How to Donate Broken Appliances
Washers stop spinning, dryers quit putting out heat, dishwashers leak and stoves burn your meal. When these things happen, it is time to get a new appliance. The question always arises for new appliance owners: “What should I do with the broken appliance?” There are no perfect answers, but an easy way to get rid of the appliance would be to donate it to a local charity, Goodwill or Salvation Army.
- Find a local Goodwill, Salvation Army or other charity organization. You can search MerchantCircle to find these organizations in your area. You can also use your favorite search engine to find a location near you.
- Contact the local charity and ask how they accept appliance donations. Some stores will not take them. In these cases, you can take the appliance to a scrap yard, get money and give the scrap money to the local charity. Depending on your location and the type of appliance, you may be able to earn $10 to $30 by scrapping the broken appliance.
- Clean the appliance before taking it to your local charity. It does not have to look perfect, but you should wipe it down with a wet cloth and remove any surface dirt.
- Place the appliance in your vehicle. If you are using a truck, make sure that you strap the appliance to the truck so it does not fall out while you are driving.
- Arrive at the charity location during the donation hours. Some charities only accept donations during certain times of the day, week or month.
- Assist volunteers in removing the appliance from your vehicle. Some places will unload it for you; other locations may require you to remove it. You may want to ask about this policy before donating your broken appliance.
- Get a receipt for your donation. You can claim the value of the appliance on your federal income tax return.