15 Things You Should Never Donate to Thrift Stores
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The total worth of secondhand donations and thrift items in the U.S. in 2023 was around $23 billion, according to thrift statistics. That’s one-third of the secondhand market overall. Thrift stores are goldmines for rare gems and clothing deals, but not everything should be there.
‘Giving is not just about donating. It’s about making a difference,’ said the eminent etiquette coach Emily Post. Some things are worse than useless to these thrift shops. Here are 15 donation no-nos – and why charity shops are happier when you keep these items out of their donation bins.
Broken Electronics
This is definitely not a gadget for the thrift shop because it’s much more glitchy than glam. Broken gadgets usually sit on the refurbishing floor, unsellable and often expensive for stores to haul away.
Bring them to an e-waste recycling center to be properly disassembled and reused.
Mattresses
Donating a mattress is unwise for sanitary and safety reasons; many thrift stores will not take them. Survivor Bill Wagner said that the ones that do might have strict guidelines for cleanliness and condition.
Your mattress could be a source of bedbugs, which can easily spread to other items in the store. Better yet, if your items are in good enough condition, donate them to a local shelter or furniture bank.
Large Appliances
Thrift stores usually cannot provide storage space or spare parts for goods like fridges and washing machines.
Such bulky objects are best sold, given to someone else, or taken to a commercial recycling center that can handle their size and weight.
Hazardous Materials
We don’t want to think you meant to, but make sure the things you donate aren’t dangerous. Items like pesticides, batteries, and some medications could be harmful.
Because they tend to violate the rules of many donation centers, the proper way to remove them is to deposit them at a hazardous waste facility.
Personal Care Items
Do not give makeup and toiletries that can’t be resealed, such as shampoo and creams or ointments, out of their tubes and bottles or medication of any kind. Many of them will have expired, and some may be damaging to use for other people.
Throw them away or give some to places that redistribute treasures to the homeless. Shelters might take some sealed and in-date items but always check their guidelines first.
Weapons
Places that accept donations of clothing and furniture have a good chance of forbidding weapons. The fact that many states require background checks for specific firearms makes the liability of having them in their store simply too great.
Call your local police for information about how to turn in unwanted firearms.
Medical Equipment
Medical equipment and walking aids such as walkers or crutches are not suitable for donating as they are usually very personal to the user and may cause harm to a different person differently fitted.
Research redistribution programs in your area to find a place that will pick up these goods and ensure they reach those who need them. You can also call your local hospital and ask how it handles the disposal of these items.
Magazines and Newspapers
Your old magazines and newspapers aren’t meant for thrift stores. They pile up quickly, take up valuable space, and don’t sell.
Rather than give them away, you can look into donation programs or pass them on to schools and arts organizations, which can replicate them for classes and projects.
Unassembled Furniture
Thrift stores don’t have the time or resources to assemble furniture pieces or other items that require assembly, resulting in more work for staff and an increased risk of damage. Incomplete items are often discarded.
Donate usable items that can be enjoyed immediately. Unassembled furniture ready for transport should be simple to assemble, or the parts should be clearly labeled.
Stained or Torn Clothing
It might even be tempting to think that someone might want to repair that old favorite jumper, but thrift stores aren’t in the business of dealing with heavily damaged items. Give only good clothing and recycle or repurpose textiles in poor condition.
According to an Environmental Protection Agency report, Americans throw away nearly 17 million tons of textiles every year, but more than 90 percent of them could be recycled.
Used Underwear
Donating used undergarments is a no-brainer, but it is worth mentioning. Undergarments were the premier undonatables on the Goodwill Industries list – hygiene is reason enough.
Because most stores have policies against accepting used underpants, there are lots of textile recycling programs out there for your old undies. Please, let thrift store racks be reserved for clothes that are, in fact, wearable.
Toys with Missing Parts
Used toys and games with a piece missing are a nightmare for thrift stores, which would have to toss them in the trash or try to list them for sale without all the pieces.
Nobody likes to play with incomplete puzzles or toys with one missing limb, so donate only complete sets of toys and send damaged or incomplete ones to plastic recycling programs.
Perishable Food
Feeding America reports that 92 billion pounds of food are wasted in the U.S. annually, which translates into nearly 145 billion individual meals and more than $473 billion dollars of wasted food each and every year.
Perishables wouldn’t be what a thrift store ran on anyway, so send them to local food banks or shelters. Fresh food can be a beacon of hope here.
Cribs and Car Seats
Three-point safety regulations are always changing, and thrift stores can’t always check for crib or car seat safety. The National Highway Traffic Safety Administration (NHTSA) advises that parents replace car seats after six years because they wear out and technology improves.
Cribs manufactured before June 2011 do not meet federal safety standards. Give it to friends or family who need it or find a program that can ensure that items like cribs meet current safety standards.
Old Computers and Accessories
Old electronics, old computers, and their accessories can be a thrift store manager’s nightmare.
It’s difficult to sell old hardware, yet the disposal has to be done properly, and the shop is responsible for the expense. E-recycling centers are a much better solution.
Disclaimer – This list is solely the author’s opinion based on research and publicly available information.
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