Spring Cleaning Can Help Animals

March 20 is the first day of spring in the northern hemisphere. You know what that means: It’s time to clean out your closets and everywhere else you’ve been “hoarding” things during the winter. But take heart: Items that have been collecting dust bunnies on your shelves and under your bed can be used to help real bunnies and other animals.

Just sell that old artwork or gently used apparel or what-have-you through the eBay for Charity program. It’s easy. Simply specify what percentage of the proceeds you’d like to have go to PETA. You can choose between 10 and 100 percent of the earnings from the auction. (If you donate 100 percent of the proceeds to PETA, eBay will waive the selling fee, making it completely free for you to sell your things.)

Your items will be marked with a Giving Works icon to let potential buyers know that the proceeds will go to a good cause. When each item is sold, the portion of the proceeds that you’ve indicated will be sent straight to PETA. And you get to feel good knowing that your unwanted items that were once covered with dust bunnies are helping actual animals.