Throwing away old and never used clothes

I keep clothes for gardening. Only problem is that I end up with more gardening clothes than anything else!

I recently had a massive clear out. Bras in good nick went to Oxfam to go to Africa, Not sure if they still do this. old PANTS jst went in the non recyclable. We get a lot of charity collection bags left - I usually fill one and leave another bag or two with it. Hope it goes to a good cause.

Ive just had a huge clear out. I will never wear my size 10 jeans again or my size 12's come to that. I had tops that had not been worn for at least 2/3 years, some even longer, and clothes with tags still on. I had a ruthless session, took them to a Man who recycles and gives back a small amount of cash per kilo. Other things were given to charity. Old underwear was put in the Salvation Army collection box. The good stuff goes to a little shop which sells them for a small amount, half of which you get back. If those are not sold then I put them out for charity. Bedding and towels go to the Dog rescue as they use them for the animals. It is hard getting rid and so wasteful too but it just has to be done once in a while

Like Bigred, all my old clothes are used for travelling. Over a year I put by anything slightly stained or looking worn and pack it in my case for holidays. Over the holiday I leave a pile ( not underwear which is just thrown) with a note saying not needed. I go home with the few decent things I packed and minimal washing. The sort of holidays I take would ruin clothes anyway particularly with suntan lotion. Once I was thanked by a security guard at the hotel as he had been given some of my larger clothes by a maid for his wife who was delighted. I gave him 2 more dresses!
I never buy new for holidays but have a clear out instead.

I have never heard that idea before, Immiesnana.

I am very reluctant to part with anything unless it is torn or stained, then it usually gets binned as it is probably 15 years old!
I have just put out some decent clothes and shoes for the charity shop, as I have enough “posh” clothes for any rare occasion which demands them, and the shoes are no longer comfortable.
If I am bothered about seeing someone wearing them, then I take them to a neighbouring town.

MawBroonsback
Must have been a real shock for your relative to see someone in the donated clothes so soon after the event, but on reflection I hope they found it comforting to think that they were being re-used and re-loved and provided the charity with welcome funds.

I took a beautiful, almost new, Mondi coat to the charity shop after my mother died. It was very stylish but not a colour I would wear. The lady behind the counter commented on how lovely it was. A couple of weeks later saw the same charity shop lady walking down the road in it.

I usually donate my unused clothes and household things to my two favourite charities the local hospice shop or the Sally army shop both have had some significance in my life. It feels quite poignant that at our local hospital (the breast cancer care team) has a collection bin for unwanted bras. Many of us who have had surgery whether mastectomy or smaller surgery can no longer use the regular bras we did before treatment, so the bin there receives lots of donated ones which go to help young women in Africa, you can also donate brand new packs of cotton knickers for this same charity if you wish.

I still wear stuff I've had for twenty years plus. I do put stuff out those charity bags if I really won't wear it again and it's in good condition.
Recently our local homeless night shelter asked for donations of bras in good condition. I remembered that I had a collection of unworn bras as I went through a stage of buying them, trying to find a comfortable one. No wires or padding etc. Finally found those stretchy pull over the head sort and have never gone back to traditional ones, so I've bagged them up and will deliver later.
I know ladies in Africa want them but since watching a programme about donations ending up on market stalls and being sold instead of given away I'd rather give mine to the shelter.

I had a charity bag come through the door the other day and just left it in the hall for a couple of days meaning to do something with it. It was due for collection today so yesterday I decided to have a look in my wardrobe and see if there was anything I could get rid of. 15 minutes later I had completely filled the bag with things I hadn't worn in a long time. I decided to go with the 'if you haven't worn it for a year you don't need it ' philosophy. I can't wait for the next charity bag to pop through the letterbox. I'm sure there's loads more I can get rid of.

MawBroonsback Your SILs experience is always a possibility - especially in smaller towns. When my MIL died, I was asked to sort her clothes out, and I took them to the charity shops in the large city where I worked, rather than the ones in our local area, as I didn't want her surviving sisters to have exactly this experience..!

I am ow feeling really guilty for throwing bras away but still not sure what to do with them?

I've heard they're very good for supporting melons in a greenhouse, gilly

Speak for yourself merlot!

My bra cups are barely the size of a large orange

Gillybob.
You can donate your bras to a charity called Smalls for All if you don't have any other outlets in your area to do it. This tells you about it and why they are needing the bras. Also I read your earlier post about having lots of shoes, lots of charity shops accept shoes with plenty of wear left in them in good condition, so some of the shops near you might be happy to have them. If not you could try selling them on ebay.

Thank you JanaNana I will look that up. Our charity shops don't seem to take underwear and it seems such a shame to throw perfectly good bras simply because they no longer fit .

I have paired up about 20 pairs of shoes most of which have been hardly worn (a few never worn) simply because I no longer trust myself to walk in them.

The rule of thumb is , if you haven't worn it in a year , then you don't need it . My friend and I have a clear out once year and do a boot fair with the things we have . Then what doesn't sell goes straight to the charity shop . What ever we make is a bonus because we didn't want the stuff in the first place .

I know ladies in Africa want them but since watching a programme about donations ending up on market stalls and being sold instead of given away I'd rather give mine to the shelter.

More moral conundrums HannahLois - at least the bras are being re-cycled, the stall holder is making a few pennies, and the buyer is getting a cheap bra; so you could say a win win situation. However, I know that cheap/free clothes sent to poor countries is causing problems for local small manufacturers.

MooM00. I am working very slowly through a lot of items including clothes many of which are those of people who have died. The clothes include some new items and labelled underwear. Getting to the Charity shop has become too difficult with my disabilities.

I actually really enjoy getting rid of things! It's the sheer physical lifting and lugging that I can't do and which stops me getting rid of it all, so I get very depressed about how much there is to do that I cannot do.

Yesterday I was at the tip recycling centre with cardboard boxes. I asked the man who helped me (they are so wonderful there - my best friends!) what happened to clothing that they received? He said they sort it and all that is usable goes on a lorry to Africa and is donated to poorer people there whose need obviously is great. I was so glad to hear this! It means nothing I take by the way of clothing will be wasted! Also underwear that is unused is very welcome especially larger bras! So please do not damage them!

I would recommend you ask your local tip recycling centre what they do with clothes. Probably it's the same as mine.

Actually, they will be pleased with used underwear that is in good condition and clean.

Riverwalk. Yes! ?

HannahLoisLuke
I still wear stuff I've had for twenty years plus. Me too! ?
Weirdly, I don't feel as if they are particularly old! I remember buying them so it feels like yesterday...

I go by a simple guideline...if I haven’t worn it for three years I won’t ever again.So give it to charity. Now down to a three feet wide wardrobe and half empty.

Despite my recent mass clear out my wardrobe is still quite full of stuff that I know deep down, I will never wear again. They are either too small, too fancy or just too...…

JanaNana. Thank you so much for supporting the Salvation Army. Your donations are not wasted. The Sally Army has even been the only charity admitted to some war-torn areas and the work extends across the world. It goes without saying that religious denomination is irrelevant when giving assistance. The workers in the Sally Army are all members and get paid very little. The rest of us support the work with our weekly giving and fund raising and in any way we can, doing a lot of voluntary work too. Recently the Salvation Army was asked by the Government to go to save girls taken to be modern day slaves and sex workers. Some of my group were involved. Any help you can give will directly help somebody in terrible need. Thank you.