  

Save energy and natural resources 

For every tool that doesn’t have to be purchased new, you’ve saved the energy and natural resources needed to manufacture it, as well as the carbon emissions from extracting raw materials, turning them into new products, and transporting them to the stores where you buy them. 

A 2015 study showed that one year’s worth of North Portland Tool Library’s tool loans was the carbon emissions equivalent of taking thirty-five cars off the road for a full year. 

Keep tool libraries thriving: Volunteer and donate 

Portland’s tool libraries are completely volunteer-run and they’re always looking for more volunteers.  

You don’t need to be a tool expert to volunteer. The most important job at the tool library is welcoming neighbors and checking tools in and out.  

Other ways to volunteer include fundraising, repairing damaged tools, taking photos of tools, managing the tool library’s newsletters or social media, or serving on volunteer boards. 

“I love volunteering here, and so do the other volunteers.” - Thomas C., NE Portland Tool Library volunteer 

Monetary donations go a long way for tool libraries. They allow them to purchase and maintain tools, promote the library to the community, find and train volunteers, and more. Jason Naumann, former Green Lents Tool Library board member, says that funding is critical for “pushing forward our shared objective of waste reduction.”  

Spring cleaning tips: Out with the old, in with the new (to you)

Ready to shake off winter with a good spring cleaning?  

Clean out the old, bring in the new (to you)  

As you clean out closets and drawers, set aside items that are still in good, working condition. Instead of tossing them, donate them to a local nonprofit thrift store – and while you’re there, shop around for items you need.   

Donating high-quality items supports the community, and buying from non-profit-run thrift stores helps fund great local causes. 

Plus, you’re avoiding letting good stuff go to waste, which is great for the environment.  For every item that doesn’t have to be purchased new, you’ve saved the energy and natural resources needed to manufacture it – as well as the carbon emissions from extracting raw materials, processing them into new products, and transporting them to the stores where you buy them. 

Check ahead to see if it’s accepted 

Before taking your items to donate, check the organization's website to confirm what they currently accept: This can change depending on their inventory.  

Shop online  

Did you know many nonprofit thrift stores share their items online or through social media? Additionally, Facebook Marketplace has become a resource for affordable secondhand finds local to your area. Shopping secondhand has never been easier! 

Local spots to shop and donate  

• Community Warehouse shares great items from their Estate Store on Instagram. Or shop in person at their Northeast Portland or Tualatin stores. They accept donations of furniture, mattresses, small appliances, and other home goods.  

• ReClaim It shares items on social media - both Instagram and Facebook. Or visit them in person at their shop in North Portland (at North Williams and Killingsworth – not far from Community Warehouse, so check them both out). They accept donations of furniture, home goods, yard and garden items.  

• ReBuilding Center shows what they sell at their large store on North Mississippi Avenue in Portland. They accept donations of building materials and some home goods.  

• Habitat ReStore has an online store or head to their stores in Southeast Portland, Beaverton, Gresham, or Vancouver. They accept donations of building materials and home goods.  

• The Arc Thrift Store is located on Southeast Stark near 82nd Avenue and highlights items through Instagram. They accept donations of clothes and small household items.  

• SCRAP Creative Reuse has an online store or stop by their downtown Portland store. They accept donations of craft, art, and school supplies.  

• Free Geek offers refurbished laptops, tablets, and phones through their online store. They accept donations of computers, laptops, and other technology at their inner Southeast Portland location.  

Swap, share, and resell  

Check out the Resourceful PDX map to find more ways to save, from swapping unwanted items through a Buy Nothing Group, to getting reused and repaired furniture, household goods, and more.  

A new place to buy (and sell) kitchenware in Portland

For a city known for food carts and famous chefs, Portland now has a kitchen-focused consignment store, Kitchen Culture, where you can buy affordable, high-quality, used kitchenware – and sell kitchenware you don’t use. 

