Home › By item › Washer and dryer › Winston-Salem

A public resource guide

Free washer and dryer removal in Winston-Salem, NC

Every free and paid way to get rid of a washer or dryer in Winston-Salem, verified October 2026.

Household items and appliances left at the curb for bulk collection Checked against City of Winston-Salem

1x a year

one bulky item pass per neighborhood, March 2 to September 4, 2026

6 a.m. Mon

items out the weekend before, at the curb by Monday of your week

2 free

Hanes Mill Road Landfill trips a year for city residents with a permit

Every route for a washer or dryer in Winston-Salem, checked in October 2026 against the city’s current rules and the drop-off sites named. The full Winston-Salem guide covers every other item.

Free washer and dryer removal in Winston-Salem

Here is how each route works in Winston-Salem, starting with the city program and ending with paid pickup.

Winston-Salem annual bulky item collection: washers and dryers

Free, with a step first

Washers and dryers are collected during your annual week, or go free to a scrap yard any time.

Who qualifies: Single-family homes with City of Winston-Salem garbage service. Apartments and businesses are not included; townhomes may use a central pickup spot.

How to schedule: No appointment. City crews make one pass through each neighborhood once a year between March 2 and September 4, 2026, announced by postcard and the Winston-Salem Collects app. Put items at the curb the weekend before your week, by 6 a.m. Monday. Outside your week, bulky items go to the Hanes Mill Road Landfill; city residents get two free landfill trips a year with a permit.

Limits: One pass per neighborhood per year; late items are not collected. Bulky items must not be mixed with yard waste, brush, or recyclables or none of it is taken.

Set-out: At the curb the weekend before your scheduled collection week, by 6 a.m. Monday, separate from brush and recycling.

Read the full Winston-Salem city services guide ›

Donation pickup in Winston-Salem (usable washers and dryers)

Free

Donation programs accept items in good usable condition: clean upholstered furniture without significant tears or stains, working appliances less than 10 years old, mattresses in good condition (subject to program rules), kitchenware, lamps, and most household goods.

Items typically not accepted: damaged or stained furniture, mattresses with bedbug history or significant wear, appliances that don’t work, particle-board furniture in poor condition, cribs (federal safety regulations have changed), and exercise equipment that requires reassembly. Always call the program before scheduling.

See the Winston-Salem donation section ›

Freemoval (free pickups through partner organizations)

Free

Freemoval funds free junk removal and cleanouts for households referred by trusted partner organizations, such as nonprofits, housing programs, and senior services. Families don’t apply directly. A partner submits the request and vouches for the need.

Status in Winston-Salem: Not yet available. Freemoval currently serves metro Atlanta and plans to expand nationwide.

How it works where it operates: One free pickup per household, covering washers and dryers, furniture, appliances, and bulk household items within standard LoadUp marketplace service. Funded by LoadUp customer round-ups and direct contributions, spent at standard LoadUp rates.

If you run a nonprofit or housing program in Winston-Salem: you can start the conversation now through the For partners page.

For partners ›

How Winston-Salem handles washers and dryers

Winston-Salem, North Carolina runs an unusual bulk waste system: curbside bulky pickup happens only once per year, neighborhood by neighborhood, during a 6-month annual program from March through September. Crews make exactly one pass per neighborhood per year. Miss your week, and your options become donation, self-haul to Hanes Mill Road Landfill, or paid pickup. The trade-off is that the program is comprehensive when it does run: appliances, mattresses, furniture, and large items are all collected. The Forsyth County 3RC EnviroStation handles HHW and electronics free year-round. This guide covers every option for City of Winston-Salem residents.

The Winston-Salem rule for washers and dryers: Washers and dryers are collected during your annual week, or go free to a scrap yard any time.

Program basics: One pass per neighborhood per year; late items are not collected. Bulky items must not be mixed with yard waste, brush, or recyclables or none of it is taken. At the curb the weekend before your scheduled collection week, by 6 a.m. Monday, separate from brush and recycling.

What the city will not take: Televisions and electronics, tires, car parts, building materials, lumber and wood, glass, cement and rocks, oil drums, paint, hazardous waste, and yard waste.

How we checked this. The rules on this page were verified in October 2026 against: City of Winston-Salem Sanitation: Bulky Items (2026 collection dates and rules), City of Winston-Salem: Bulky Items Collection Begins March 2 (2026). Programs change; confirm fees and limits before you go.

Why washers and dryers are different from ordinary bulk. Washers and dryers sit in an unusual middle ground. They are not hazardous like a refrigerator (no refrigerant to recover under EPA Section 608), so most city bulk programs accept them without a special fee. But they are heavy enough that many programs set weight or two-person-lift limits, and a front-loader with a concrete counterweight can exceed 230 pounds.

Prep checklist before pickup day in Winston-Salem

  • Unplug the machine and, for an electric dryer, remove the 240V cord if you plan to keep it.
  • Shut the water supply valves and disconnect both hoses over a bucket. Tip a washer forward to drain the pump.
  • For a gas dryer, shut the valve, disconnect the flex line, and cap the stub. Call the utility or a plumber if unsure.
  • Separate stacked units and remove pedestals or drawers.
  • Tape the lid or door shut and use an appliance dolly with a strap for stairs.

