Donating clothes to charity: how to donate clothes

Donating clothes to charity: how to donate clothes

So, you’ve finally sorted out the ever-growing pile of clothes you convinced yourself you’d wear again but never did. You’ve also managed to sneak in that t-shirt of your partner’s. You know, the one with a sentimental stain to mark every story... But what should you do with it? It'd be a shame to throw something so loved in the bin, so why not consider donating what you can to charity? Read our guide on how to donate clothes to charity and prepare them for donation below. 

In this article, discover everything you need to know about donating clothes to charity: 

1. The benefits of donating clothes to charity. 
2. Where you can donate your clothes. 
3. Which clothes you can donate. 
4. How to prepare your clothes for donation.

What are the benefits of donating clothing

Donating old clothes may not seem like much at first glance, but it is an easy and thoughtful way to give back to and care for the community (and get rid of those you swore you’d wear again, even though you tore it while ambitiously attempting some new moves). Some of your clothes could go direct to people in need, or be sold in charity shops and thrift stores that raise funds for charities. This means that by donating your clothes, you can help vulnerable people directly, or help charities raise money for loads of different causes.

In addition to caring for the community, donating clothes helps care for the planet as it reduces waste and gives your clothes a new life and contributes to the effort of making fashion sustainable. Speaking of which, read our article on how to upcycle your clothes to help care for the planet. 

Another perk of donating clothes that is worth mentioning is that it’s an efficient way to declutter your home. We all know that having a good declutter can help us declutter our minds too. Donating clothes to charity not only benefits others, but can be a great bit of self-care too - what’s not to love! Plus, it clears space in your wardrobe for- oh! That's where that other trainer went after your partner's 5k last summer – if you can still call that crusty, muddy old thing a shoe...

Another perk of donating clothes that is worth mentioning is that it’s an efficient way to declutter your home. We all know that having a good declutter can help us declutter our minds too. Donating clothes to charity not only benefits others, but can be a great bit of self-care too - what’s not to love! Plus, it clears space in your wardrobe for- oh! That's where that other trainer went after your partner's 5k last summer – if you can still call that crusty, muddy old thing a shoe...

How to donate old clothes and where to donate them

Are you considering donating your clothes? Keep reading to find out how to give clothes to charity! There are several options, depending on your preference or what’s convenient. Here is a list of some methods you can use to donate clothes to charity: 

• Wondering how to donate clothes to charity shops? Most of the time, you will be able to drop off your clothes at your local charity shop during its opening hours. If they have a website, check in advance what their standard process for donating clothes is. 
• Alternatively, you can also donate your clothes to clothing banks. They will then be sorted and distributed to shops and charity partners all around the world. 
• Some charities also do house-to-house collections, or send door-to-door collection bags.  

Once you’ve chosen your preferred method of donation, it’s time to find out which clothing items can be donated.

Which clothing items can you donate?

What clothes can you donate? This will often depend on where you’re dropping off your clothes, and on the charity that you’re donating to. 

Generally, you can donate these clothes to charity shops: 

• Shirts 
• Trousers 
• Jumpers 
• Coats 
• Shoes 
• Bags 
• Accessories...¹ 

However, charity shops might not accept: 

• Used swimwear and underwear 
• Clothing items made with animal fur 
• Branded uniforms, such as school uniforms or workwear 
• Children’s clothing and costumes that do not have fire safety labels 
• Clothes that have holes, marks on, rips, or extreme fading. These clothes should be considered for recycling instead.²

Now you know what you can take to a charity shop. But what can you put in a clothes bank? Clothing banks accept the same items as charity shops, and additionally, items that charity shops might not take. Because clothing banks sort and separate the clothing items received for recycling, for direct donation, or to be sent to charity shops, they can accept over washed clothes, clothes that have marks on, or slight mishaps.³

Overall, try to keep in mind that the clothes you’re donating will be sold in charity shops to raise money for various causes, or given to people in need directly. It’s therefore better for the items to be in good conditions, though it is understandable if they are not perfect. After all, they are pre-loved items. As long as they seem in fairly good shape, they will help make a difference and care for the community in their second lives!

How to prepare your clothes for donation

You’ve read about the benefits of donating clothes to charity, how to donate your clothes, and which clothes can be considered for donation. The time has come to now prepare your clothes for donation! Now that you’ve selected the clothing items you want to donate, you need to inspect them for signs of wear.  

As mentioned above, charity shops will not be able to sell items that have holes or marks. Each imperfection – whether it's the grass-stained elbow of your housemate's old rugby jersey, or the hardened sticky sleeve of your go-to "going out" top that's seen one too many cocktails – tells a story of the adventures and moments shared. And besides, these much-loved artefacts might be better upcycled into something new that you can keep and continue to cherish, anyways? 

Next, check that all pockets are empty! You wouldn’t want to leave your keys, jewelleries, or even a pack of pocket tissues in there – especially if it’s got the remnants of that hearty, wholesome soup you managed to slop down your front (it was a cold day and a very warming soup, though). Once you’ve checked that the clothes are in good conditions and emptied the pockets, a question that you might ask yourself is: can you donate unwashed clothes? 

As a rule of thumb, you should always wash and dry the clothes you are donating. Charity shops inspect the clothes that they receive before selling them, and items that are stained or too dirty are usually discarded. Washing the clothes before donation is therefore greatly appreciated as it helps keep everything sanitary, and ensures that clothes can be sold to raise funds. 

While charity shops ask people to wash clothing items beforehand, they can’t know for sure that all clothes have been washed. Therefore, to care for the community and protect vulnerable people, make sure to wash the clothes you’re donating. Plus, who doesn’t like the smell of fresh laundry?⁴

You now have all the information you need on how to donate old clothes and prepare them for donation. Donating your clothes is a small gesture that contributes to caring for your community, by generating funds for important causes, and helping people in need. So, next time you want to declutter your wardrobe, consider giving your unwanted clothes to charity!

Sources:

¹ Oxfam, “Donating clothes,” 

² Cancer Research, “Items we can’t accept,”

³ Recycled Clothing Banks, “Where your old clothes donations go,” 

⁴ BBC, “Charity shops: Six things to check before you drop off your old stuff,”