Kitchen Culture is unique space on SE Foster Road and SE Holgate, where shoppers can find a constantly evolving selection of used and new cookware, dinnerware, glassware, kitchen tools, and cookbooks.  

The store also offers cooking and preserving classes as well as conversations about vegetable gardening and food access. 

Owner Traci Hildner opened Kitchen Culture in November 2022 with the thought, “I’ve shopped for used cars, music, movies, and books, so why not used kitchen supplies?”  

Traci chose the name Kitchen Culture because culture holds many ideas – and it comes back to food: Where we come from, how we eat, how we approach and share ​​food. One way Traci puts a love of sharing food into action is through cooking meals for local shelters with neighbors, through the Foster-Powell Neighborhood Association.  

A great place to buy & sell quality kitchen and cookware 

Kitchen Culture offers durable, functional, long-lasting, and practical items. Traci explained that she sells silverware and dishware by the piece, so people can buy what they need – whether that’s three forks or thirty.  

Asked about a favorite piece to use in cooking, Traci said her cast iron skillet is her go-to item. As far as other essential pieces, “If you start with good quality kitchen tools and take care of them, most can last a lifetime.” 

She recommends a good knife, butcher block, frying pan, stock pot, wooden spoons, and vegetable peeler. 

Beyond those, think about how much storage your kitchen has, and what tools could help you with things you make frequently. Can opener? Lemon juicer? A good, small grater for cheese, fresh nutmeg, or lime zest?  

If you’re interested in cleaning out your kitchen and earning some cash while seeing your kitchenware find a good home, Kitchen Culture is also a great place to sell your wares. Items are on consignment for 90 days, and you earn half of what the item sells for.  

Food preservation  

Traci has taught food preservation classes for years under the name Lucky Larder and now offers those classes at Kitchen Culture.  

Her interest in food preservation started with an overabundance of vegetables. After moving from an apartment into her first house, she and her husband planted a vibrant edible garden, but it was so prolific, they couldn’t eat or give away vegetables fast enough and some went to waste.  

To expand her knowledge in food preservation and fermentation, she became a Master Food Preserver and a Family Food Educator for Oregon State Extension Services in 2014. 

Traci has taught preservation classes at Mt Hood and Portland Community Colleges, New Seasons Market, Portland Mercado, and various farmers markets.  

Now you can find her classes under the events section of Kitchen Culture’s website. She teaches a variety of preservation classes, including canning and fermentation. 

If you decide to try food preserving at home after taking a Kitchen Culture class, but aren’t quite ready to purchase a dehydrator or big canning pot of your own, you can always borrow one from Kitchen Share, Portland’s kitchen tool lending library. Then if you fall in love with jamming, pickling, or fermenting, you can head back to Kitchen Culture to stock up on your own supplies. 

Learn more

Check Kitchen Culture's website for hours and to learn more about their classes and sign up for their newsletter.

Or visit in person: 6300 SE Foster Road, Suite A, Portland, Wednesday through Sunday.

Repair is in the air: A decade of Repair Cafés and a growing national movement

Repair PDX is celebrating their 10th anniversary and planning for the future. This local, grassroots organization hosts Repair Cafés, and has led the repair movement in Portland. 

Repair Cafés are free events that bring volunteers who like to fix things together with people who have items that need fixing. 

Lauren Gross started Repair PDX based on her experience with Repair Cafés in the Netherlands. She continues to be at the helm of the repair movement, along with many volunteer fixers.

Reflecting on 10 years, Lauren shared her thoughts on the future: “I'd say my vision for the future is the same as our mission: Spread repair culture. It's senseless that we extract things from the ground, use them for a few minutes, and then bury them in the ground again. It's imperative that we make things that will last, and that we take care of those things for as long as possible. That vision extends to seeing that repair and reuse is everywhere and deeply ingrained in our culture.” 

