Ready for a spring cleaning refresh? Here’s where to donate and buy new-to-you

Spring has sprung, and with it, spring cleaning arrives too. We’ve all spent more time at home - inside and out - and may be ready to part with unwanted items. If what you’re getting rid of is in good condition, don’t toss it, donate it! 

To donate thoughtfully and get usable goods into the hands of those who need them, look no further than your neighborhood reuse store. Portland has many nonprofit-run shops that accept donations and give you the chance to shop, both of which benefit the organization, the community, and the environment. 

Many nonprofit-run thrift stores now offer online stores, making it easier than ever to browse and shop used goods. In-person shopping is also available at some organizations, as is curbside pick-up. Go the organization’s website to find the most up-to-date information on what items they accept and what their shopping and pick-up options are.  

• Community Warehouse accepts donations of furniture, mattresses, small appliances and offers Estate Store discoveries through their Instagram.

• Free Geek accepts donations of technology and has an online store.  

• Habitat ReStore accepts donations of building materials, home goods and has an online store.  

• ReBuilding Center accepts donations of building materials, home goods and has an online store.  

• ReClaim It accepts donations of furniture, home goods, yard and garden items and has an online store.

• SCRAP Creative Reuse accepts donations of craft, art and school supplies and has an online store.  

Dig into spring cleaning your house, apartment, garbage, or closet, and separate the usable stuff from what you no longer need or want. There are others out there waiting for it! 

Take a look at the Resourceful PDX map to find organizations that help you reuse, swap, repair and share items like tools, building or art supplies, household goods or other materials rather than throwing them away or buying new. 

Spring cleaning while at home

Being at home has allowed for time to chip away at the task list, which inevitably includes spring cleaning. We’re living in a different world now so taking a thoughtful approach to ridding yourself and your home of unwanted items needs to be handled differently too.

Declutter your space

It may be your whole house, your apartment, your garage, or just your closet. Take stock of your stuff – from small appliances, kitchen utensils, clothes, or old electronics – and separate the usable stuff from what you no longer need or want.

Put the stuff you don’t want in a box for now, but take some time to research ways to sell, donate, or recycle them once places reopen.  So many of our things can have another life, but some items are indeed trash and should be thrown away.

Donate thoughtfully

As with much of our favorite places like restaurants, theaters and pubs, donation centers are closed to the public. In Portland, many reuse organizations are seeking financial support while their doors are closed and specifying what to save for donation when it is safe to offer them. Some have even come up with ideas for residents to help - or shop - in other ways.

These items will be of value to area nonprofits once the pandemic ends. So instead of sending them to the landfill, consider locating a clean, dry space to store these in your home, attic, or garage.

Local resources adapt with the times

Community Warehouse asks that supporters create a donation pile of gently used items for future drop off or sponsor at Home 2 Go Kit now.

Beginning May 11, you can drop off the following items at the Portland Warehouse between 10 AM - 4 PM on weekdays only:

• kitchen tables

• kitchen chairs

• dishware (plates, bowls, cups, and silverware - no china or metal-rimmed dishware)

• cookware (pots, pans, cooking utensils)

• small appliances (microwaves, toasters, coffee makers)

• sofas (no sleeper sofas, sectionals, or recliners)

• armchairs

Free Geek provides refurbished laptops and technology support to students and others, plus encourages donations and online shopping to support their ongoing work. There are some services available for the public to be aware of during this time.

Habitat ReStore now has an online store for residents to buy used goods anytime. Beginning May 9, their Portland store reopens for shopping; between 10 AM – 6 PM, Thursday through Monday only.

The ReBuilding Center is offering appointments to come and shop for building and home supplies so you can work on projects. They have limited hours for donating materials; between 11 AM – 4 PM, Wednesday through Saturday only.

SCRAP Creative Reuse now has an online store for shoppers to buy used and new materials. 

Buy Nothing Project members post anything they’d like to give away, lend or share for free. It is neighborhood-and-Facebook based, focused on items to borrow or acquire from neighbors. That includes things you may be finding as you declutter and clean up for spring!

