What’s usually left after a sale — and what we do with it

After hundreds of these jobs, the leftovers are predictable: the big furniture that wouldn’t fit in anyone’s SUV, the mismatched dishes, half the garage, every closet’s top shelf, the paint cans and chemicals no sale can legally sell, and box after box of things that were priced at a dollar and still didn’t move.

Here’s how it breaks down when we clear it:

• Donate: furniture, clothing, kitchenware, and books in usable condition go to Valley charities — with receipts made out to you or the estate.
• Recycle: metals, electronics, appliances, and cardboard.
• Dispose responsibly: paint, chemicals, and the genuinely worn-out remainder.
• Return to you: anything personal that surfaced during the sale week — photos, letters, documents — plus anything that looks like it slipped through with real value.