Here's What to Keep, Sell, or Toss From Your Attic, According to a Vintage Expert

When I had an antique store, a local tossed an antique Tiffany lamp worth thousands to the curb, and a customer scored it for free on bulk garbage day. Stories like this (and there are tons) make the hunt for bargains fun. However, these hidden treasures don’t favor people throwing impromptu garage sales or filling trash cans while trying to declutter.

As an antique dealer, I learned when it was safe to toss or donate something and when to sell it. But some things are worth hanging onto (at least temporarily) until you can reassess. So when garage sale season rolls around, don’t be that person who quickly and casually throws out valuables. On the flip side, no one wants to waste time selling worthless junk. If you have excess in your attic or basement that you want to get rid of, here’s where I think you should start.

What to Sell When You’re Decluttering

Stylish Vintage Furniture

The phrase “they just don’t make them like they used to” is particularly true for the vintage furniture market. Lately, there has been a consistent demand for Mid-century modern and Victorian pieces, along with lesser-known styles that people like to ‘flip’ by painting. Even well-built pieces from the 90s like oak kitchen tables are having a moment.

If you have furniture you want to declutter, check the market. Sites like Etsy, eBay, and Ruby Lane are a few good places to start. If there’s value, sell through Facebook Marketplace, to a local dealer, or through a garage sale (just be sure to include high-quality pictures and descriptions in your garage sale ad).

Trendy Clothing and Accessories

Most vintage lovers will happily sort through clothing racks at a garage sale, looking for quality items. Given that 90’s fashion is back, you may be able to get more than $1 per item for your old Levi’s or concert tees. Donate whatever is left at the end of the garage sale or consider selling for free on Facebook Marketplace. Selling your used threads could become a fun hobby.

Quirky Collectibles

If you find something in your pile of junk that looks antique or collectible (think old toys, unusual glassware, rare coins, antique jewelry, etc.), it’s worth researching the item and seeing if there is a local market. Some of these items may be too niche for a garage sale but would do well online with a larger audience that searches for those items specifically. Set any interesting-looking pieces aside as you declutter, then figure out the best way to sell them.

Functioning Equipment

Lawnmowers, snow blowers, tools, kitchen appliances, and similar items are great to sell at garage sales if they are still in working condition (and safe to use). In most cases, these items can be priced high enough that it’s worth the hassle to clean up and market them effectively. Make sure you test items beforehand and price them to sell!

Donate or Toss These Items

Incomplete Sets

If you stumble on items like silverware, dishes, or board games that are missing pieces, consider tossing or donating them. If you can no longer play the game because so much is lost, toss it. If someone could use the mismatched dishes, donate them. There isn’t enough value to try to sell miscellaneous pieces from sets. One exception would be individual pieces of sterling silver with a rare pattern.

Worn or Broken Items

Similar to incomplete items, toss any item in poor condition. Do you think your grandfather’s recliner might have bedbugs? Toss it. Do you have a costly, trendy jacket with a small rip? Donate it, and let it be someone else’s potential project. Remember, there are exceptions to this rule—some antiques in poor condition, like antique slag glass lamps, are worth enough to be restored and rewired.

Poorly Made or Recalled Products

Some things may be in good condition but aren’t well-built enough to sell for reuse. Examples include particle board furniture, recalled baby items (or expired car seats), and mass-produced decor that you find at home goods stores. While I don’t suggest tossing items that are still useful (recycle the car seats), consider donating them or giving them away through your local Buy Nothing Group. 

Consider Keeping the Following

Heirlooms or Sentimental Pieces

I am a big fan of passing on heirlooms, but I understand that sometimes this isn’t always feasible. However, I dealt with many families through the estate process who were too hasty and got rid of items they later regretted.

For example, an heirloom diamond ring was sold, and then someone in the family proposed and wished they still had it. It is tempting to cash in right away on family heirlooms, especially when they are worth a lot of money. Before you do, make sure no one in the family would value and appreciate the item for generations to come. Sometimes that person may be too young to have a voice on the matter yet. 

Useful Items

When sorting through storage, ask yourself what you could realistically use (be honest here). Sometimes, we sort through things so quickly that we toss items we actually use—maybe just in a different season. For example, did you get rid of a grill in the fall and have to buy a new one the following spring? The goal is to declutter, but not to the point where you keep replacing perfectly fine items with new stuff.

High-End Valuables

Whenever you have a vintage or collectible item that could be worth a lot of money, I recommend a little due diligence and patience before going forward with a sale. I recently saw an example of someone with a signed Salvador Dalí painting; it was either a low-cost print or a near-priceless original, but you couldn't tell without an extensive evaluation.

You could quickly sell these items online for whatever price you found on eBay, but the better move would be to get a professional appraisal. In cases of exceptional items, auction houses can get involved to help you make the most money from the sale. Through the process, you may decide this item could increase in value over time and you want to keep it and pass it down instead.