Clothing Donation 101 tips

It's time to say bye bye to the shirts,tops you never wear or pants that don't fit. Why not start today? Donating clothing is a great way to free up your drawers and closet space, reduce waste, and help others in your community. Here are some tips to get started.

Sort and Wash
Look through your clothing and ask these questions: Does it fit? Do I still like it? Do I wear it? If the answer is no, it's time to give it to someone who can use it. Be sure to wash all pieces of clothing before donating. Never give away items with stains or holes. (Try to remove stains, and dry-clean wool coats and clothing.) The new owner should feel confident wearing your donations.

Donate Items
There are many ways to donate your gently used clothing. The Buy Nothing Project is a good choice for people who want their donations to stay in their communities. Post your items on social networks, typically labeled as Buy Nothing groups. Donors can feel good about passing on their items to people who can use them, and recipients breathe new life into your donated clothing. As a bonus, participants get to know others in their community through this mini-economy. If you'd rather not use social media, there are numerous charitable organizations that will accept your donations, and some may even come to your home to pick them up like Simplerecycling.

Buy Smarter
You can manage your purchases by buying less, shopping locally and investing in quality clothing that you'll wear for years to come.