Throwing away old and never used clothes

I wear things for ages, too - don't buy very much and go for better quality that lasts.
Anything that's not stained or too worn will go to charity shops, otherwise it's the textile recycling bins.

My dd once took a stack of men's old shirts - dh's and from various friends - back to Ethiopia, where she was working at the time. There were so many extremely poor people who were very glad of them. The 'watchman' outside her office didn't even have a home - he'd sleep on a bench outside. To him she gave the only unworn shirt - one of dh's which was still in its packing - I'd bought it for him but he didn't like it and had never even opened it.

The watchman was so chuffed - dd said he wore it constantly for a couple of weeks!

I would honestly never have thought of donating bras, but if a bra can prevent any woman being raped, I shall certainly do so.

Looking forward to donating my old specs when my eye settles down again from my cataract surgery. Glasses are in very short supply in Africa and Bangledesh.

I am a a non-buyer and a chukker. I rarely buy clothes on impulse, plan my wardrobe and only buy what I see a need for. Clothes stay in use until it begin to look a little tired then goes out, as does the occasional bad buy: currently a summer coat I bought three years ago which looks odd over every outfit bar the one I was wearing when I bought it - which has died, and a pair of shoes that when worn for any time, are actually too small for me. One foot is larger than the other and I risked buying a shoe that fitted the smaller foot because the size above was not in stock.

Everything bar underwear goes to a charity shop, or textile recycling. Underwear goes in the bin because by the time I throw it out, it is usually grey, and falling apart.

I buy from charity shops as well as donate.

I buy as well as giving HillyN and I know otherg GNs do too..

Thank you all for replying, I will certainly think twice and make sure I donate bras in the future.

Copied from Global Women Connected, explaining how donated underwear can stop some women being attacked:

In Africa, some women are living in such poor conditions that they only have access to a single pair of knickers, or sometimes none at all.
Not only is this obviously unhygienic, but if women own underwear, they are considered more wealthy and likely to be ‘cared for’, which means they are likely to have a male relative in their life. In turn, this means they are perceived as ‘not alone’, and thus are seen as less vulnerable, and are less likely to be attacked or raped.
Smalls for all is a great charity which has been set up by Maria Macnamara, who after visiting and assisting vulnerable people in Africa, wanted to make a lasting difference to their lives.
Smalls for all collects and distributes new and second bras in good condition for redistribution to vulnerable women, as well as old, or broken bras which they will recycle and raise money from which helps to go towards providing their service. They also request new knickers for women and children under age 15. Smalls for all distributes this underwear to both women and children in need, such as those who have had to flee their home, children in orphanages, or those with medical conditions such as fistula. They are also helping support the education of children.

I will be sorting my underwear drawer out later today. I am sure I have loads I don't wear or need. You have all inspired me!

If you have a local ‘homeless’ charity they are glad to receive clean underwear and socks, as well as practical outerwear and shoes.

So many of you on here give unwanted clothes to charity shops, am I the only one to buy from them?
I wear my clothes until they get stained or fall apart, then my OH has the T-shirts and pants as paint rags, the rest goes in the bin. Then I go to the charity shop to buy 'new'!

Not always 'old'.
My hasty and unsuitable purchases end up at charity shops. I never learn.

I only keep clothes that fit and look/feel good. Can't see any point in keeping things that are not going to look great when I can donate them to a local charity shop.

I too am trying to get rid of clothes that I no longer wear, regardless of how ruthless I have to be and donate to the Salvation Army. I recently had a real wake up call, though, after sorting through items that had been donated to a charity that I support. Some items were lovely but others were unusable because they were so tatty and in some cases so dirty that it would be insulting to think that another women would want them. It made me ask myself that if I wouldn’t wear this ( too shabby usually) then who would. I now sort my donations into wearable and ragbag.