Earth Day turns 50

Those wanting to connect with community to honor the 50th anniversary of Earth Day will find many local virtual activities to engage in. Get gardening tips, learn to make your own greener cleaners and find activities to share with the kids.

Here are a sampling of events, ideas and resources. Check out the Resourceful event calendar for these and more.

Virtual Week of Action

From April 20 through 24, Southeast Uplift will be hosting a Virtual Week of Action to support more sustainably just practices in our community. This year, the District Coalition Office is sharing tool kits online, live stream talks, activities and more in different categories; climate change and energy, bees and trees, compost and food, reduce toxins and creative reuse, and of course, Earth Day!

You can also sign up for regional online workshops. A few include:

• How to create a backyard habitat on a budget, hosted by Columbia Land Trust.

• Learn about recycling right and help keep sanitation workers healthy, offered in English and Spanish, from Metro staff and the Recycle or Not campaign.

• Keep food longer and save money with Eat Smart Waste Less.

Learn more and register for workshops by visiting the online resource organized by the City of Gresham.

Style and Sustainability Workshop

All this time at home may have brought to light changes you would like to make to your space.

The Style and Sustainability Workshop is an online workshop offering a slide show and video tutorial to show attendees how to build their room decorating boards.

Join owner and chief designer of Mobius Home, Lynn Feinstein, to learn how to source mindfully manufactured furniture, explore creative upcycling, introduce color and current trends, and unveil the principles behind cohesively pulling together the many items you already own to work in your refreshed spaces.

You will leave the workshop with a clearer vision of your space and knowledge on how you can support a sustainable lifestyle with the decisions you make for your home. 

There is a fee for this workshop on April 22 from 7-8 PM.

Lynn Feinstein has been a guest blogger on Resourceful PDX in the past. Check out previous posts under Home Improvement.

Ecochallenge

Connect the dots between your values and the impact of your actions with Drawdown Ecochallenge. Find ways to take action on the 100 most substantive solutions to global warming. Earn points and see your positive impact grow. Take the challenge and see how a few weeks of action add up to a lifetime of change for you and the planet.

DIY Bar: Where people come to get their craft on

By Alicia Polacok, Resourceful PDX partner Bureau of Planning and Sustainability

Brothers Adam and Jason Gorske opened DIY Bar in April 2017 as a long-held dream come true. It is a gathering place to work on individual crafts from their project menu while enjoying beer, cider or wine.

I visited on a Friday evening with three friends to get the story of this business from the brothers – and try my hand at a craft.

Coming from a close family, Adam and Jason always thought they would work together in some capacity. When they both found themselves in Portland in 2015, the dream started to take shape into a business. One where their respective skills and interests came into play - reusing, tinkering and mastering a sense of accomplishment.

For DIY Bar, it involved reusing old materials to repurpose into something new and building things based on their home improvement project experiences. Adam explained that salvage materials from the ReBuilding Center and Salvage Works were used to create the facade of the host stand, shelving for project supplies and the inside of the bar.

A place for crafty (and not so crafty) people

The idea for DIY Bar was inspired by paint and sip places, where you can enjoy a beverage while painting with step-by-step instructions and take home something unique.

Adam and Jason have done the work for you to find the projects, gather the tools and materials needed to make beautiful and functional crafts. To maintain consistency, the project materials are new, while the tools are reused by guests.

Adam said, “The future may include collaboration with other organizations and an interest in featuring local artists to do more intensive and in-depth projects.”

The most popular item on the 16-project menu is the rustic nail and string art. There are templates to choose from, or staff will help you create something one-of-a kind. During my visit – my three friends all chose string art projects. Because I put myself in the not-so-crafty category, I was daunted, so chose a leather beer koozie project instead. I love koozies (and beer) so why not try to make my own?!

With detailed step-by-step instructions in hand, and my questions answered by staff, I completed my koozie. There was still time for a drink and to mingle with others in the space. The friendly atmosphere encouraged people to see what others were making and celebrate their finished works of art.

