What Not to Donate When You’re Decluttering Your Home

A donation center isn’t a place to drop off everything you don’t want after decluttering. Broken furniture, stained clothing, expired products, recalled items, and other unusable belongings can create extra work for donation organizations and may ultimately end up in the trash anyway.  

Before filling your donation box, check each item’s condition and the donation guidelines for the organization you plan to visit. 

Key takeaways

• Don’t donate items that are broken, badly stained, moldy, wet, or otherwise unusable. 
• Check an organization’s donation guidelines before dropping anything off. broken 
• Don’t donate recalled products or items that could create a safety hazard. 
• Expired food, medicine, cosmetics, and personal care products generally need another disposal option. 
• Some organizations won’t accept mattresses, large furniture, electronics, building materials, or other bulky items. 
• Don’t leave unwanted belongings outside a donation center when it’s closed. 
• Recycle, repair, repurpose, or properly dispose of things that can’t be donated. 
• When you’re unsure about an item, ask the organization before bringing it. 

Broken, damaged, or unusable items

A missing button or small scratch doesn’t necessarily make something unusable. An item that’s broken beyond practical use is another story. Don’t use a donation center as a substitute for the trash. 

Think twice about donating things such as: 

• Furniture with broken frames 
• Lamps that don’t work 
• Dishes with sharp cracks or chips 
• Electronics that no longer function 
• Toys with missing pieces that make them unusable 
• Games or puzzles missing important pieces 
• Furniture missing necessary hardware 
• Severely damaged household goods 
• Stained clothing 

Before donating games, puzzles, toys, furniture, appliances, and other multi-piece belongings, make sure the important parts are there. Put loose components into a labeled bag and secure the bag to the main item when possible. 

Small problems don’t always make something undonatable. You may be able to sew on a missing button, replace a piece of hardware, or make another quick repair. 

When you’re unsure, try the friend test. Would you feel comfortable handing the item directly to someone you know? If you’d need to apologize for its condition or explain how they might be able to fix it, find another way to get rid of it. 

Stained, wet, or moldy items

Don’t donate clothing, furniture, books, rugs, mattresses, or other belongings that are moldy, wet, badly stained, or otherwise unusable. 

Before donating clothing, check: 

• Collars 
• Cuffs 
• Underarms 
• Knees 
• Hems 
• Zippers 
• Buttons 
• Pockets 

Wash clothing when needed, and make sure it’s completely dry before packing it. Moisture trapped inside a bag or box can create problems before your donation is even processed. 

Inspect upholstered furniture carefully, too. Look beneath cushions and along seams for stains, tears, pet damage, odors, moisture, broken components, and signs of pests. 

If clothing or other textiles are too worn to donate, look for textile recycling options in your area. You can also cut up old T-shirts and towels and use them as cleaning rags. 

If you’re decluttering after a leak, flood, or other water problem, keep affected belongings separate from the things you plan to donate. 

Recalled or unsafe items

Don’t pass along a recalled item. Before donating products where safety recalls could be a concern, check whether the item has been recalled. This can be particularly important for children’s products, appliances, electronics, and other products with safety components. 

If an item has been recalled, follow the manufacturer’s or recall notice’s instructions for returning, repairing, replacing, or disposing of it. Don’t assume a donation organization will catch the recall for you. 

Be particularly careful with baby gear and safety equipment. Donation organizations may have restrictions on items such as: 

• Car seats 
• Cribs 
• Bassinets 
• Highchairs 
• Strollers 
• Baby carriers 
• Helmets 
• Other protective equipment 

Safety standards change, products are recalled, and some items may have expiration dates or histories that are difficult for the next owner to verify. A helmet, for example, may have experienced an impact that isn’t obvious from looking at the outside. Other protective equipment may have wear, damage, missing components, or other issues that affect performance. 

Tip: Check the manufacturer’s recommendations and the donation organization’s rules before passing along safety equipment. 

Expired, opened, or personal-use products

Think twice before donating products that expire, are applied to the body, or have already been opened. 

This category can include: 

• Food 
• Makeup 
• Skincare products 
• Hair products 
• Deodorant 
• Toothpaste 
• Perfume 
• Razors 
• Medications 
• Other toiletries 

Food banks and other organizations may accept unopened food, but their rules vary. Check date labels and the organization’s guidelines before donating anything. 

Don’t donate food with open packaging, leaking containers, bulging cans, broken seals, mold, signs of insects, or unusual odors. 

If you’re donating pantry items, check what the organization currently needs. Giving them food they can actually distribute is more useful than simply emptying your cabinets into a box. 

