Closet Clean Out? Here's How To Save Your Clothes From The Landfill
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The end of the year is just around the corner, which may have you eyeing your belongings and deciding what to keep and what to toss. This is a popular time of year to clear spaces and reset, partially as a way to enter a new year with less clutter in your physical space or on your mind. But, it is also a time to make space for new belongings that you may find—or be gifted—in the coming weeks.
If you find yourself piling clothing on your bed Marie Kondo-style and making piles labeled Donate, Trash, and Keep, don’t forget to slow down and be intentional with the ways in which you dispose of the items no longer sparking joy. Are you wondering how to throw out your clothes?
Sure, the simplest way could send them heading to a landfill, but now is a great time to be charitable and generous by considering places in your area that are in need of donated clothing, as well as getting creative with ways that you can get rid of your clothes in a sustainable way.
Step One: Sort your clothing into groups
As you clean out your closet and empty drawers, you may wonder where to donate or sell items and how best to throw out clothes that aren’t good enough to be worn again. The first step in this process is to sort your clothing into piles. Obviously, you’ll want a pile of things that you’ll keep; or, you can simply fold these and put them back into your wardrobe.
Create four groups for the items you no longer want or have use for: clothes to give away, clothes to resell, clothes to trade or gift to people you know, and clothes that are so worn that they need to be repurposed (and in some cases, trashed).
Group 1: Worn items that are still wearable
Used clothes that can still be worn are perfect candidates for donations. This includes clothing that isn’t your style anymore, as well as items that might be more distressed, with minor issues such as small stains, thin fabric at the elbows, frayed edges, missing buttons, and so on.
You certainly don’t want to donate items that have large stains or holes that would render the item useless for warmth (not to mention style). More and more fashion brands are creating opportunities to give back to the community and ethically dispose of clothes. This includes donating to a local shelter, church, clothing drive or sending via a “give back” bag. However, be sure that the clothes that you give are recently laundered, folded neatly, and free of pet hair.
Brands that will accept any clothing to recycle or donate
You can also donate these “old” clothes to thrift stores, like Savers, Salvation Army, and Volunteers of America.
Group 2: Items to resell or trade in for money
If you have clothing that you want to resell, you have plenty of options. There are typically many local consignments, boutiques, thrift or resale stores where you can drop off clothes to earn store credit or, in some cases, walk out with cash.
Many fashion brands have programs that allow you to send in their clothing and receive a store credit. Still other brands will accept clothing from any brand, not just their own. There are other options to consider, like Poshmark and Depop, for selling your clothing second-hand. However, they require more work from you because you’ll need to photograph, describe, and post each item, as well as package and ship things as you sell them.
Brands that will accept their own clothing back (for trade-in credit/$)
Brands that will accept any (or most) clothing brand(s) to resell
ThredUP - includes partnerships with Madewell, Athleta, and other brands where you’re paid in a gift card to other partnering store
Group 3: Clothing you can swap or gift
Some clothing is worth hanging onto for a bit longer if you have a friend or family member in mind who could get more use out of the items. If you have lightly worn items, don’t be shy—offer them to friends, pack them up for a clothing swap or host one yourself, or think about giving them as hand-me-downs.
Clothes make great gifts even if they aren’t brand new, and vintage and worn styles are both timeless and trendy. Your old clothes may become your friends’ new favorite sweater or go-to interview blouse. Sharing clothing among friends can also help to strengthen bonds, improve community ties, and allow some people the opportunity to own items they couldn't afford or access at retail prices.
It can also be fun to host a clothing swap near the holidays, too, especially when people are seeking connection that doesn’t require spending money; invite friends over for a potluck or just a clothing swap and trade items to refresh everyone’s closet without spending a dime.
Group 4: Unwearable items
Some used clothes can’t be worn again, and they can be hard to throw away in a sustainable way. If your items are stained beyond repair or have fluids like blood, paint, gasoline, or other harsh chemicals, it’s probably best to put them in your trashcan, rather than trying to salvage them. If only a portion of fabric is affected, you could try making a crop top or a new pair of denim shorts!
You can be creative with the rest of your old or torn clothing though, so don’t rush to the trash bin just yet. Consider cutting clothing into rags to use for cleaning messes or strips for making DIY woven rugs. You can also turn T-shirts and favorite patterns into quilts, tie-blankets, stockings, and more.
You could even take clothing scraps and use them to stuff a homemade pillow—the options are endless! And, with the holidays a few weeks out, maybe your old long sleeve shirt is best worn by a scarecrow or your ratty scarf now perfect for a snowman.
In summary, there are numerous ways to get rid of your used clothes instead of just throwing them out, ranging from printing a free shipping label and sending a bag through the mail to more involved processes, like listing individual items on DePop. Regardless of what you choose, try to be sustainable and creative with how you throw out clothes; they probably have more life in them than you realize!