How to get rid of clothing you no longer want, responsibly.
We all get sick of items we no longer want or need anymore and it can be challenging to know what to do with your clothing when you no longer have a need to for it. If you are emotionally attached to your clothing, I recommend putting it in a bin in your basement/garage/storage space for a couple of weeks and seeing if you miss it/go into the bin to get it. If not, chances are it’s time to give it up. Below are a few ideas that you can consider.
Upcycle- Can you turn an old tee-shirt into cleaning rags? This will get the most possible use out of your clothing, save you money on paper towels and make cleaning much easier. Sew or have a friend who sews? Turn a pair of jeans into jean shorts? Can you make a memory quilt with old clothing you love but no longer use? Be creative.
Swap/Give to a Friend- Put all of the clothing you no longer want and organize a swap with a friend who is a similar size. Are you socially distancing? Drop off your clothing on a friends front porch or do a zoom clothing swap and send the items you each want in the mail.
Recycle- Brands like Helpsy, Blue Jeans Go Green, and Terracycle make it easy to recycle your clothing. In this case you clothing with be turned into insulation, stuffing for car seats or a number of other things. Each company does it differently so it’s best to read the information on their websites. More info on this here.
Sell- There are many companies like PoshMark or ThreadUp where you can sell your unwanted clothing fairly easily. There are even people who will buy your clothing and sell it for you making this even easier and putting extra money in your pocket. When we start to think about our clothing having value, it creates a different approach to buying which is also very important.
Donate- Of course donating can always be an option, however many times when we think we are donating our clothing to a good cause, this is not always the case. Donation centers can often be overwhelmed and then send clothing to a middle man who then delivers it to other countries where the clothing can be sold in markets. The challenge with this is that there is still typically more than can be sold and it often ends up being incinerated releasing harmful chemicals in our air. This can be true for in store donations as well at some of your favorite retailers who have give back programs. Make sure to always ask questions about where these items may be going. Purses or suitcases may be needs at shelters, call your local shelter and see if you can donate there directly.
The end of your clothing lifecycle should always be considered when making a purchase from the start. For example, are you buying a dress to wear to a wedding you will most likely never wear again? If this is the case, try borrowing from a friend or renting instead. This not only helps to save you money but also space in your closet.