Regional repair events are popping up all the time, including monthly events in Portland and weekly drop-in hours at Repair PDX headquarters at ADX. The drop-in options allow interaction with experienced fixers so anyone can learn about small appliance repair.

Find out more about Repair PDX and the list of local events.

Volunteer fixer Brit with Repair PDX founder Lauren at a recent Repair Cafe.

Repair is in the air

There are shifts in the air locally and nationally, with recent Earth Day promotion and ongoing Right to Repair legislation efforts expanding awareness and enthusiasm for repair throughout the country.

In Oregon, Senate Bill 542 Right to Repair is currently part of Oregon’s Legislative Session. The bill is in the Rules Committee, awaiting amendments, and a possible vote in the Senate. To learn more about the bill, listen to the OPB Think Out Loud segment with Oregon Senator Janeen Sollman, D-Hillsboro, a sponsor of the bill. A similar bill was part of the 2021 session.

At a national level, repair was recently highlighted in a New York Times Wirecutter article and the Los Angeles Times. The Today Show has featured repair twice: once with a live Repair Café and a second about the Northeast Seattle Tool Library.

The Today Show segments highlight core virtues of the community repair movement like thrift, the environment, community building, and skill sharing.

This year also marks the 20th anniversary for iFixit. This open-source online resource has a mission to teach everyone to fix everything.

Partners activate reuse and resale shop in Old Town

Bullfrog’s Treasure N Trash has opened in Northwest Portland’s Old Town neighborhood. It’s a retail store where you can find antiques along with reclaimed furniture and other goods.

But it’s not just a store. It’s an innovative Reuse Hub focused on environmental justice and workforce development. It was created through a unique partnership between local businesses and nonprofits that facilitates low-barrier job opportunities in reuse, repair, and litter collection.

The organizations that came together to create Treasure N Trash are:

• Trash for Peace, a 10-year-old community-based organization providing hands-on learning, low-barrier job opportunities, and education about sustainability in environments that are peer-led, welcoming, safe, and collaborative. 

• Ground Score Association, a peer-led initiative of Trash for Peace. It celebrated its fourth anniversary in 2022. Ground Score is an association of informal recyclers, dumpster divers and other environmental workers who create and fill low-barrier waste management jobs. Ground Score is collectively organized and seeks to be radically inclusive, prioritizing work opportunities for those facing work and housing insecurity. They aim to build a more environmentally and socially aware community, while also changing society’s perceptions of what and who is considered valuable.

• Junk It Junk Removal, a local, family-owned company that began in 2012 and specializes in residential and commercial waste hauling.

• Frog & Toad Hauling celebrated its third anniversary in 2022. They specialize in waste-conscious junk removal, creative reuse, and home repair. 

These organizations moved into the Old Town warehouse in October 2022 and use the space for many things; a co-working office space, headquarters for Ground Score's peer-led litter collection and reuse/repair program, a meeting spot with a kitchen and lounge; and short-term storage for the two junk removal companies to sort and determine if repairs are needed before moving items to the thrift store.

Reuse has been a large part of both Junk It and Frog & Toad’s business models. Donation and diversion of materials are key elements in how they work with clients to remove unwanted items from homes and businesses. The warehouse provides the companies with a space to inspect and repair items that still have a lot of useful life left in them.

The owners of Frog & Toad, Revel and Sun, shared, “Our goal with the shared retail space is the establishment of a vibrant and useful place for our neighborhood and wider community where ‘stuff,’ which may have once been discarded, can flow towards where it will be treasured, which often is where it is needed the most. We feel that being in collaboration with the other groups in the warehouse is what will make this possible and help our store to thrive!”

Michelle Barrows-Carter from Junk It Junk Removal, said, "We are proud to be a part of a new warehouse space shared with Ground Score Association, Frog & Toad Hauling, and Trash for Peace, where we can prioritize sustainability and creative reuse.”

