10 Household Items You Might Regret Donating—They Could Be Worth Serious Money

Donating unwanted items is good for the planet, your home, and the person who ends up scooping up a treasure at a steal. But the phrase "one man’s trash is another man’s treasure" has never been so accurate when it comes to donating some under-the-radar items in our homes. As you declutter your house, carefully inspect the following items noted by our experts. You may be surprised to learn they hold significant value—so don’t donate them just yet.

Vinyl Records

Before donating that dusty old box of records hiding in your attic, take the time to thoroughly inspect them. "Most people donate records too quickly because they assume they are either worthless clutter or instantly valuable just because they are old (which they sometimes are)," says Inki Hong, founder of Recordbuilds. "The value usually comes down to the specifics: the exact pressing, condition, rarity, label, country of origin, and whether there is actual collector demand for that version."

Hong recommends looking for the following to determine whether your vinyl record is worth something:

• The catalog number and pressing
• Whether the pressing was first, early, limited edition, colored vinyl, or Record Day release
• Unique features like inserts, original sleeves, misprints, or special artwork
• The condition of the record and the sleeve
• What similar copies of the record have sold for recently

Paintings

Even if the artwork in your home is no longer your style, do some research before donating it. "Start with determining the artist, correctly deciphering the signature if signed, and be certain that the work is original and not a printed copy," says Noralen Curl, a fine art and antiques expert. "If you are unsure, consult an appraiser or auction house first."

Curl notes that doing basic research can mean the difference between donating a print or an original painting worth hundreds of thousands of dollars. "In 2017, a woman purchased a painting at a thrift store for $4, which turned out to be an original work by renowned American Illustrator, NC Wyeth," Curl says. "The painting sold at Bonhams Skinner auction house for $191,000. The painting was clearly and legibly signed NC WYETH, and could have easily been looked up before donating."

Precious Metals

Check your silver items—you may unknowingly donate valuable sterling silver if you don’t first check for proper markings. "Sterling silver has intrinsic precious metal value due to being 92.5 percent pure silver. It also has objective value depending on the item's use and maker," says Curl. Curl suggests checking all silverware for the marks "sterling," "925," or British or international silver hallmarks. "Don’t be the person who unwittingly gives a Faberge piece to the Goodwill because you couldn’t be bothered to check those Cyrillic hallmarks," she says. 

Designer Handbags

Designer handbags hold their value well, especially when they’re in good condition. Some even go up in value depending on their rarity. Check the labels on your bags before you decide to donate them. "Several designer handbags increase in value over the years, especially special edition handbags, such as the Takashi Murakami collection for Louis Vuitton, or the classic Hermes Birkin or Kelly," says Jennifer Johnson, owner of True Fashionistas, a resale shop. 

Vases and Plates

Before donating vases or plates, flip them over to check for a maker's stamp, says Curl. "Some of these will be clearly marked, which makes it easy for a quick online search," she says. Curl notes that Asian vases may be harder to verify value because many of them are unmarked, or the markings may be hard to translate. "I recommend consulting an Asian Antique Porcelain specialist at a reputable auction house before donating because you don’t want to be the person who donated a $9 million pair of Qing Dynasty jars that some lucky person scooped up for $25," Curl says.

Older Clothing

Check labels before donating an entire closet of clothing, especially if clothing items are more than 25 years old. "I always recommend taking note of any legacy brands (think Ralph Lauren, Brooks Brothers, and vintage Levi's) and carefully researching the value. Some pieces can sell for hundreds, especially if they are in pristine condition," says Sara McDaniel, designer and owner of Purvéy Minden, an upscale, vintage store. McDaniel suggests doing a reverse image search on Google or eBay for similar sold items. "You can quickly identify if you have an article of clothing that is valuable and sought after," she says. 

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Levi's Jeans

Speaking of Levi’s, the vintage pair in the back of your closet should warrant a second look before donation. "Vintage denim has become a serious collector's market, which has been driven in large part by Japanese buyers who love the American workwear heritage. Levi's 501s from before the 1970s are the ones to check carefully," says Kayleigh Davies, an antiques specialist at Auctionet. Check for a small red tab on the back pocket of the jeans. "If ‘Levi's’ is spelled with a capital E, the jeans are pre-1971," Davies says. "The earlier the better, and condition matters. Prices can vary, but rare early examples have been known to reach four figures."

Film Cameras

Not all vintage cameras are valuable, but some can be worth serious money if they're in good condition. "Prestige makers like Leica and Hasselblad are as popular as ever, with dedicated collectors who know exactly what they want," Davies says. "A good Leica outfit can be worth anything from a few hundred to several thousand dollars." Note the condition, though—fungus that develops inside the lens can decrease value, Davies adds. 

Art Prints

Before assuming your art print is a mass-market print, carefully inspect it for a pencil-signed signature. "If a print is signed in pencil, it means it was individually signed by the artist—a hallmark of a limited edition," says Davies. "It should also tell you the edition number. Artists like Andy Warhol and David Hockney turn up in house clearances surprisingly often, and they can sometimes be worth hundreds or thousands of dollars."

Pyrex Dishes

Pyrex dishes and bowls are always worth a second look, says Davies. Specific prints and colors can sell for thousands of dollars. "Bold, graphic prints have the biggest appeal, so are always worth checking, with patterns like Butterprint, Snowflake Blue, and Lucky Clover all being collectible," she says. "Butterprint is quite commonly found in turquoise, so items in the pumpkin colorway can be worth more. A set of four nesting Butterprint bowls in pumpkin can sell for over $1,000."