If you’re anything like us, you’ve got plenty of things around the house that you’d like to clear out. The urge to purge your closets and basement of clutter is strong, and you’ll likely consider donating a significant amount of it to second-hand shops. But despite good intentions, there are some things that thrift stores absolutely do not want in their donation bin.
Here are some items you should never donate.
Expired Food
When you’re cleaning out your pantry, you might be tempted to donate canned goods that are slightly past their best-by date, or expiring shortly. But if you don’t want to eat those foods, why do you think they’re appropriate for anyone else? If you want to donate to a food pantry, do the right thing and purchase new cans and packages, or at least only donate ones that still have a few months left before the best-by date.
Recalled Items
If you know something is on a safety recall list, don’t donate it and make it someone else’s problem. Depending on the item, it may be dangerous to pass it along to someone who is unaware. If you’re unsure, you can check the list of recalls and safety notices from the U.S. Consumer Product Safety Commission.
Car Seats
Car seats for children have expiration dates. The materials it’s made out of can degrade over time — especially in extreme hot or cold temperatures in a car or garage — so it may not work as well as intended. Additionally, advances in technology may render a car seat less effective at preventing injuries compared to a newer model.
Mattresses
Many thrift stores and charity shops don’t accept mattresses. That’s because they can be very difficult (if not impossible) to clean thoroughly. They can also bring in bedbug infestations, something that thrift stores try to avoid at all costs. Only if your mattress is in pristine condition should you consider donating it, and then you need to call around to see if anyone will accept it.
Cleaning Products
Many cleaning products are considered hazardous chemicals and shouldn’t be donated. Most thrift stores won’t accept them, along with other household chemicals like pesticides and fertilizers. In many places, there may be legal restrictions on owning or disposing of such chemicals as well.
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CRT TVs
Remember those giant, extremely heavy TVs? If you’ve got one languishing in the attic, here’s a newsflash: no one wants it. There’s so many small, light televisions floating around now that they’re plenty cheap on the secondhand market, so no one will want your old 25-inch, 60-pound behemoth.
Old Electronics
Similarly, there are probably very few people in the market for your ancient speakers or that box of unidentified power cords. Some things may have value to people, such as an alarm clock or stereo, but items like your broken small kitchen appliances should be disposed of safely and properly.
Used Underwear
Just in case it needs to be said: Don’t donate used underwear. It’s gross, it’s unhygienic, and employees absolutely do not want to sift through your lingerie drawer to find things of value. Most thrift stores won’t accept it.
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Paint
If you had a half-gallon of extra paint leftover from your latest project, either keep it for touchups or dispose of it properly, because thrift stores aren’t going to accept it. It falls in the hazardous material category of household goods.
Batteries
Batteries, too, are technically hazardous household items. Old batteries can leak, as we all know from finding a forgotten pack of batteries behind something in the garage. If you want to donate a useful electronic or toy, take the batteries out first.
Worn Shoes and Clothes
There’s no shortage of secondhand clothes, so be selective about what you donate from your closet. Anything with holes, lots of stains, or heavy wear and tear should be discarded or recycled, rather than donated. That includes shoes that have holes or worn down soles, and mismatched socks. And unless you’re donating a pair that you got as a gift and never wore, slippers are a pass, too.
Anything With Personal Information
Computers with hard drives are tricky to donate because of all the personal information that could potentially be stored on them. However, other items also contain personal information, such as notebooks, old diaries, appointment books, calendars, planners, and any other documents where you have written down important things.
Moldy Items
Did your basement have a minor flood? Throw things out instead of donating them if they came from an environment where there was a high potential for mold. You don’t want to spread those allergens to other places like the thrift store or someone else’s home, even if you can’t see the mold.
More Decluttering Tips From Cheapism
- 32 Things Every Retiree Should Get Rid Of — When it comes to retirement downsizing, it can be tough to determine where to start. Here are tips from experts.
- Expert Tips to Make Money Selling Stuff Online — Looking to clear out some clutter and make some money in the process? Here are some smart tips to make the most of selling your things online.
- 17 Places to Donate Clothes and Clutter for Money — In some cases, you can make a little cash by clearing out your clutter. Here are several options for your excess stuff.
