8 ways to cash in on spring cleaning

For selling less valuable furniture items, Woroch is a fan of sites like Facebook Marketplace and OfferUp. Remember to use caution when selling online; again, be alert for possible scammers.

5. YOU CAN BET ON SPORTING EQUIPMENT TO BRING IN SOME CASH You ordered a pricey exercise bike but haven’t used it since the pandemic, and the grandkids have outgrown the basketball hoop in

your driveway. Sell them. Listing sporting goods on sites like Sideline Swap, Play It Again Sports, Craigslist and Facebook Marketplace won’t just bring in extra money; they might also help

clear out space in the garage — often a favorite place for clutter to accumulate. Woroch notes that you’ll have the best luck selling equipment that’s in season. In spring, bikes, pickleball

paddles and kayaks will be in demand, while skis and ice skates may be harder to sell. 6. HOUSEHOLD ITEMS CAN GO FROM SPACE HOGS TO CASH COWS It’s often too time-consuming to list

individual small items on online marketplace sites, and the return on investment can be low, so Khalfani Cox suggests holding a yard or garage sale to cash in on the tools, kitchen gadgets,

gardening items and other odds and ends you unearth during spring cleaning. When is the best time to hold a yard or garage sale? Research shows it’s early spring, with summer the next best,

as long as temps are not too high. For the biggest financial return, share details about the sale on your neighborhood news site and post lots of signs directing traffic to the sale. Also,

keep things simple with a set price for groups of items. “I’ve seen people do very effective garage sales by grouping items and posting a sign: ‘Everything on this table is $5,’ ” says

Khalfani Cox. “It cuts down on negotiation, makes people feel like they’re getting a deal and eliminates a lot of the work of pricing items.” Video: 3 Things to Buy Used 7. WEED OUT OLD LAWN

AND GARDEN EQUIPMENT AND TILL UP EXTRA CASH Baby Boomers spend an average of $475 per month on lawn care. If you hired pros to cut the grass, trim the hedges and pull weeds in the garden,

your lawnmower, hedge trimmer and garden tools might be gathering dust in the garage. “Selling unused lawn and garden equipment can be a great way to declutter and put a little cash in your

pocket,” says decluttering expert Tracy McCubbin, founder and CEO of dClutterfly. Rusted hedge trimmers might not be worth much but mowers, weed eaters, chainsaws, leaf blowers and other

lawn equipment that’s in good working condition could sell fast. McCubbin advises skipping pawn shops, which “pay very, very little,” and suggests selling via Facebook Marketplace instead.

Not sure what to charge? A site like WhatsMyMowerWorth can help you price the lawn and garden gear in your garage. 8. TURN YOUR UNWANTED BLING INTO CA-CHING Consider selling jewelry that has

no sentimental value, is never worn or doesn’t fit your lifestyle.  Aiello also recommends cashing in on broken pieces that you don’t want to repair and duplicate items, adding, “Just keep

one or two heirlooms to pass down if they matter to you.” The best places to sell jewelry depend on what’s in your jewelry box. Aiello suggests “quick, low effort” platforms like Poshmark

and eBay for inexpensive costume jewelry and listing vintage jewelry on sites like Etsy or antique shops. For gold, diamonds and other valuable jewelry, she suggests reputable jewelers,

auction houses or specialty sites like Worthy.com that handle fine jewelry with expert vetting. A certified jeweler will appraise potentially valuable pieces to give you an idea of value.

Aiello calls it, “worth $50 to $150 for peace of mind.”