Personal care products may also need to be new and unopened. That bottle of lotion you tried twice and hated may still be almost full, but that doesn’t mean a donation organization can accept it. Check before donating unopened cosmetics and toiletries, too, since policies vary. 

Don’t put unwanted medications into a general donation box. Use a medication take-back program or another disposal method recommended for the particular medication. 

Used underwear, socks, and other intimate items

Donation policies for underwear, socks, bras, and similar items vary. Some organizations may accept bras or other gently used items, while others only accept new underwear and socks. Don’t donate badly stained, stretched, torn, or worn-out items. 

Check the organization’s policy before donating intimate apparel. If an item isn’t accepted but the material can be recycled, look for a textile recycling program that accepts it. 

Large household items the organization may not accept

Don’t assume a donation center accepts something simply because it’s useful and in good condition. Acceptance may depend on the item’s size, age, condition, local rules, and how much room the organization has. 

Organizations may have restrictions on bulky items such as: 

• Mattresses and box springs 
• Sofas and other upholstered furniture 
• Refrigerators and freezers 
• Washing machines and dryers 
• Ovens 
• Exercise equipment 
• Large toys 
• Building materials 

Mattresses can be especially tricky because they’re large and aren’t accepted everywhere. Before hauling one across town, check whether your chosen organization accepts mattresses and box springs. 

The same goes for appliances. Some organizations accept working refrigerators, washing machines, dryers, and other large appliances, while others don’t. 

Confirm the requirements before moving anything. You don’t want to wrestle a washing machine into a truck only to discover that your chosen donation center won’t take it. 

If you can’t donate a large item, look into recycling, retailer removal programs, municipal bulk pickup, or other options in your area. 

Electronics

Don’t assume every donation center wants your old television, printer, computer monitor, or mystery box of cables. Electronic donation policies vary. 

Before donating electronics, find out: 

• Whether the organization accepts that type of device. 
• Whether it needs to be working. 
• Whether accessories, cords, or chargers are required. 

For computers, phones, tablets, and other devices that contain personal information, back up anything you want to keep and remove your personal data before donating them. Follow the manufacturer’s instructions for resetting or erasing the device. 

If you can’t donate an electronic device, look for an electronics recycling program in your area. 

Hazardous products and weapons

Don’t put potentially dangerous items into an ordinary donation box. Hazardous household products may include: 

• Paints 
• Solvents 
• Pesticides 
• Automotive fluids 
• Cleaning chemicals 
• Pool chemicals 
• Fuels 

If you have leftover household chemicals, check your local household hazardous waste program for disposal instructions. Don’t mix products together to save space, and keep them in their original containers when possible. 

Weapons and ammunition also require special handling. If you’re getting rid of firearms, ammunition, knives, or other weapons, research the laws and disposal or transfer procedures where you live rather than bringing them to a general donation center. 

What not to donate FAQ

What items should you not donate?

Avoid donating broken, moldy, badly stained, recalled, unsafe, or otherwise unusable items. Donation centers may also restrict mattresses, electronics, large appliances, baby gear, personal care products, and other categories. Check the organization’s guidelines before donating. 

Can you donate stained clothes?

Clothing with severe or permanent stains generally isn’t a good candidate for donation. If a garment is too worn to be reused, look for textile recycling options rather than putting it into your donation bag. 

Can you donate used underwear and socks?

Policies vary. Some organizations accept certain gently used items, while others only accept new underwear or socks. Check with the organization before donating intimate apparel. 

Can you donate opened toiletries?

Many organizations don’t accept opened toiletries for hygiene or safety reasons. Some may accept new, unopened personal care products. Check the organization’s current guidelines before donating them. 

Can you donate old electronics?

Sometimes. Donation policies vary by organization and device. Confirm that the organization accepts the type of electronics you have and whether they must be working. Remove personal data from devices before donating them. 

Can you donate a used mattress?

Some organizations accept mattresses, while others don’t. Acceptance may depend on condition and local requirements. Contact the organization before transporting a mattress or box spring. 

What should you do with things that can’t be donated?

Depending on the item, you may be able to recycle, repair, sell, give away, repurpose, or dispose of it through a specialized collection program. Electronics, medications, textiles, mattresses, and household hazardous waste may have dedicated recycling or disposal options in your area. 

Should you wash clothes before donating them?

Donate clothing that is clean and dry. Washing clothes that need it before donation makes them more ready for their next owner and gives you another chance to spot stains, holes, or damage that could make an item unusable.