Spring Cleaning Made Easy: Declutter, Donate & Detox Your Home

Check out these quick and easy tips for decluttering and cleaning your space naturally—without breaking the bank or using harsh chemicals. 

Declutter & Donate 

Donate usable items to local nonprofits instead of tossing them. This keeps items out of landfills and supports the community.  

1. Sort through closets and drawers.  

2. Make a “donate” pile of items that are in good, usable condition. 

3. Find places to donate items by searching the Resourceful PDX map or contacting Metro’s recycling and reuse experts at 503-234-3000. 

By donating, 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 before you donate: Thrift stores’ accepted items can change. Look up their current donation guidelines before you drop off. 

Sell or Give Away 

Sell your stuff: Got a little extra time? Sell high-quality items at local consignment stores or online through Craigslist, Facebook Marketplace, OfferUp, eBay, or Poshmark. 

Give Away: Join your neighborhood Buy Nothing Group to pass items on for free. Snap a photo, post it, and a neighbor will pick it up—right from your porch! Or post to Nextdoor or Craigslist under the “Free” section of their “For Sale” listings. 

Clean Naturally 

Want a sparkling clean home without the harsh chemicals? These homemade cleaners are effective, affordable, and safe for kids and pets. 

DIY All-Purpose Spray (for countertops & surfaces) 

1. 1/4 cup white distilled vinegar 

2. 1/2 teaspoon liquid soap 

3. 3/4 cup warm water 

4. Shake to blend. 

5. Spray on surfaces and use a slightly damp cloth to wipe.  

DIY Bathroom Soft Scrub (for tubs, sinks, countertops) 

1. 1/2 cup baking soda 

2. 1/2 cup vegetable oil-based soap 

3. 15 drops tea tree oil (optional) 

4. Mix into a paste.  

5. Apply with a sponge and scrub. 

DIY Oven Cleaner 

1. Equal parts salt & baking soda 

2. Water (to form a paste) 

3. Spread on oven walls, let sit for 5 minutes, then wipe clean. 

Find more DIY green cleaning recipes at Metro. 

Clean smarter—not harder.  

A little decluttering, an easy donation drop-off, and some simple DIY cleaners can make a big difference.  

Start with one drawer, one shelf, or one DIY cleaner and before you know it, your home will feel fresher, cleaner, and more organized. 

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.  

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.