9 Ways to Make Extra Cash From Spring Cleaning

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By Yohana Desta2014-03-18 12:04:42 UTC

Spring is near, which means it's time to grab the cleaning tools and usher in the season with a thoroughly tidied home.

After cleaning up the clutter, you're bound to gather some goods that you no longer want. So what should you do with your old items? Sell, sell, sell.

With help from the folks at thredUP, we've rounded up nine great websites to help you make money from all that stuff you don't need.

Here's one for the compulsive shopper cleaning out his or her closet. The company sells used clothes, and will send you a "Closet Clean Out Bag" to pack up all the threads you're giving away. All items have to be in good condition (the site has a standards section for what is acceptable).

There's also an earnings calculator, which allows you to estimate how much you could make, depending on the item and its brand. Shirts from Gap or J. Crew will earn you less than $9, while high-fashion labels require special examination from pricing specialists.

In the modern age of constant tech upgrades and new gadget models, people run through technology like it's nothing. If you have any old tech laying around, you should send it over to Gazelle. The resale site buys up smart gadgets such as phones, tablets and Apple computers (exclusively Macs and MacBooks — sorry, PC users).

Once the company receive your item, it will send you a quote for how much it's worth. You can also get a quote from the site itself simply by clicking around the homepage. For example, an old iPhone 4 could fetch anywhere between $25 and $65, depending on the carrier.

Image: Chairish

Chairish wants your unique furniture. Run by a husband-and-wife team, the site sells furnishings that have an antique or vintage look. If you have cool pieces that you think fit its stylish quirks, set up an account, take some photos of your wares and set an asking price.

The company will then set a listing price and post it on the site. If it sells, you'll get 80% of the sales, and the company will come pick up your furniture (if it's a smaller piece, you'll get a prepaid UPS shipping label). For more questions, there's a detailed seller guide.

It's time to get rid of your old baseball gloves. SwapMeSports is a community exclusively for selling sports equipment (you can also buy, trade or donate sports goods). There are no fees for listing an item and you can set your own prices, so feel free to toss it all up on the site.

This is for all the fashion buffs with an abundance of designer goods. The Real Real is a high-end resale site, devoted to brand-name items. After making an account and listing your price, the company's specialists post the item with a final listing. You get 60% of the earnings once the item sells.

Here's a pricing guide that shows what your piece will most likely be worth. A trendy pair of pants with tags could earn you between $125 and $225, while a Chanel handbag could net you anywhere from $495 to $2,995. See, that pricey purse really can be an investment piece.

Gift cards are the ultimate "I didn't really know what to get you" present, but sometimes that in itself can be a hit or miss. If you have cards you know you'll never use that are just bulking up your wallet, sell or trade them on Gift Card Granny. As long as the balance is between $20 and $300, you can mail it in to the company and it will send you back a check in the mail.

Want to sell a vintage item, but don't know what it's worth? InstAppraisal is an online community dedicated to helping you figure out the history and price point of mysterious antiques. Post a photo of your item along with whatever backstory information you have, and commenters will share their observations and appraisals.

If you'd prefer a professional opinion, the site offers a premium service; for $9.95, a staff member will appraise your item in 72 hours, or $14.95 for a response within 24 hours.

Where do textbooks go once you're done with school? If you're not using them, try selling them. BookScouter is an aggregate site that allows you to look up a textbook and see which websites are selling it for the highest price. That way, you know exactly which site to head to in order to get rid of your goods.