Three mistakes that get washers and dryers left at the curb:

  • Don't move a gas dryer without capping the line. Shut the valve, disconnect, and cap the stub. If you are not confident, the utility or a plumber can cap it in minutes.
  • Don't leave water in a washer before a scheduled pickup. Tip it forward to drain the pump, especially in winter when trapped water can freeze and crack the housing.
  • Don't assume bulk pickup includes appliances. Many cities list appliances as a separate category with its own appointment line or fee.

When the machine is in a basement with no walkout, the retailer will not take it, or you need it gone this week, paid options fill the gap.

Self-haul to a transfer station or scrap yard

Free to $25

If you own or can borrow a truck and an appliance dolly, most county transfer stations and all scrap yards accept washers and dryers. Transfer stations may charge a small appliance fee; scrap yards do not.

Two people and a strapped dolly are the minimum for stairs. A front-loader's counterweight makes it top-heavy.

Call ahead about hours and whether the facility wants the unit upright.

LoadUp paid washer or dryer pickup

$80+

For Winston-Salem households that missed the annual program, need same-week service, or have items the city won’t accept, LoadUp connects you with independent loaders in the area for upfront-priced pickup.

What’s included: Loading, hauling, and licensed disposal of your washer or dryer. No prep needed beyond pointing out what goes.

Pricing: Starts around $80 for a single item; full-truck pickups range from $300 to $600 depending on volume.

If you can pay for a pickup, your booking helps fund free pickups for someone else. Every paid LoadUp customer can opt in to round up at checkout, and 100% of round-ups go directly to Freemoval’s subsidized jobs.

Book washer or dryer pickup in Winston-Salem with LoadUp → Round-up option appears at checkout. Optional, opt-in only.

Washer and dryer rules in nearby cities

Rules change at city limits. If you are outside Winston-Salem proper, start with the guide for your own city:

Bulk pickup via CLT+ (75 lb item limit applies). If working: donation pickup. Otherwise paid haul.
Free bulky pickup (up to 3 items per request).
Closest category in the Greensboro table: NOT bulk, call 336-373-CITY (2489) for free appointment. Doors must be removed; all food removed; gas/oil drained…
Bulky Load. If working: donation pickup. Otherwise paid haul.

Related guides: the complete Winston-Salem junk removal guide (every item type, city services, hazardous waste, and how to report dumping) and the national washer and dryer disposal guide with rules for all 117 cities we cover.

Other free removal guides for Winston-Salem: mattress, couch, refrigerator, furniture, tv and electronics, dresser, bed frame and box spring, dishwasher.

Common questions about washer and dryer removal in Winston-Salem

Does Winston-Salem pick up washers and dryers for free?

During your annual week, or a scrap yard.

Where can I donate a washer or dryer in Winston-Salem?

Donation programs accept items in good usable condition: clean upholstered furniture without significant tears or stains, working appliances less than 10 years old, mattresses in good condition (subject to program rules), kitchenware, lamps, and most household goods.

How much does paid washer and dryer removal cost in Winston-Salem?

Through the LoadUp marketplace, a single washer or dryer pickup in Winston-Salem starts around $80 to $100 with upfront pricing, and full-truck loads run $300 to $600 depending on volume. For Winston-Salem households that missed the annual program, need same-week service, or have items the city won’t accept, LoadUp connects you with independent loaders in the area for upfront-priced pickup.

Can I put a washer or dryer out with my regular trash?

Almost never in the regular cart, but most cities with a bulk or large-item program will take laundry machines at the curb on a scheduled day. Check your city’s rules in the directory below; some require an appliance-specific appointment.

Is there anything hazardous inside a washer or dryer?

No refrigerant and nothing regulated under EPA Section 608. The only cautions are a possible gas connection on dryers, the 240V electrical cord, and residual water in a washer. Some older washers have a small capacitor on the motor, which scrap yards handle routinely.

How much does a washer or dryer weigh?

Top-load washers run 150 to 180 pounds, front-loaders 180 to 230 pounds because of the concrete counterweight, and dryers 100 to 150 pounds. Stacked units should be separated before moving.

Will a scrap yard pay me for an old washer?

Usually a few dollars. Scrap steel prices fluctuate, and a washer yields roughly 100 to 150 pounds of mixed steel plus a copper-wound motor. Many people find the free pickup more valuable than the payout and simply list the machine as free scrap.

Is this Winston-Salem page maintained?

Yes. Freemoval maintains this page as a public resource alongside the full Winston-Salem guide. We update it when programs change rules, fees, or contact methods. Last updated October 2026. If you find outdated information, let us know.

Fund a free pickup in Winston-Salem

Help cover someone else’s haul.

Most LoadUp customers fund Freemoval pickups by rounding up at checkout. If you’re not booking a paid pickup yourself but want to help, you can contribute directly, pooled with other donations to fund subsidized pickups in Winston-Salem at standard market rates, the same rates LoadUp charges any paying customer.

Choose a custom amount→

Freemoval is a social impact program of LoadUp Technologies, LLC. Contributions are not tax-deductible. 100% of contributions fund pickups at standard market rates, the same rates LoadUp charges any paying customer. No separate fundraising overhead is deducted from donations.