The evening my friends and I were there, the place was full, and it turned out about one-third of the customers were from out of town. Tourists. Coming to experience a bit of Portland while visiting the city.

Feeling inspired? Check out the DIY Bar frequently asked questions to learn more before booking a space.

Creative repurposing offers fresh approach to home projects

Written by Tim Smith on behalf of guest blogger Lynn Feinstein, Möbius Home 

With a bit of ingenuity, a minimal amount of work and a creative imagination, you can redecorate your home's interior and exterior without spending much money. The environment also benefits when utilizing materials already on hand to decorate a room or outdoor area. 

Recreating Old Furniture Pieces

When you think “out of the box,” there is no end to the design creation. An old dresser turns into a beautiful window seat. After removing the dresser legs, lay a decorative cushion or blanket and some throw pillows on the top of the dresser and place in a window with a view, interior walkway or room corner. The top of the dresser functions as the seating space. Additionally, the dresser drawers provide convenient storage space.

Whether or not you should add a coat of paint depends on your design preference. Leaving the dresser in the original state creates an antique “shabby chic” style while a coat of paint creates the perfect modern accent piece for any room. Using this same dresser concept produces a versatile coffee table with built in drawers as well as a child’s toy box.

For more dresser ideas, see 6 Great New Used for a Vintage Dresser.

An old baby crib can become a decorative quilt or magazine rack in very little time and with hardly any effort. Once you remove the side railing sections of the crib, simply display them vertically against any wall. Hang your favorite quilts over the individual posts or drape magazines, hanging them by their spine, with the front magazine cover facing out.

Window Treatments

Window treatments can run rather costly, yet the average household contains a variety of extra fabrics and prints you can reuse instead. Common bed linens come in an array of colors, styles and sizes, are machine washable and require little work in constructing. With the help of a measuring stick or tape, thread, a needle and a pair of scissors, cut out your own patterns for beautiful yet original window treatment designs.

One Yard, No Sew Window Treatment 3 Ways offers a "no sew" option.

Exterior Property Decor

Gardening season has arrived, so instead of purchasing flower boxes, use an old antique bed frame to add a unique and stunning conversation piece to any front yard or flower garden. Simply remove the headboard and foot-board and use as the exterior back and front walls of your garden. Plant rows of your favorite flowers in the ground area located between the head and foot-board. Once the flowers reach maturity, they become the bed spread, creating a literal floral bed.

Any common item can become an eye-catching masterpiece. An old claw-footed bathtub serves as the perfect container garden. Just drill a few holes in the bottom of the bathtub and fill with gardening soil. This design idea works perfectly for areas with minimal gardening space or for growing any type of small herb, vegetable or flower garden.

Visit Crackedpots 18th Annual Art Show to find something unique for your own space. It is August 1 and 2 at McMenamins Edgefield.

Caring for what’s under your roof

Summer is the perfect time to give your home some additional TLC.

Safety First

Before you start a home remodeling, demolition or construction project, learn how to avoid toxic materials and handle potential dangers you might encounter, such as asbestos or lead paint.

Before a home project, test for asbestos. Metro transfer stations require documentation for all loads of construction, remodeling and demolition debris that might contain asbestos.

Seasonal Maintenance

Taking good care of your home can prevent big problems and save a lot of money in the long run. Tasks like cleaning out your gutters and repairing exposed wood quickly help your home last as long as possible.

When you need to replace materials, consider reclaimed or salvaged. They provide unique character, and often are stronger, more durable and higher quality — and may be less expensive than new materials.

Local Resources

Find these local resources and more on the Resourceful PDX map to help you improve and maintain your home:

• Habitat for Humanity ReStore
• MetroPaint
• The ReBuilding Center
• Green Lents Community Tool Library
• North Portland Tool Library
• Northeast Portland Tool Library
• Southeast Portland Tool Library

Resourceful PDX is your go-to for community resources.

