? about raising or lowering your credit score

Sorry for the dumb question but I am looking for help and addvice. OK short story,I got my self to far in debt and it dropped my credit score, so I sold my race car and some other stuff off. I payed off 5 credit cards and one loan.payed off 8,000 worth of debt. OK my question is should I leave them open and not use them or close them? I really want to close them but not sure if it will lower my credit score? Also how long does it take to show on the credit report that they were payed off? Thanks mopar65