Low-barrier job opportunities

Trash for Peace partners with local government and other agencies to implement programs for renters in supportive, multifamily affordable housing communities. Based on community interest and initiative, some pilot projects clear unwanted large household items from apartments and homes, like dressers, tables, mattresses, and other furniture. Working alongside the junk removal companies allows thousands of pounds of trash to be diverted from the landfill by utilizing reused and donated materials in other activities that the organization leads.

Ground Score’s G.L.I.T.T.E.R program provides litter collection and tent side waste collection services for members of the houseless community across the Portland Metro Region. The program name was sourced by workers and stands for Ground Score Leading Inclusively Together Through Environmental Recovery. 

“It’s incredible to witness everyone’s unique progress. The sense of accomplishment bursting out of each participant when they finish their tote bag is so powerful! We provide a different type of purpose. You are worth the time it takes to learn a new skill.” - Rachel Linden

Many of the litter collection routes are serviced by electric trikes, as part of Ground Score's goal to create carbon neutral litter collection services. As this program is peer-led, most of the litter collection team are currently or formerly houseless. 

New programs taking place in the shared space

Two programs taking place at the shared warehouse offer a glimpse into other low-barrier opportunities with room for skill building and further growth.

Rachel Linden is an artist and founder of Thuja Studios, an independent design studio dedicated to the dissemination of utilitarian sewing education to marginalized communities across Portland. Rachel has extensive sewing production and teaching experience, and with the help of Molly Mattern, has started a sewing and mending education program for Ground Score workers.

The Sewing Department offers accessible, professional machine sewing education where members of the Ground Score community can gain competency and hands-on experience in the field of production sewing. Every participant is guided through the production process of a basic tote bag where they learn about strategic fabric selection, pattern reading, marking, and cutting out components, and sewing processes. Currently, the emerging sewing team focuses on the mass production of hand-mending sewing kits made from discarded fabrics that would otherwise be sent to the landfill. After being produced and filled with relevant, second-hand mending tools, these kits are then distributed back into the Ground Score community through professional, classroom-style, hand-mending workshops offered every other week with a $30 stipend offered to participants as extra incentive to learn.

“I’m in my element.” - Beck, a Ground Score employee

"Here at Ground Score, we're making space for folks to form community. Through jobs we help them reclaim the fruits of their labor stolen by poverty and houselessness." - Toma Solano

Another Ground Score manager, Toma Solano, previously trained houseless community members to design and build structures for several of Portland's tiny home villages while also contracting for private residential clients. At Ground Score, Toma helps provide low barrier jobs to houseless individuals as apprentice carpenters. Together they use donated and salvaged wood to repair and upcycle furniture. They also build trellises, lamps, bookshelves, and flower boxes.

If you would like to get involved or donate, visit the Trash for Peace website at www.trashforpeace.org.

If you would like to visit Bullfrog’s Trash N Treasure retail store, check out the website for current information, contact information, and social media handles.

Easy ways to green your spring cleaning

Spring cleaning is here!

Did you know the average person in the U.S. uses about 40 pounds of household cleaners each year, and many of those products have harmful ingredients that can affect our health and damage our waterways?

We all want a clean home, but cleaning well doesn’t have to mean using harsh chemicals.

Make your own cleaning products

You can make your own cleaning products with common ingredients from the grocery store that are safe to use around kids and pets while being just as effective at getting rid of dirt and grime. Find out how at Oregon Metro’s Green Cleaners webpage.

Purchase safer cleaning products

Find out how to avoid harsh chemicals in store-bought cleaners by reviewing these tips from Oregon Metro.

Or shop at one of Portland’s small businesses that specialize in bulk items, including household items like laundry and cleaning supplies, and bath and body products. Read previous Resourceful PDX posts about The Realm Refillery and Mama and Hapa’s Zero Waste Shop.

5 safe cleaning tips for a healthy home

1.      Use natural ingredients that are tough on germs.

Vinegar, hydrogen peroxide and soap are effective at killing bacteria and some viruses without using harsh chemicals that can harm our health.

