Where To Donate Clothes Responsibly
Let’s be honest — the cost of clutter is real. And while it’s been long overdue, the itch to go through all of your clothes + declutter your closet can no longer be ignored. Standing there, with a bewildered look on your face trying to process exactly… what should I do with all the things I no longer wear?
And that’s where we come in boo...
HOW TO DECLUTTER YOUR CLOTHES
Truthfully speaking, the precursor to organizing just about anything in your home is to first declutter.
Unfortunately, you can’t just roll up your sleeves + jump right into organizing your closet without first identifying what things you want to keep + what things you want to get rid of. If your closet is overflowing or you’re feeling like now is the perfect time to tidy up, we recommend pulling everything out of your closet. Then, categorizing your clothes by activity (ie. work, lounging around the house, etc.) be selective about what you actually wear + only keep the things you have room for.
While we could write an entire book on how to declutter your clothes but when it comes to letting go parts of your closet start by making a few clearly defined piles: sell, donate, and trash.
We always advise selling or donating what you can 1 to 1. Whether you call a friend to see if they have a need for something you no longer want, host a chic clothing swap party or snap a picture + post it on an app like Poshmark or ThreadUp to be sold. Whatever it takes to keep your unwanted threads out of the landfill –– this my friend, is the preferred way to declutter + remove things from your home because you know exactly who it’s going to.
But what do you do if nobody wants your old clothes?
If it’s tattered, torn or beyond typical wear + tear, unfortunately, it may be trash. But the good news is that you don’t have to jump to toss it into the landfill. In fact, there are a few great resources to check beforehand to support recycling textiles that are no longer wearable. (cue the confetti + pop the champagne) A lot of big named brands are recycling textiles which is a good thing + here’s 4 brands who recycle the right way.
If zero waste is something you’re truly striving for + you don’t mind paying to ensure it happens or you seemingly can’t find a good resource for recycling textiles, TerraCycle is hands-down the way to go because they send you a cardboard box, you load up ‘n send back (free of charge) + they responsibly do the rest.
If you’re like most people, I bet right now you’re asking yourself, “John….Sherri....why not just donate to Goodwill, Salvation Army or some other local donation dropoff?”
THE PROBLEM WITH “JUST DONATING”
While we’re no stranger to these convenient dropoff locations + we won’t knock thrift stores for what they’re doing but simply put — the problem isn’t them — it’s us.
The sheer volume of donations, especially clothing, that these stores receive simply outweighs the demand. And quite frankly, this makes sense. Think about, whether you shop online or in-person the possibilities to buy new clothes are endless + more convenient than ever.
And lord knows I love to shop, so when it comes to finger-pointing there’s absolutely no judgment coming from over here –– but purchasing low-quality clothes or what’s referred to a “fast fashion” only amplifies the problem.
If you haven’t already thumbed your way through it, there’s actually a fascinating book out called, Overdressed by Elizabeth Cline that talks all about this. And because she paints such an elegant eye-opening argument, I’ll leave it to her but essentially what she refers to as chepa fashion doesn’t withstand the first buyer — let alone someone buying second hand.
So, what happens when we all bring everything we no longer want + drop it at the footsteps of these large thrift stores + say, “here you go?”
Based on the buying trends of their clientele they actually keep what they believe will sell (which is only about 20%) + then everything else is exported from the U.S to third world countries. Yep, you read that correctly.
SOLUTION: DONATE RESPONSIBLY
No, the solution is not to live in a cluttered home *wink* or to hold onto things simply because you now know the harsh hard-to-stomach reality of donating. The solution is to donate, responsibly.
Find someone you know or can connect with online that may want what you’re giving away. Only put in a donate pile what you feel is quality clothing that someone would actually want to buy second hand from a thrift store like Goodwill.
Seek out alternative avenues to donate clothes that may recycle them in unexpected ways — lucky you, below we put together a list of local + national places to consider donating clothes to that may actually “need” what we have.
Become a conscientious consumer. Consider what you’re buying + before you pull our your wallet, ask yourself –– is this a want or a need?
At the end of the day, you work hard + you deserve to be spoiled which is why when it comes to bringing into your home (+ what you wear) you should focus on the quality. Because when push comes to shove, you’ll not only discover how much more enjoyment you get from them but they’ll last longer + maybe even be given a second or third life down the road when they’re responsibly donated to someone else.
WHERE TO DONATE CLOTHES
Free The Girls or The Bra Recyclers for gently used bras + you can mail them in.
Career Gear for men’s business casual clothing + you can mail it in.
Blue Jeans Go Green for denim + shipping is free.
New Eyes for eyeglasses.
Operation Prom specific to formal wear (dresses, tuxedos, evening bags).
Souls 4 Shoes for shoe ware.
Brides Across America specific to wedding dresses will go to a military bride in need.
Not to mention national brands such as Nike, North Face, Nordstrom, and Patagonia
For Recycling Clothes: Recycling Locator, SMART or Council for Textile Recycling for finding a textile recycling outlet.
And lets not forget...
Local Churches
Local Shelters
Consignment Shops
...are all great alternatives.
No matter where you choose to donate your clothes, our goal is to support, empower + guide you through the process of making your beloved home a place you never want to leave. And while decluttering your humble abode should be a recurring priority, we also want to help ensure that you do it in the most responsible way possible.
Truthfully, thrift stores are fantastic places to donate clothes (+ they’re convenient!) But from experience, we encourage calling ahead to see what they’re in need of before simply overwhelming them with a carload of things that won’t sell in your local community.
So, the next time you’ve got a pile of clothes to donate, seek out friends and family, leverage the power of technology + apps and set the price as free, call your local churches, and shelters or even children’s hospitals to ask what they may be in need of.
And remember, regardless of where you’re digging into the clutter around your home –– nothing is unattainable. With every bit of physical clutter you remove you’re making room for more love, more laughter + a more clutter-free home.
And p.s. donating is always in style — especially when done thoughtfully.
Because, you absolutely can boo!
— Sherri