It may not be time for spring cleaning just yet—but as we near the end of the year, you likely have decluttering on the mind. After all, there’s something refreshing about wrapping up 2025 with an organized closet. Problem is: If you are getting rid of things, you probably need somewhere to offload your gently-used clothes. And while most of us wouldn’t dream of throwing them into the trash—after all, textiles take decades to degrade and can infuse toxic chemicals and microplastics into our water—it can sometimes be hard to know exactly where to send your unwanted clothes.
Donation is often the best option, but not all clothing donation programs are created equal. Sadly, many of the items that are donated in the US, Canada, and the UK, never even make it onto the racks of the local charity shop. “It’s important for people to know that it s the reuse of secondhand clothes that drives the clothing recycling world, yet that typically only makes up around 50% of the donation,” explains Adam Baruchowitz, founder and CEO of Wearable Collections, a clothing recycling company based in New York City. (Find them at your local Greenmarket.) “What an organization does with the other 50% is increasingly important.” According to the EPA, much of it ends up in landfills or is sent via trade agreements to the (already overwhelmed) second-hand markets of Africa, Asia, and South America, where if it isn’t sold, it is either incinerated, put into landfills, or left in waste piles.
“The textile waste crisis has reached an alarming scale, with 92 million tons of textile waste hitting landfill each year—the equivalent of one full trash truck each second,” says Chloe Songer, CEO and Co-Founder of textile recycling platform SuperCircle. “Once in landfill, textile waste takes 80 to 1,000 years to break down, releasing harmful toxins and greenhouse gasses, polluting waterways and soil systems, and contributing to warming.”
The etiquette of donating clothes
Obviously, it’s crucial to consider where your donated clothing is going before you throw it in a donation bin. But for unwanted clothing to have the best chance of a second life, it’s important to understand—and follow—some crucial clothing donation rules. For starters, don’t include garbage in your clothing donation bags; this makes it difficult and pricey for donation centers to sort. Second, don’t donate stained or damaged clothing. Third, be sure to sort your items by type. And, lastly, make sure the donation center actually accepts what you are giving away. Items that are stained, worn out, or damaged—and thus not suitable for donation—should be recycled; some municipalities offer textile recycling, while other nationwide recycling services like SuperCircle partner with fashion brands like Reformation to reprocess textiles.
Ultimately, the systems currently in place for donating unwanted clothing are not ideal; it’s hard to know where the best place to donate clothes is because there isn’t a ton of transparency about where your old clothes will really end up. A closet clean out is a good time to assess your relationship with the clothes you have and reconsider just how much you actually need going forward.
The best places to donate clothes
Goodwill is a nonprofit organization that is entirely donation based. It’s also one of the most commonly recognized charity organizations that accepts clothing donations. In-person drop-off locations around the United States accept everything from clothing and accessories to homegoods. When you donate your clothes to Goodwill, the company sorts it and puts it up for sale in its stores and online. Goodwill says that 90 cents of every dollar goes toward local programs and services for people in need.
What types of donations are acceptable: New and used clothing, shoes, accessories, books, DVDs, toys, home goods, furniture.
How to donate: Find a Goodwill drop off location near you.
Salvation Army is another nonprofit organization that accepts donations of clothing, jewelry, and home goods. Drop-off locations are available around the country. You can also organize a pickup of furniture, clothing, and accessories if that service is available in your area. According to Salvation Army, 82 cents of every dollar goes to work in the community it was donated; organizations vary by state and type.
What types of donations are acceptable: New and used clothing, shoes, books, DVDs, toys, accessories, home goods, and furniture.
How to donate: Visit a Salvation Army drop-off location near you or organize a pickup.
Dress for Success is an international donation center that helps women achieve professional success by providing appropriate attire for the workplace. They accept donations of new, gently-used clothing and shoes and recommend that the pieces you bring to them are clean.
What types of donations are acceptable: Women’s clothing: specifically blazers, dresses, and work-appropriate attire. (The organization doesn’t accept men’s clothing at this time.)
How to donate: Find a Dress for Success drop-off near you or organize a clothing drive in your area.
Big Brother Big Sister Foundation is a national nonprofit franchise that pairs people as young as five with mentors in the community. Many foundations also accept donations to be distributed within that specific community to encourage confidence and growth for the youth.
What types of donations are acceptable: Clothing, accessories, books, DVDs, toys, shoes and home goods.
How to donate: Check your local BBBS for specifics on drop off and donation pick up.
The Epilepsy Foundation is a non-profit organization that seeks to improve the lives of people with epilepsy through education, advocacy, research, and connection. The foundation accepts clothing donations in partnership with Savers, a national resale organization.
What types of donations are acceptable: Backpacks, purses, books, media, clothing, shoes, electronics, exercise goods, toys, appliances, and furniture.
How to donate: Search for your local epilepsy dropoff here or schedule a pickup in select locations.
GreenDrop accepts donations on behalf of local nonprofits, and then pays its nonprofit partners for your items. The company is a for-profit organization (items are eventually sold at Savers and Value Village), but it helps non-profits keep their doors open and fund their programs. The organization accepts donations via drop off, or they can also be scheduled for pick up.
What types of donations are acceptable: Backpacks, purses, bed and bath products, books, media, clothing, shoes, electronics, exercise and sporting goods, games, toys, home goods, small appliances, and small furniture.
How to donate: Search for your local dropoff here or schedule a pickup in select locations.
Founded in 1992, One Warm Coat provides free coats to children and adults in need, while promoting volunteerism and environmental sustainability. “Each coat carries a message of hope, reminding recipients that they are cared for and supported by their community.”
What types of donations are acceptable: Coats and jackets.
How to donate: Click here to find a coat drive near you.
The Arc is a community-based organization that advocates for and with people with intellectual and developmental disabilities. Many of its local outposts accept donations of physical items.
What types of donations are acceptable: Gently-used clothing, shoes, and accessories. They also accept home goods, books, furniture, and electronics.
How to donate: Click here to find the local chapters of The Arc.
