March 2 is National "Old Stuff" Day - that combined with the imminent arrival of Spring, and it seems like an excellent time to clean out your closet.

If the idea of going through a closet (or even house) full of items is daunting to you, try taking it one thing at a time. Tackle a small project first, then move onto bigger areas of your home. One tip we've seen that many seem to have good luck with comes from the popular book "The Life-Changing Magic of Tidying Up." To boil it down, author Marie Kondo advises to operate on this rule: Put your hands on an item you're unsure about, and ask yourself if if sparks joy. If it doesn't, thank it for its service and then get rid of it.

Another tip from the book (though we advise reading it in full to reap its benefits): tackle categories, rather than rooms. For instance, start by going through all your clothes, rather than your entire bedroom.

OK, so you're ready to start cleaning out your old, tired, never worn-or-used items. One rule of thumb we suggest? Separate everything into three piles: SELL, DONATE and THROW AWAY.

If something is stained, tattered beyond repair and just not worth much to anyone, chuck it. Next up, consider what might be worth selling. We suggest trying to sell what you have first, and then if no one bites, you can always donate it later.

• Consignment Shops: If you have a local store near you that buys gently worn clothing, try bringing in a basket and see what they are interested in. Some have stricter requirements than others (clothing sold in the last few years, certain designers, etc.), but it's worth a try, as this is one of the easiest ways to make money from old clothes.
• Poshmark: Alternative to brick and mortar shops, you can sell clothing online at a website such as Poshmark.
• Craigslist: Selling items online on Craigslist or a local community Facebook group or forum is ideal for household items like furniture, rugs and decor. If you have a ton of items and the weather in your area is nice enough, you could always host a weekend yard sale. Post the items in bulk on Craigslist with plenty of good photos and details for the best luck.
• Ebay: Chances are, you might have a few hidden gems that would be worth quite a bit of money. If you have a designer dress in excellent condition, sports memorabilia, or anything people are known to collect, try listing it on Ebay.

Once you've exhausted your options for selling unwanted items, load it up and drop it off a donation center. Make sure to get a donation receipt and hold onto it for tax season, when you can get a write-off.

Who's ready to start spring cleaning?