2.      Avoid aerosol products.

Products such as hairspray or oven spray cleaners release chemicals that can make our air quality worse and cause health issues, especially affecting children.

3.      Opt for wet-dusting instead of dry-dusting.

Dust often contains harmful residues from the products we use in our homes. Wet dusting is the most effective way to remove these chemicals.

4.      Skip the air fresheners and dryer sheets.

Artificial scents contain chemicals that lower air quality and harm our health. Try using scents from essential oils, lemons, cinnamon, and herbs.

5.      Safely dispose of harmful cleaners.

Leftover cleaners shouldn’t be poured down the drain. Call 503-234-3000 or visit oregonmetro.gov to find out where you can take things that are harmful for you and your family.

Metro resources

Green cleaning – Make your own cleaners at home using safe and affordable ingredients. 
Buying safer cleaners - Learn how you can buy safer cleaners that are better for your family and the environment. 
Common hazardous products - Understand what household products are hazardous, how to handle them. 

ReDeploy serves Veterans through reuse and repair

G.I. Junk Removal, and its nonprofit arm ReDeploy, were created by Matthew Calhoun, a former member of the U.S. Army and the Oregon National Guard.

Matt started G.I. Junk Removal in 2018, just a few years after retiring from the military. Three years later, he created ReDeploy as a way to provide Veterans employment, furniture, and other goods.

Creating community and a second life for usable goods

At ReDeploy, Matt employs former military, including his father-in-law, Kevin Knerr, who is active on the board and with Veterans in Vancouver, Washington. ReDeploy is based in Oregon City, but they deliver goods throughout the Portland metro region through their mobile service.

Matt shared his vision of the organization: “Beyond the redistribution of usable secondhand goods from the junk removal service, ReDeploy will also become a place where Veterans can volunteer their time and skills to refurbish and fix up items destined to be donated to fellow Veterans in need. Also, our warehouse will become a place of camaraderie for Veterans to regain that sense of belonging to a group.”

G.I. Junk Removal and ReDeploy owner, Matt Calhoun.

ReDeploy donates directly to Veterans who are getting housed and can benefit from usable, donated household goods and furniture. Items such as couches, tables, chairs, dressers, nightstands, and beds. ReDeploy also donates to partners and other organizations that provide goods to those in need.

The G.I. Junk Removal crew is trained to offer a compassionate approach when working with customers and emptying spaces. They also know how to spot usable items for donation or resale. Furniture that may need a small fix before being donated can get a second chance because Kevin has a wood shop and repair skills.

In the future, Matt aims to build a workshop space within their warehouse for Veterans to fix and refurbish items on site.

Partnerships are key to success

Over the years, Matt has built relationships with social service agencies and nonprofit and community-based organizations, including many that serve Veterans. These include:

• A Caring Closet provides gently used durable medical equipment to those in need at no cost.

• Fort Kennedy provides essential food, clothing, and resources for homeless and low-income veterans and their families living in Oregon and Washington.

• LoveOne Community provides clean laundry, showers, meals, personal care resources, and community connections to those in need in Clackamas County.

• Tools 4 Troops collects and donates tools to Veterans and active-duty service men and women.

ReDeploy also received grant funds from Metro to help set up their warehouse with storage and tools for assessing, sorting, storing, and refurbishing salvaged items.

Contact ReDeploy through G.I. Junk Removal, to set up a donation pick up or clean out service.

A note about clean out companies   

Portland residents have many bulky item drop-off and pick-up options for recycling, donation, and disposal. This includes from many junk removal companies in the region, like G.I. Junk Removal. These businesses will clear out and clean up your unwanted stuff and haul it away for a fee. Do a web search for “junk removal Portland” to find other options. 

Customers are responsible for ensuring your materials are handled legally and taken to a facility. Ask for a receipt with the person or company's name, address, phone number and vehicle and driver's license numbers.