Lose It: How to Reuse, Recycle or Replace Your Sofa
Follow these tips and tricks to keep your worn-out couch from ending up in a landfill
Vanessa Brunner
October 26, 2011
Houzz Contributor
Don’t old sofas seem to end up in the most random places? I’ve seen sofas on streets, on lawns, in abandoned parking lots, and on several roofs. Like other large upholstered furniture pieces, figuring out what to do with an old or worn-out sofa can be a challenge. In some cities, leaving it on the street means it’ll be gone in minutes. But not all of us are this lucky, and leaving it on the street could end in a citation, or with the sofa in the dump.
Don’t let your sofa end up in a landfill, adding to waste and perhaps leaching toxic substances. Even though it requires a bit more work, there are many ways you can sell, donate, recycle, or reuse your old sofa.
Don’t let your sofa end up in a landfill, adding to waste and perhaps leaching toxic substances. Even though it requires a bit more work, there are many ways you can sell, donate, recycle, or reuse your old sofa.
Sell or donate it. If your sofa is clean, stain-free and sturdy, odds are you can sell it or donate it to a charity. In most cases, potential buyers or charity groups will even pick up the sofa from your home.
- Put your sofa on Craigslist, or eBay if it's of high quality. If you don't think it'll go for much, try putting it in the "free" section of Craigslist, or on Freecycle.
- Tell your friends and family. More often than not, someone is looking for a sofa, or knows someone who would be more than willing to take it off your hands. Send out a mass email, and tell everyone to forward it on.
- Advertise near a local college. Students are usually in need of furniture, and don't really have a preference as to what it looks like, as long as it's clean and cheap.
- Charity organizations like Goodwill, St. Vincent de Paul, and Salvation Army will take upholstered furniture, but usually only if it's in new or almost-new condition. Among other reasons, the primary motivation for this is to avoid any bedbug infestations. Give your local organization a call to confirm before trekking your sofa over.
- Keep your eyes open for a church, community center, or school rummage sale, and donate your sofa to them.
- Some charity organizations are almost always willing to take furniture that's in decent shape. Try looking into Purple Heart Pickup, Furnish a Future or if you're in the UK, Furniture Re-Use Network.
Reuse it. Before you consider getting rid of your sofa, think about reusing it. Is it totally destroyed? Or does it just need a good spruce-up? Try having it professionally cleaned, or rent a steam cleaner to get those stains out. Buy some new throws or pillows for it to freshen it up. Slipcovers are another great option — today slipcovers are available in many great textiles and colors, or can even be custom made. If you don’t want your sofa in your living room, maybe it can be used in a guest room, recreation space, basement, or garage. Explore your options before tossing it out.
Search for slipcovers by fabric and color
Recycle it. Sofas contain many of the same parts as mattresses, and can be broken up into pieces and the individual pieces recycled. Try looking onEarth911.com for a location near you that can recycle sofas. However, because it’s such a labor intensive process, there are slim pickings. There’s always the option of you taking it apart yourself, and recycling the respective parts. The wood, cotton fabric, foam core, and springs can all be dismantled and reused or taken to recycling facilities.
Search for slipcovers by fabric and color
Recycle it. Sofas contain many of the same parts as mattresses, and can be broken up into pieces and the individual pieces recycled. Try looking onEarth911.com for a location near you that can recycle sofas. However, because it’s such a labor intensive process, there are slim pickings. There’s always the option of you taking it apart yourself, and recycling the respective parts. The wood, cotton fabric, foam core, and springs can all be dismantled and reused or taken to recycling facilities.
Another possibility is having your sofa reupholstered. Reupholsters are craftsmen, and can completely redo the foam, lining, and fabric at a very high quality. Do your research — a quality upholstery job will probably cost as much as a new couch. The great thing is that you get a custom piece while saving your sofa from the landfill.
Find new furniture
For next time:
More:
Lose It: How to Get Rid of a Mattress
Lose It: 4 Ways to Get Rid of Your Old Carpet
Lose It: What to Do With Leftover Building Materials
Find new furniture
For next time:
- Make sure you buy a good, high-quality sofa that will last a long time. Not only will this save you money over the years, but it will also mean that it will last longer and wear better.
- Take good care of your sofa! Wipe up spills, keep pets from scratching them, and repair any damage right away. Maintaining the quality will make it much more easier to sell when you’re ready for a new one.
More:
Lose It: How to Get Rid of a Mattress
Lose It: 4 Ways to Get Rid of Your Old Carpet
Lose It: What to Do With Leftover Building Materials
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For the last 25 years it's all I've been " preaching "
I am an upholster, and I try to tell people/ customers all the time " this old sofa has style, character, a good bone (well built ) . Furniture is like wine, the older the better. Also I can take a very traditional sofa and turn it in a very modern/contemporary sofa. When you custom it's such a nice experience and you tent to treasure it different enjoy it more because your own effort of choosing the new style and fabrics.
Nicksupholstery.com
Would have LOVED To have reupholstered my sofa instead of having to buy a new one. But could not find anyone in this town interested in taking on a full, down to the wood, upholstery project. And it's not like I live in the back of Beyond, either...
Now how to responsibly deal with an old sofa that is most definitely NOT "gently used"...!
We're replacing our over-sized microfiber sectional with leather furniture that we've wanted for years. Our sectional is stained and falling apart, but we didn't want it to go to the landfill. We also don't want our dog on the new furniture. So, we decided to disassemble the sectional and use the parts to make a dog sofa. We were able to sell the Leggett and Platt hide-a-bed frame and spring mattress, and we had more than enough materials to build a 4' x 2'6" dog sofa with extra pillows. The sectional cushion covers couldn't be removed and washed, but still had some zippered compartments with foam in them. I re-used the zippers on the new sofa cushion and pillows so that they can be removed and washed. Yay! Less doggy odor! We're still sitting on the sectional recliners, but when our new furniture arrives, we will disassemble them as well. The metal will go to the high school metal shop, and the bags of batting, foam, and freshly-washed upholstery fabric will be used for another project or will go to the thrift store. The remains of the wood frame is cheap plywood, but our 11-year-old wants to make some hockey sticks and goals out of it.