Update your space with fresh colors or a new arrangement

By guest blogger Lynn Feinstein, Möbius Home

Change it up

One of the simplest ways to transform a room is to change the color with paint. Color can make a room appear larger or smaller, peaceful or energizing, brighter or softer.

The lighter the color, the larger the room appears. Darker colors make a room feel smaller and more cozy. For a calming effect, try shades of blue, green and cool grey. For the opposite effect, try warmer colors – red, yellow, orange and warm grey.

Every paint manufacturer sells a no VOC (Volatile Organic Compound) selection. I recommend this to all my clients, to protect the air quality in your home. Paints that have VOC’s continue to off-gas for weeks as they cure, even after they have dried. For anyone with allergies or lung conditions, this is especially critical to minimize breathing toxic fumes.

My favorite local brand is Colorhouse paint, founded by two artists who supported themselves by painting interiors. They made the decision to create a brand that would be safe for them to work with since they were getting sick from breathing the fumes of other paint.

Move it around

Another way to make a simple update is to rearrange your space. You can move items from one room to another. Or simply reconfigure what is already in the room. Add fresh elements like different pillows, throws and artwork. Be creative and think beyond what you might consider conventional. Experiment and have fun!

In these before and after photos, the owner of this craftsman home in Southeast Portland contacted us to help create a cohesive and functional expression of herself from the charming eclectic collection of items she owned. This included a pair of chairs she had recently inherited from her father and wanted to integrate into her home.

Some simple adjustments were made and many of her items rearranged. The bookshelves were removed from the dining area and the photos and collectibles reorganized and simplified in the built-in shelving. We made updates with the wall colors to create a more cohesive division of the rooms, as well as to open and lighten the space.

And her father’s chairs – they were reupholstered with Makelike textiles, a local design firm specializing in wallpaper, fabrics and graphics.

The house has beautiful hardwood floors, and to add some depth and warmth we ordered FLOR carpet tiles to create a custom designed area rug for the dining room. FLOR carpet tiles are made with recycled materials; tiles can be cleaned individually, and when damaged beyond repair, can be returned to the manufacturer to be recycled.

Additionally, new drapes for the windows added finishing touches.

It is clear that with a little change in paint and some creative rearrangements, you can create a dramatic change for little to no expense.

Check tips from Lynn about maximizing space for efficiency from a previous blog post.

View fullsize

View fullsize

View fullsize

View fullsize

Spring into action with the 15-minute “clearing clutter” workout

By guest blogger Kathy Peterman, Simple Up

With the help of popular books, like Marie Kondo’s The Life-Changing Magic of Tidying Up, people are ready to tackle clutter. However, we know a book won’t necessarily help you get started.

Here are my top tips for getting started with decluttering your space. You can do this as part of spring cleaning or anytime of the year, with the 15-minute "clearing clutter" workout.

1.       Start small. Begin by clearing two small surfaces within your home. That might be your bathroom counter, your nightstand, the top of a bookshelf or your kitchen table. It can be any surface.

Take everything off that surface, wipe it down, then go through the items to determine if you have any of the following:

·         duplicates (if so, pick your favorite)

·         items that belong elsewhere and could be put away

·         items you are not using

·         recycling or garbage

Do what you can to reduce the items you put back on the surface. Three is the ideal number, but less is good, no matter what the number is. You can box up items to try it with less if you’re not ready to let go of these things…yet!

2.       Get support. Many people need some support to get going. That can vary from having a friend or family member whom you can share your goals with, to an online group or hiring a professional organizer. Even just speaking or writing down your goals is one way to get more clear and committed. When we share this with someone else, it helps make it more real. It’s ideal if that person is willing to declutter too and you can report back to each other.

3.       Figure out your why. Why do you want to declutter your space? It is to help you find things? To reduce the amount of time it takes to clean? To clear space in preparation for downsizing? To feel more calm and less chaos?

It’s helpful to actually write out your why and post it somewhere you can see it as a reminder, especially when you need a boost. Be sure to share the why with your support person too.

