4 Things You Should Never Donate—and Why They're Worth Fixing Instead

Clothing With Stains, Tears, or Holes

Unsurprisingly, clothing is one of the most donated categories of goods—but it’s also one of the most commonly thrown away. Many well-meaning donors underestimate how important the condition of the items is, especially since most charity shops don’t have the time to rehab an item. “If an item is badly stained, ripped, severely wrinkled, or has pulls, it’s typically destined for the trash bin,” says vintage store owner Jennifer Prince.

Instead of dropping off damaged clothing at the thrift store (that’ll just end up in the dumpster after processing), choose upcycling. “Consider adding a patch to a pair of pants with a tear, or buying a darning kit to repair a holey sweater,” Prince says.

Even if the clothing item is unwearable (and can’t be repaired), the fabric itself can still be useful. For example, Prince recommends ripping up an old t-shirt to use as cleaning rags or a craft project. This will help keep fabric out of landfills—the U.S. alone sends a whopping 11.3 million tons of clothing to the dump annually, per the United States Environmental Protection Agency (EPA).

Wobbly or Scratched Furniture

Furniture is another often donated category, but Rusyniak warns that anything extensively damaged or heavily soiled will be sent to the trash.

While you might not be able to save some moldy or pest-infested pieces (for safety reasons), Rusyniak says there are plenty of other types of furniture that can be salvaged. “Wood furniture often needs only sanding, glue, or touch-up stain to feel new again.”

Prince adds that tightening screws or repainting are other easy DIYs most folks can handle themselves. “If you want to learn it, someone is teaching you how to do so on YouTube,” says Prince.

If the fix is too difficult for you to tackle and you don’t want to pay an expert (think: reupholstering a whole couch), Prince recommends listing the item for free on Facebook Marketplace or Craigslist. “Your inability to fix something could be someone else’s next DIY project,” she says.

Non-Working Lamps and Light Fixtures

In many cases, thrift stores plug in a donated fixture to see if it works before putting it on the sales floor—and will toss it if it doesn’t.

Both Prince and Rusyniak emphasize that most light fixtures are easy to rewire. “Rewiring kits are inexpensive and take little time to install,” Rusyniak explains. These kits are available at many big box stores for under $20.

Outdated Electronics

No, in most cases, your local thrift store is not interested in your iPod Nano from 2006. Consider whether or not the electronic in question is repairable (or even worth the effort), Rusyniak explains. “If a repair gives the item meaningful additional use, it may be worth doing.” Issues like clogged ports or frayed cords can be easily fixed at home and are inexpensive to address.

“On the other hand, safety concerns such as electrical damage or mold are strong indicators that the item should be recycled or disposed of rather than repaired,” says Rusyniak. In those cases, responsible recycling is paramount to keep them out of landfills and reduce the risk of environmental pollutants.

Many areas have local recycling programs specifically for electronics, where materials like copper and aluminum can be thoughtfully reused. (A quick internet search can help you find the nearest drop-off location.)