Spring cleaning? Here’s some tips, tricks and where to donate around Centre County

Spring has finally arrived, which means its time to put the winter coats away and get out your scrub brushes for a seasonal cleaning.

Brittany Reese, owner of WLK Cleaning & Services in Bellefonte, suggests deep cleaning your home every three to six months to keep dust and grime from building up too much.

“I would do every three months, especially if you have pets or children,” said Reese.

Cleaning an entire home can seem overwhelming, especially if it hasn’t been done in a while, but Reese suggests starting room by room and making a list of the most important tasks.

“Everybody has dirt and dust and grime and you’re not alone,” said Reese. “Just have fun with it and just do your best, and if it is to the point that it’s out of control or you don’t have time, then definitely have someone come in, at least for one day and that will help you start maintaining your home again by yourself.”

One tip Reese has for a deep clean is to look at each room from different heights, sitting on the floor and standing on a chair or stool.

“We travel throughout life so quickly every day and we’re always in our own eye level,” said Reese. “So if you go above and below that’s usually how you can conquer a lot of the neglected areas for spring cleaning.”

Some areas that are most neglected that Reese has noticed is baseboards and door frames.

Hard water stains in toilets are another issue some clients struggle with. For that, Reese suggests mixing equal parts baking soda and low-splash bleach, then letting it sit for an hour.

Spring is also a good time to declutter and reorganize your home. Reese suggests packing up and storing winter clothing for the summer, as well as donating items you haven’t worn recently.

“It’s crazy that we throw perfectly good items out on the curb, instead we need to learn how to donate these things or even reuse and recycle them,” said Reese.

Places to donate around Centre County

• Goodwill Industries of North Central Pennsylvania will accept donations of almost anything you have in your home, including clothes, books, electronics, tools, household items and more. They do not currently accept furniture donations or any large appliances. Donations can be taken directly to the store or dropped off at blue donation bins around the county. Bin locations are listen on the website.
• Habitat for Humanity ReStore of Greater Centre County, located in Bellefonte, will take gently used furniture, including sofas, chairs, dressers and more. Items can be donated Tuesdays and Wednesdays from 9 a.m. to 5 p.m. ReStore also offers donation pickup, which can be scheduled by email or phone. Any upholstered or leather furniture must be free of tears and pet stains. Building materials like working appliances, lumber and bathroom fixtures can also be donated.
• The Salvation Army has several drop boxes around Centre County to donate clothes for its thrift stores. A full list can be found online.
• BestBuy will recycle up to three electronic items per household a day for free. A full list of products they will recycle can be found on the website.
• St. Vincent de Paul Thrift Store accepts a variety of donated items, including musical instruments, prom dresses, sporting goods, clothing and more. Store hours and a full list of accepted donations can be found on its website.
• The American Association of University Women is accepting donations for its used book sale, held May 14-17. The last day to donate books is April 5. Hours and books acceptable for donation, as well as a volunteer signup for the annual sale, can be found on the website.
• Interfaith Human Services will come pick up appliances and gently used furniture to help those in need. Appointments for pickup can be scheduled by phone.
• FaithCentre collects clothing items, food donations and pet food for those in need. Those looking to donate can fill out an online form concerning what items will be donated.
• CentrePeace is a local nonprofit accepting furniture and household items. Donations can be dropped off from 9 a.m. to 3:30 p.m. Monday through Saturday at CentrePeace. Larger items can be scheduled for pick up by calling 814-353-9081. A full list of items CentrePeace cannot currently accept is on the website.

This story was originally published March 22, 2022 at 1:17 PM.