4.       Put it on your calendar. Decluttering is that thing we think of doing, but rarely schedule. By putting it on your calendar and telling your support person when you’ll be doing it, you have a clear plan to follow. Set a timer for 15 minutes and commit to decluttering until it pings. Even if you declutter for just 15 minutes, you’ll be surprised how much of a difference it can make.

Once you’ve gotten started, you may be ready to move onto other categories like Marie Kondo describes in her book – clothes, books, papers and more. Don’t be afraid to break these into smaller sub-categories that you work through on separate days for 15-30 minutes, such as jackets, shirts and shoes.

Set that timer and start decluttering!

Flex your space for maximum efficiency

By guest blogger Lynn Feinstein, Möbius Home

When setting up a small space, the best way to make the most of it is to consider all the surfaces for storage and function. Walls for shelving, under furniture for storage, and even the ceiling for hanging dividers.

Finding furniture that transforms from one function to another saves space. A simple example is an ottoman that is hollow, and the cushion flips to become a tray. Murphy beds are popular, as well as couches that convert to a bed. In a kid’s room, you can paint the bottom surface of a murphy bed with chalk board paint so they can use it to get creative when the bed is stored.

Plan ahead and look at the entire picture to help you save time and additional expense. Consider color, not only for mood, but to divide the room into its functions, or make it feel larger than it is. Lighter colors make a space feel larger, darker colors make it feel more cozy. Use materials, patterns and lighting to add variety and visual cues.

Here’s an example from a client who shared a room in a house with other people.

He used his bedroom for an office as well and needed to figure out the best way to divide the space. The solution was to hang dividers from the ceiling so he could block out his work area when resting, and could open them to allow for more light when he was working.

We had him hang shelving for his printers and books, add wall hooks to store his bags and guitar, and use a small space-saving desk that attached to the wall.

Want more inspiration? A favorite resource is apartmenttherapy.com. In the search field type in “small spaces” or “efficient use of space” to get endless ideas for storage solutions.

Five ways to create more space in your home

By guest blogger Casey Hazlett, Sustainably Organized, Inc.

Are you looking for more space to provide storage and organization in your home this year?

Look no further than these five places to refresh your space and repurpose what you already have to fit your family.

1.       Guest bedroom

If a guest bedroom has turned into the catch-all space in your home, consider how to flex the space so it works for you when you need it. Maybe turning the space into a playroom or office space that can shift to a guest room when the occasion arises.

Create more room by getting a murphy bed with a quality mattress to free up floor space. If you need art space for the kids, paint the bottom of the murphy bed with chalkboard paint so they can be creative when the bed is not in use.

2.       Attic or basement

Think about what you need to store and avoid piling just anything in these spaces. Store items that you only need a few times a year, like holiday décor or clothes for your kids when they grow into them. Line the perimeter of the room with shelves with storage bins, keeping the middle open for easy access. Only buy new bins – or reuse something you already have – once you know what’s going to go in them and where are they going to be stored. Don’t forget to label at least two sides of each bin so you can know what’s inside even if the bin gets turned sideways.

3.       Doors

Take advantage of the space behind doors for extra storage by using an over-the-door hanging organizer. Is it the door to the bathroom? Use it for overflow or rarely used toiletries and keep only what you use every day in the bathroom cabinets. Is it the door for the coat closet? Use it for mittens, hats and everything you need to keep warm during the winter months and get out the door faster with less stress in the mornings.

4.       Office

Casey organizing boxes and making space for a client.

If your New Year’s resolution includes organizing your home office, take the time to set up the desk to be ergonomically comfortable. Now may be the time to try a standing desk. If your monitor or laptop needs to be higher to get it at eye level, repurpose something you already own, like a box or drawer, to set your laptop or monitor on. Use the bin or drawer for additional office supply storage.

5.       Vertical space

Look for unused vertical space in every room. Do you have space to install shelves to create more storage and help you stay organized? Think about space above the toilet or to the sides of the sink in the bathroom. These are great for often used bathroom supplies. Do you have a partial empty wall in the living room? Use it as a place to set up a household command station.