6 Things Thrift Stores Won't Resell After You Donate Them Not every donation makes it on the sales floor. Close Credit: Elena Popova Key Points Thrift stores can’t sell everything—many donations, like mattresses or baby gear, are tossed for safety and sanitation reasons. Items such as broken mirrors, leftover paint, and used health products are always discarded to protect staff and shoppers. Before donating, inspect items for damage or heavy wear—if you wouldn’t give it to a friend, it doesn’t belong at the thrift store. Donating to your local thrift store is always a good thing. It's the best way to declutter your space while helping others in your community. However, not every item donated makes it to the sales floor. Behind the scenes, thrift stores sort through donations to determine what can be resold or, unfortunately, discarded. According to leaders at The Salvation Army Western Thrift Stores, many items that donors believe are good candidates for a second life can't be accepted due to safety regulations or sanitation concerns. Ahead, they share insight into what happens after you drop off your donations, which items they always throw away, and how a little extra attention can make a big difference. Kimberly McIntyre, Craig Store, Jason Chadsey, regional directors of retail at The Salvation Army Western Thrift Stores Atticus Firey, director of donations development at The Salvation Army Western USA 11 Things You Should Definitely Keep When Decluttering (You'll Thank Yourself Later) Items Thrift Stores Get Rid of Instead of Selling Credit: poligonchik / Getty Images Some thrift stores may have different policies on what they can and cannot resell, so it's a good idea to call and check before dropping off your donations. Mattresses and Box Springs Not everything can go to the thrift store once you're done using it—especially mattresses and box springs. Most states require a specific disposal process for these items, says Kimberly McIntyre, The Salvation Army's Western Thrift Store regional director of retail. How to Responsibly Dispose of a Mattress, According to Experts Baby Gear While donating your child's old crib or car seat may seem like a good thing to do, safety regulations and product recalls are constantly changing, and thrift stores aren't equipped to keep up, says McIntyre. When baby gear is dropped off, the store must refuse or dispose of them. Non-Collectible Magazines Not every magazine is valuable when it comes to donations. Unless they're collectible editions or vintage and high in value, they'll need to be recycled, says McIntyre. Liquid Paint and Solvents Leftover paint and solvents from household projects won't make it onto the shelves at the thrift store. If you're done with them, dispose of them properly—don't drop them off at the donation center. How to Dispose of Leftover Paint—Safely Mirrors and Broken Glass Salvation Army recycles or tosses mirrors and items with broken glass for safety reasons, according to McIntyre. These delicate items are also difficult to keep in good condition during the donation drop-off process. Hand Sanitizer and Face Masks Health and hygiene items such as hand sanitizer and face masks aren't resellable as thrift stores don't have the capacity to store and distribute them to places in need. If you're looking to donate healthcare-related products, contact your local health department instead. Don't Miss 8 Things You Should Never Donate to the Thrift Store—and the Reasons Why 10 Things You Should Always Buy at the Thrift Store, According to Vintage Experts How Thrift Stores Decide If Something Should Be Discarded When going through the donated items, the store inspects them to find pieces that are in good condition or that don't require significant labor, special tools, or chemicals to clean. Once the inspection is complete, the items are tagged for sale and added to the shelves. "Items that still have value but need more restoration may be processed differently—for example, an old dresser that can be sanded and repurposed, or bicycles that are no longer usable may be combined and sold in our AS-IS auction for parts," says Craig Store, The Salvation Army's Western Thrift Store regional director of retail. "Metal items like file cabinets are often recycled." Where Do Unsellable Donations Go? "Often, if a donation isn’t sellable, we can use it within our program or provide it to one of the many colleges, design schools, and art community partners we collaborate with for upcycling projects," says Atticus Firey, The Salvation Army's Western USA director of donations. Tossing items into a landfill is a last resort. Disposing of items this way not only harms the environment but also creates a financial burden for the store by diverting funds from the mission to transform lives, says Firey. What to Check Before Donating Before donating your old belongings to the thrift store, it's best to check a few things to save the staff some time. "Before donating, we encourage donors to take a quick look for rips, stains, or heavy wear that might make an item unsellable," says Jason Chadsey, The Salvation Army's Western Thrift Stores regional director of retail. "A good rule of thumb: if you’d be proud to give it to a loved one or neighbor, it’s ready to donate." Many thrift stores don't have the resources to repair or recondition donations, so ensuring that your items are in sellable condition is always helpful. Explore more: Living