5 of my best tips to find clothes to donate

The holiday season is quickly approaching, and the past few years have seen more people in need than ever before. There’s no time like now to put into practice some of my best tips to find clothes to donate!

I hate purging clothes and am guilty of letting years go by before tackling it. But there is no time like the present for spring cleaning my closet. I can donate or repurpose items I no longer need. Now is a time when some people need extra support. Clothing is necessary but not a top priority, especially when people can barely afford essentials. Clothing that may not last many more washes goes far down the list when food, medication and toilet paper are scarce.

Cleaning your closet may be something you want to get done, so why not try it now and help others at the same time!

Purging your closet can be exciting, relieving and overwhelming. But at the end of all the work, it’s so satisfying. 

My best tips to find clothes to donate

1. First Step

Decide how much time you can dedicate to decluttering your wardrobe, and then pick the day to do it – or jump right into it! Playing music helps pass the time

I’ve categorized these tips into big, small and medium jobs so you can see which fits your schedule. 

2. Big Job

Sort your entire closet and dresser into five piles: 

1. keep
2. repair 
3. give away
4. donate 
5. repurpose 

It’s time-consuming and easier said than done, but it’s best to work through it piece by piece. 

Anything you love and wear regularly, hang it back up in the closet or put it back into your dresser. 

Here are two tips to make sure you don’t keep everything!

1. Focus on quality clothes that make you feel your best. 
2. Go through this process with someone whose opinion you trust if you’re having trouble.

If you have pieces that you love but don’t wear because they need fixing or tailoring, put them into a “repair” pile. Set a reminder on your phone to take them in for repair. 

Note: If a year goes by and you haven’t fixed any of these items, you need to get rid of them!

The next three jobs should be more manageable after that. 

1. If you have family or friends who have the same taste or are the same size as you, throw some items into that pile. 
2. Put everything else to donate or sell. My only disclaimer is that it’s not an excuse to give away garbage. 
3. If it’s too worn out, broken or damaged, consider giving it to a place that recycles used clothing to make new clothing. They may be able to salvage some of it. You can also repurpose them at home as cleaning cloths or items for your pet if you have one… check out this article on Bustle with things to do with clothes you can’t donate.

3. Medium Job

Rotate your wardrobe. Wash and move your winter items into bins that you can store under your bed or in storage (if you have space). If you’re done with scarves, hats, gloves, thick sweaters, boots and your coat for the season, put them away. Bring out your spring and summer clothes and fill your closet with them. 

Disclaimer: I have only done this twice. I am too lazy to look for things if the weather changes suddenly (I live in Canada!), and I need to grab something. I have downsized my closet so that everything fits in it. But again – laziness. 

4. Small Job

Reorganize your clothes so that the current season pieces are out front. This is my lazy annual move! I will tackle the big job once every couple of years and then do this one for maintenance. 

5. Final Word

It’s a tip that’s been said a million times before. If you haven’t worn it in a year, chances are you aren’t going to wear it again, so give it to someone who can use it.

An exception to this rule includes evening wear. But, if you have a lot, consider how many special occasions coming up will require one. 

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I hope you find at least one of my best tips to find clothes to donate helpful!

Check out some more of our articles and tips.