I usually have a clear out a couple of times a year and take it down to our local vets who collect for the Blue Cross. It's easy to park there and they're always grateful. I sent a bag full of bras to the Smalls for All address last year which was a relief as I don't like binning them when they're hardly worn. I seem to buy the pretty ones which sadly don't feel right after wearing them for a day

I have a box of size 10 stuff I really don't want to part with but sense tells me I'll not fit into them again and the same with shoes. I 'lost' a summer coat last year - after finally deciding I must have left it somewhere I bought another then a few weeks ago I was looking for some curtains and opened a suitcase. There was a bag of summer clothes and yes - my coat was there

Donate Bras and smalls to:
Smalls for All,
108 Buchanan Crescent,
Elliburn, Livingstone.
Scotland.
EH547EF

Highly suspicious of the charity bags that come through my door wanting perfume,make up, handbags but no bric-à-brac or books. When you look at the small print it’s sold by weight....for pennies! The rest goes abroad. I donate a great deal, but to my local Sue Ryder store.

I would rather give to a charity shop. Only a small percentage of the profits from those collected at the door goes to charity.

till i get sick of the sight of old clothes. woollies that i never wear. having said that i have my mums old cardigan. and her coat. yes i know i should give them to charity .,but its like keeping a little bit of her in my home. if you do take them to charity shop choose one that out of your area.(like mawsbrronback)...you could see "you" walking down the high street. haha. most of my older clothes have gone as i would never fit back into them...

Donate bras to Oxfam, they send them abroad for girls and women that can't afford to buy them new.
I give other clothing, shoes and other goods to the Salvation Army or Help for Heroes.
I thought that the bigger charities (with branches everywhere) sent their donated goods to a central sorting facility and distributed from there, so I am surprised that a recognisable item was seen in same area.
Years ago, I put a tea chest full of 60's and 70's shoes into the sale room - oh how I wish that I still had them, they are back in fashion, and as vintage (?) are worth more than they cost. I would wear them now...………..

I just started reading 'To buy or not to buy' by April Benson - as I felt I was buying too many clothes and am finding it hard to resist buying more. I know it's a sort of self - medicating! I give to charity shops regularly, but would prefer to keep fewer clothes till they wear out rather than having loads crammed into my wardrobe. That's the aim anyway! I'm sure a lot of clothes unsold in charity shops must end up in landfill anyway.

Where do you send your bras? And does anyone know any charity which would like men's socks, virtually unworn and all in good condition? Would also greatly appreciate any ideas as what to do with no longer the right size pressure stockings? Don't want to land fill any of this stuff.

donated

Apropos the donation of bras.... I read a quote from Africa about how important it could be. A young girl, wearing a donated bra was attacked and on the point of being raped. Her assailant, on pulling her shirt off her stopped and apologised.
I understand that you are an important woman who can afford to buy a bra. I apologise for my actions and hope you will forgive me.
Without the doated bra, would a rape have occurred?

I have never ever thrown away any clothes- but make sure they go to Charity Shop or the recycling centre here run for and by refugees. They u-cycle clothes or turn them into bagks, carpets, all sorts.

But ... yes, I have far too many clothes I keep for 'when I have lost the weight and can get back into them ' - perhaps I should accept this is just not going to happen...

Please don't cut up our bra - there is a charity which sends them to Africa 'Smalls for All". Apparently, in certain regions of Africa, if a woman is wearing a bra she is less likely to get raped as it is seen as a sign of wealth!

Usually try to clear out clothes twice a year usually when changing for the summer/winter seasons. Have come to realise keeping clothes in the hope they will fit again is useless. Unless really worn all usually goes to charity shop except knickers. Bras are accepted as in some countries desperately needed especially for young girls as wearing one can help prevent rape.

I read that during the winter months turn all your summer wear inside out, and visa versa for summer. Then the following winter if at the end of the season you still have clothes inside out , discard, that way you have given all the clothes a year to be worn. read that a few years ago, but am yet to do