[Colleen]

I’m planning to purge my clothes today and am looking for a place to give those with holes, stains, etc.

I hate to just throw them out if some organization can use them.

Any thoughts?

[Stephanie]

If it’s something you wouldn’t choose at a thrift shop because of the poor condition then other people won’t choose it.

I have volunteered at a couple of church related thrift stores and people donated things that just needed to be thrown away.

It’s okay to throw it away.

[Susann]

Please don’t donate torn or stained clothing to causes for people. If you won’t wear them, others won’t. People in need are still people.

They are at a disadvantage in life and deserve a bit of dignity.

I worked a clothing drive for a hurricane disaster area.

We got donations of trash clothing that cannot be worn and ended up filling a dumpster.

[Lori]

We have bins in our community to donate textiles. Google textile donations in your town/city

[Ling]

I have left a few coats and some good tops and bottoms for winter and even boxes of unopened crackers and snacks by the park benches and they are gone in a few hours ..it doesn’t look messy when I leave it there.

It’s likeforgetting a coat by the bench where the homeless frequent works too. the coat is gone and being used.

Even if it’s missing button or has a torn pocket in the inside.

It’s cold and homeless will wear them temporarily. No negative comments.

[Lynn]

Most places will sort out dirty, stained, torn clothes into the trash. (Edit: this was my volunteer experience at a large charity thrift store)

[Tina]

Throw them away. Don’t make someone else toss them for you.

[Kristin]

We have a textile recycling company near us. That’s what I do with them rather than the landfill.

[Melissa]

If they are biodegradable- natural fibers, you can put them in your compost pile.

I did that with one of my shirts.

[April]

Take them to your local animal shelter! They’ll use them there

[Ling]

Anything cotton I cut up and use for rags instead of buying paper towels or new rag cloths.

Some can be used to dust and mop the floors.

[Lisa]

There are some organizations that want torn clothes they shred it to use as thread to make new items.

A lady next door to me posts all the time on Facebook their church is looking for those items

[Pam]

Some charities do get money for bulk fiber so that’s what they do with the old ratty stained clothes

[Pauline]

Salvation Army sells rags to companies and I think Haven Of Rest does. too? Call and find out for sure

[Melanie]

Maybe someone in your local buy nothing group makes quilts?

[Fallon]

There are textile recycling places. Please don’t donate clothing you wouldn’t wear due to staining, holes, etc.

To undeserved communities. It stretches already thin resources even more.

[Mary]

Find a textile recycling facility or drop off. Thank you for not donating.

[Sue]

Cut them for patches if they are denim. I love crafting with cottons and denim.

[Sabine]

Clothes with stains, holes, faded out etc. belong in your trash, not in someone elses trash to take care of disposal.

[Tricia]

Animal shelter if they could be used for bedding? Some places might use them for rags – we bought rags for industrial use made from used fabric.

[Rebecca]

You can buy fabric recycling bags, to mail back. There are several, google fabric recycling services.

[Hillary]

Make your own cleaning rags, Swiffer covers, makeup removers, pet bedding, etc out of your unusable clothing.

If you don’t want to wear it, no one else will. Another possibility for stained items might be to research deep cleaning or dyeing.

Use the useable parts to make smaller items like throw pillows or even pot holders.

[Rudi]

They have those blue dumpsters by the elementary schools. A lot of the time that will sell the clothing by the pound.

[Roxana]

Keep some cotton clothes and use them as rags when cleaning in the house.

For the rest of them, maybe you have a textile recycle bin – call your town administration and ask about it.

[Author]

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