How to Get Rid of Large Appliances

Jeff Naeem
February 15, 2021

There is a reason why an old freezer sits in a garage for months, unused and broken. Or a replaced washing machine takes a permanent home in the basement. Large appliance cleanout and removal is more challenging than you think. How do you get the item out of the basement or garage? And where do you drop it off? Before throwing the appliances on the curb and hoping the trash collector will accept them, there are things to consider. 

Three Ways to Dispose of an Old Large Appliance

Consider your options before your large appliance cleanout and removal. If your appliance is in working condition, recycling and donating are possibilities to contemplate. Think about how the item can be repurposed. Even if the appliance is old and something you couldn’t wait to replace, it may be a necessity for someone else who can’t afford to buy a new washing machine or refrigerator. 

1. Sell your used working appliances.

If your appliance is in working condition, you can list it for sale on a secondhand selling site like Craigslist or Facebook Marketplace. You can describe how old it is and do research on what price is appropriate. When you post the item, also list the pickup requirements, including carrying the heavy object out of your home. Even if the appliance doesn’t work, there may be takers if you post it for a low price. Many people will take large appliances for scrap metal value. There are also people who like to fix broken items and sell them for a profit.  

2. Donate working appliances.

For good working condition appliances, you can make a local charity donation. If the item is working well and was replaced in a kitchen remodel or with a matching new washing machine, it is ready for donation. Donating the item is a good option when you don’t feel comfortable selling a product that doesn’t have a guarantee. You can list it as Free on a neighborhood website. This way, the person may come to pick it up themselves. When donating to a Goodwill or donation center, you will need to lift and move the large appliance out of your home and transport it yourself. If this isn’t an option for you, house cleanout services in NJ can do the heavy lifting for you. They can even bring it to the charity donation center of your choice. 

3. Recycle appliances in poor condition.

When your appliance is not working and seems worthless, consider dumpster alternatives. Trash goes into a landfill and piles up. Just because you can’t find a use for your item doesn’t mean that others won’t. There are recycling centers that will take large appliances for scrap metal and parts. Some may even pay you money for your item. You can call around the recycling centers in your community, or you can hire house cleanout services in NJ to find a place for you. 

It is not as simple as it seems to get rid of your large appliances. It takes some research and certainly some heavy lifting, and maybe even a dolly or straps. Who can you ask to help? Where will you rent or buy the equipment? You don’t have to do it all yourself. A junk removal service will provide the manpower, equipment, and delivery of your appliance to your chosen destination. They also know where to drop off the items, so you don’t have to do the research yourself. 

Stay Aware of Hazardous Waste Before Disposal

One important note to make regarding large appliance cleanout and removal is that some appliances have hazardous waste inside of them. For instance, refrigerators and freezers that are old and have outdated cooling systems contain hazardous waste. Because of this, there are some recycling centers and dumps that will not accept the items. 

It can be tedious to call around and find a place that will actually take your old freezer. Some recycling centers will say they take refrigerators, and then you haul it over there to find out your model is too old for them to take. It can be a frustrating process. Junk-A-Haulics is knowledgeable in this subject and can pick up your fridge or freezer and drop it off for you. 

How to Remove a Large Appliance

Once you figure out where to drop off for a large appliance cleanout and removal, you have to plan how to remove it. Large appliances are heavy and awkward, often requiring equipment to lift them. If your item is in a basement or requires maneuvering through tight spaces, Junk-A-Haulics can do the maneuvering for you. 

Arrange Safe Pickup/Drop Off When Selling

If you are selling your appliance, then you can ask the buyer to do the pickup. This will require the buyer to bring helpers and equipment. For this option, remember safety comes first. Allowing strangers into your home to pick up an appliance can be dangerous. Buyers from a second hand selling website don’t have a company to vouch for them. Be sure there is another adult present in the house, and have them come by during the day when neighbors are out and about. 

Hire a Cleanout Service

If the logistics of removing your appliance are too overwhelming, hire a junk removal company to pick up the item for you. It’s common for a broken down freezer or microwave to sit inside someone’s garage or basement for years. Take action and free up space in your home from unworking appliances rather than waiting for the perfect time to haul your item yourself. 

See If Your New Appliance Vendor Offers Haul Away Services

If you are upgrading appliances, you can ask the company if they will haul away the old model. Many times, appliance companies are interested in the used or broken appliance for parts or scrap metal. If you can get them to haul it away for free, then that’s a bonus. Sometimes, the company will take your old appliance, but at a fee. Be prepared with comparison prices of house cleanout services in NJ to choose the most economical option. 

Does Your City Have a Large Appliance Pickup Day?

Have you ever driven down your street and seen couches and dressers and refrigerators lined up next to trash cans? A lot of cities have a trash day periodically that allows for large items to be picked up. They all have different rules, some not allowing refrigerators due to hazardous waste. But it’s worth looking into and finding out if you can place your large appliance out on the curb to be picked up. 

Rent a Dumpster

If you are doing a kitchen remodel, then renting a dumpster may be a good option to throw away the appliances along with other remodeling debris. Each dumpster service will have different rules regarding the appliances they will accept. Be sure to call ahead beforehand and make sure this option will fit your needs. And remember, even with the dumpster in the driveway, you will need a plan to get the heavy, awkward appliances out of your home and high enough to toss into the dumpster. 

It is up to you to take action in your home and start decluttering and getting rid of unneeded items. The large items are the most complicated to throw away. It’s not as simple as throwing it out on your curb. How do you get a freezer from your basement to your curb? And what if the trash collector won’t even take it at that point? It may be time to hire a junk removal service and skip all the stress. 

Junk Removal and Cleanout Services

It’s a New Year and a time to feel motivated to clean out your home and make more space. As you are spending more time in your home, working and exercising from home, schooling from home, now is the time to upgrade your surroundings. Clean out all of the clutter and unneeded furniture. Organize your home office or clear up your kitchen counters. Add some decorating touches that will bring you happiness. Start the new year off right. At Junk-A-Haulics, you don’t have to worry about how to transport your large appliances or where to take them. Our junk removal service can help to alleviate your stress and do all of that for you. Our expert team will show up with the proper equipment to move and get your large appliance loaded into our truck. All you have to do is give us a call and schedule an appointment.

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