Top Tips for Easily Donating Your Unused but Usable Clothing
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Top Tips for Easily Donating Your Unused but Usable Clothing

Discover how to easily donate your unused clothing and make a positive impact! Our guide covers choosing the right charities, prepping your items, and understanding where your donations go.

We’re all aware that we’re in the middle of a clothing crisis. Each year, the fashion industry produces around 80 billion garments worldwide, draining our environmental resources. Even more concerning, the industry accounts for 10% of all global CO2 emissions, making it one of the planet’s most polluting industries. Meanwhile, our closets keep growing, yet we only wear about 20% of what we own. The other 80%? It often ends up in landfills, where it decomposes and releases methane—a greenhouse gas five times more potent than CO2. Sounds alarming, right?

 

So, how can we start addressing this issue on a personal level? The first step is becoming aware of the impact our clothing choices have, and the second is doing a thorough closet clean-up. When you’re sorting through your clothes, pay attention to the pieces you no longer wear. They probably end up in the “Donate” pile, waiting for their next chapter.

 

However, there’s a common misconception that donation centers simply give away clothing to local communities. In reality, that’s not always the case. While some donations do stay local, about 20-25% of donated clothing gets sold within the U.S. The rest? It might be sent overseas or even discarded if it’s not in good condition. So how can you ensure your donations are making a positive impact? Here are some top tips from Elizabeth L. Cline, author of The Conscious Closet: The Revolutionary Guide to Looking Good While Doing Good.

 
 

Top Tips for Donating Your Unused Clothing

1. Research the Charity Before You Donate

Not all charities are created equal. Use websites like Charity Watch, Charity Navigator, and the Better Business Bureau to find reputable charities that align with your values.

2. Question Clothing Donation Bins

Those colorful donation bins you see around town? They’re not always what they seem. Some are for-profit companies disguised as charities. Look for the charity’s name, contact info, and a clear description of what they do with the clothing. A quick Google search can help you verify their legitimacy.

3. Donate to Homeless Shelters

Local homeless shelters, churches, and crisis centers often accept clothing donations. Check with them to find out when the next clothing drive is happening or if they are currently accepting donations.
 

 

How to Prepare Your Clothing for Donation

The golden rule of donating clothing is simple: only donate items that are in good, usable condition. That means no old underwear, mismatched socks, or pants with broken zippers.

Make sure your items are clean before donating them to prevent them from ending up in a landfill due to poor condition. Check all pockets for tissues, receipts, coins—who knows, you might even find a $100 bill you forgot about! Shoes should be donated in pairs; tie them together with a shoelace or rubber band to keep them from getting separated.

And remember, never leave bags of donations unattended outside a donation center. If they get wet or damaged, they’ll likely end up in a landfill anyway.

After you’ve sorted through your “Donate” pile, consider if there’s anything you might want to sell, give away to friends, or even give a second chance in your own wardrobe. Once you’ve made your final decisions, wash the clothes you’re donating, pack them in a box, and drop them off at a reliable local charity. Congratulations, you’re one step closer to becoming a sustainable fashionista!

 

The Reality of Clothing Donations

It’s natural to feel a bit overwhelmed or even guilty as you look at your “Donate” pile. After all, New York and New Jersey Goodwill stores alone collect 85.7 million pounds of clothes every year. Unfortunately, according to SMART, an association of used clothing collectors, only about 20-25% of these donations are sold through thrift stores. The rest? It often ends up in landfills or is shipped off to countries like Pakistan, Ghana, and Malaysia.

For a closer look at what happens to discarded clothing, check out the short documentary Unravel: The Final Resting Place of Your Cast-Off Clothing. It’s an eye-opening glimpse into the journey our clothes take after we say goodbye to them.

By donating thoughtfully and choosing sustainable options, you’re not only cleaning out your closet—you’re making a positive impact on the planet. Happy donating!

 

Video credit: Aeon Video on YouTube

 

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