Would you donate lousy sofas to charity?

8 years ago

When I give things to charity, they are always in usable condition. We have 2 sofas we are replacing because we just can't stand sitting in them anymore. My husband is a bit heavy (not obese though) and the spot where he sits--well he looks like he's only inches off the ground these days. Mine dips a bit too. A friend put some pieces of pegboard underneath which cracked only after a few days. (Which I expected.)

The cushions are not stained but look bad because the microfiber material got gray and shiny.

I'm a bit ashamed to give these away, but I'm wondering if maybe some college kids wouldn't care. Or perhaps skinny people wouldn't sink as much as we do. Here's a photo from probably a year or two ago after the cushions have been fluffed up and vacuumed.

Here's a photo from yesterday showing it's more flattened, and wrinkled appearance. (Testing out swatches for the new sofas which are going to be VERY firm and upright.)

Going to give away that burgundy rug too--although in rolling it up we discovered on the bottom some stains from where the cats must have thrown up and it soaked through more than we realized. But you can't tell from the top. Going to try to clean them up more before giving away.

What do you think? Suitable to give all to charity?

Featured Answer

HoJo1

8 years ago

Definitely donate. Someone always has a use for a bad sofa.

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Comments (9)

mcvic3
8 years ago
Yes !
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Momof5x
8 years ago
Ever heard the saying: " A rich man's junk is a poor man's treasure" ? Yes, definitely donate. We always do, and if you want to even recover to give away, it's all good.

Sometime, after we use sofas etc. and the like for a few years, it can tend to look worn more (as we see it everyday.) than it really is especially if well looked after.

Having said that, your furniture looks fine, so don't worry.
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daisiesandbutterflies
8 years ago
Yes, definitely give it away. The cushions just need new filling/foam.
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Maria Privat
8 years ago
We got an old sofa from the neighbors and put it in the kids playroom. They stained it even worse and boy, were we glad we hadn't put anything of value in there. After a while it got so bad, we threw a big cloth over it and as such it stayed with us for several more years.

Then we got a new sofa. Since then my worries grew bigger. The kids don't value it as I do...

So yes, donate. And thank you very much for cleaning it before donating. Much appreciated by those, who won't know you and so can't thank you for it.
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User
8 years ago
They don’t always take things if they think they can’t sell it. We had a multi colored sectional from the early 90,s n they said it would sit to long in the store so not worth taking away. I’m like, really?? Lol. It was in really good shape for as old as it was, but anyway..

We just put it on Graig’s list, practically gave it away but worth it, we didn’t have to worry about moving it out to the curb..
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quirkycabin
8 years ago
Do donate your furniture. We live in an are where there many folks who just cannot afford to purchase new. Yours looks very nice. I'm certain there is someone out there who will love to bring those couches into their home. Better in someones living room that in the land fill.
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Belahn
8 years ago
last modified: 8 years ago
Donate because someone will always be able to use it and wont think it's bad. It can be slip covered, or used for a dog or cat bed. I know a lot of people, including me who have rooms with furniture in them just for our pets. We don't want anything new or too nice for that. Plus, I don't even think those sofas look bad.
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CJ Mac
Original Author
8 years ago
We contacted a local Catholic charity that gives items directly to those in need (after a screening process). The man in charge told us that sofas can be used as beds since many of their clients slerp on the floor or on pallets. That made us promptly decide to offer him a twin bed and a loveseat sofabed which they picked up today. He said people would be sleeping in them tonight.

While here he said our sofas were fine for donation and again, could very well be used as beds.