Wish you could say “So-fa So-good” and dispose of your old sofa? When you bring in a new sofa to your humble abode, you may have to make room for it. This means, if you have an existing old sofa, it is time for you to give a serious thought on how to safely get rid of it so you can celebrate your new one. 

Depending upon your lifestyle, your sofa material choice could range from leather, polyester to linen, velvet, or wool. For example, if you have kids and pets at home, you may have chosen less delicate material. If you are a couple, then you may have gone for something fancier. With any number of family members living under the same roof, the types of sofas could range from ottomans, armchairs, and loveseats to sofa beds. 

While shopping for a new sofa for your home is a therapeutic part of the process, disposing of the old ones through unwanted furniture removal is one step many tend to overlook. Also, while it can be exciting to choose a new style or theme for a room by selecting new interior design pieces from a store, it is equally important to discard the old furniture responsibly. With a few easy, proactive steps, you could avoid overcrowding your house or tossing the sofa outside in your backyard without a plan to get rid of it. 

HOW CAN I DISPOSE OF MY OLD SOFA IN STYLE?

Getting rid of an old sofa is not all that difficult. It does take a little time, though. We will show you how to plan for disposing of yours.

BUDGET-FRIENDLY OLD SOFA REMOVAL THROUGH BULKY ITEM COLLECTION

Proper old sofa disposal is important because it’s illegal to just dump these items in public. Dumping them could bring a fine of up to £5,000. Since most local councils are responsible for collecting old items such as old sofas, refrigerators, etc., you can easily arrange for a special bulky waste collection of large items by visiting the local council website. Prices are affordable, so this is a good budget-friendly cost option. However, the collection time may be days or weeks in the future.

IT IS TIME FOR THE OLD SOFA TO MOVE ON — FROM SOFA ‘REMOVAL’ TO SOFA ‘ADDITION’

Instead of conveniently opting for sofa removal, why not consider helping someone who may really need it? If your old sofa is in good condition, this is another option to explore. Just put up a photo of your old sofas along with affordable prices on an online advertising platform such as Facebook or Gumtree. Someone will probably want them straight away.

TELL ME MORE! ARE THERE ANY BENEFITS TO SOFA RECYCLING?

With our environment being threatened day in and day out with catastrophic human actions, disposing of materials such as sofas must be thought out very carefully. Since thousands of old sofas end up in landfills every year, it goes without saying that rubbish and waste items need to be managed better in an eco-friendly manner. We are not alone in this because there are clearance companies in London that are dedicated to safely disposing or recycling such items. With a chance to be diverted from landfill, furniture removal companies will collect your old sofa. Recycling sofas doesn’t get easier than this!

LONDON FURNITURE COLLECTIONS FOR CHARITY — HOW TO GIVE AWAY FURNITURE FOR FREE?

With charity furniture collection services available in London, this is yet another way by which you could dispose of furniture. Just book a free charitable furniture collection to donate items including sofas, closets, beds, tables, etc. and be assured that your sofa is in safe hands. If you are wondering which charities collect furniture, check out London furniture donation companies such as Sue Ryder, Debra, or the British Heart Foundation.

To further understand the importance of free furniture giveaway in London, Sofasbysaxon (one of the companies that accept sofa donations) says, “According to the Royal Society for the Encouragement of Arts, Manufactures, and Commerce (RSA), each year the UK throws away approximately 672,000 tonnes of furniture. The society advises that over half of this waste could be re-used. Only 17% of unwanted sofas are re-purposed, with the remainder going to landfill. There are charities, community projects, and upcycling schemes across the UK that are desperate for our old furniture, with sofas being among the most in-demand pieces. By donating to one of these, not only will you be keeping your sofa out of landfill, but you will also be providing a worthy organisation with a donation that they can use to further their cause.”

WHAT IS THE DEAL WITH FIRE LABELS ON SOFAS? HOW IS IT IMPORTANT IN A DONATION TO CHARITY?

Since 1988, fire labels are legally required for all upholstered furniture such as sofas, armchairs, etc. Usually found sewn under the cushions or around the edges of the items, the label can mostly be found in blue color, so it is difficult not to miss. The primary purpose of the fire safety label is to say that the furniture is legally compliant with British Fire Safety regulations and hence protects its end consumers. It gives accountability to furniture manufacturers. 

Since many of these furniture items contain foams and fillings that may be flammable, it is crucial that these items are resistant to ignition from cigarettes and matches. All the sofas sold by the manufacturers must be treated with fire-retardant chemicals and the label is used to prove they meet the requirements. Without the label, consumers cannot know if they are buying a safe sofa. Hence, every new piece of furniture manufactured must come with a fire safety label. 

However, mattresses and divans are covered under separate British legislation. 

POSSIBLE FOR FURNITURE DISPOSAL WITHOUT FIRE LABELS?

To successfully donate your furniture to charities such as the British Heart Foundation, the fire safety label must be attached. Otherwise, they will not be able to take it from you. So, it is important to keep the label attached to the furniture at all times. Maybe warn your kids in advance?!

WHAT’S MY BEST OPTION FOR ALL TYPES OF FURNITURE DISPOSAL IN LONDON?

Companies such as Top Waste provide end-to-end clearance services by performing old furniture collection, furniture removal (including sofa removal), furniture disposal (including mattress disposal), recycle as much as possible, and ultimately avoid heaping up junk in landfills. Most companies are fully licensed and insured and come to your location within 24 hours to complete the removal service. 

The best part of using these services is that all the grunt work is taken care of by professionals. That means no need to worry about space in your car or stress about dealing with a load of furniture. Whether your sofa is in a good condition or is trash, vans will be sent to you at your convenience and make your sofa collection easy.

Bonus tip: Book the same date for old sofa removal and new sofa delivery, so in one day, your sofa exchange will be done and dusted. By the end of the day, you will be exactly where you need to be — relaxing on your new furniture!

COST FOR OLD SOFA COLLECTION AND SOFA DISPOSAL?

Depending upon the types and number of sofas, you can expect the cost of sofa removal to be anywhere between £10 and £100. With most of the professional item removal companies, you can request a price quote and possibly get a negotiated deal. 

Hopefully, now you have all the information needed to make an informed decision regarding your old sofa or other furniture items. To summarize, ensure you check for fire safety labels on your sofa, then call your council or a professional company to safely dispose of it. They will donate it to a charity or recycle it to help save the environment. 

With the new sofa entering your home, and the old one being responsibly disposed of, it’s finally safe to say, “So-fa So-good”!