Senior Living News

Donate Your Clothes

Donating the clothes you no longer want is an easy way to recycle them into someone else's wardrobe. Many thrift stores operate as fundraisers for charities, so dropping off your clothes there can benefit those organizations. For example, Thrift to Thrive is a local Phoenix thrift shop that raises money to provide beds to children through the Thrive AZ Safe Sleep program. You can also find organizations that accept clothing directly and distribute those items to people in need.

You might not make any money off the clothing donations, but they should still be in good condition to benefit the organizations. Charity thrift stores often can't sell damaged or stained clothes. Some organizations have specific needs. Take the Dress for Success Phoenix program, for example. It needs professional business attire that's still in style. Before donating clothing, check the guidelines and requirements of the organization. Donating items that fit their guidelines makes the items valuable for them. With this option, you might even find additional volunteer opportunities with the organization, so you can keep giving back.

Make a Little Money

If you have clothes that are in good condition, selling them clears out your closet and boosts your bank account. Name-brand clothing that's in like-new condition typically sells the best. Unique, rare or vintage finds are also popular sellers. Lower-end garments or items that are stained or ripped often won't sell or won't earn you enough money to make it worth the work.

Here are some options for selling clothes:

• Consignment shops. This option is easy for you because the shop does most of the work. Some stores pay you up front for your items, while others give you a percentage of the price when an item sells. Consignment shops are often selective about what types, brands and conditions of clothing they'll accept. You'll also receive less money for your items than you would if you sold them yourself because the store also needs to make money.  
• Garage sales. An old-fashioned garage sale can help you clear out lots of clothes at once. People often expect a bargain at garage sales, so you might have to lower your prices with this method. However, you can also sell other household items at the same time, making it an ideal option for downsizing.
• Facebook selling groups. Facebook Marketplace and local buying and selling groups offer an online option to sell your garments locally. You can post photos and descriptions of the items and arrange meet-ups with people who want to buy them. This option can be time-consuming because you'll likely need to meet up with several different people.
• Online selling sites. If you're willing to ship your clothes, try online selling sites like Poshmark, eBay and Mercari. Don't forget to factor in the packaging materials and the time it takes to ship the items when deciding if this method is worth it.

Upcycle Them Into Something New

Donating or selling your clothes lets you pass them on to someone else. A different option is to keep them yourself but turn them into something new. You don't have to be a seamstress to upcycle old clothes. Many of the options are easy to do, even for amateur crafters.

If you have some basic sewing skills, you can keep the clothes wearable but tailor them to create a completely different look. For example, turn an old pair of jeans that's too short or has a hole in the knee into a denim skirt with a little patchwork and stitching. You might turn a long-sleeved blouse into a sleeveless shirt or add new detailing to clothes to update the style.

You can also turn clothing items into completely different things, which often work well as gifts. Turn a shirt into a scarf, or make the sleeves of a sweater into a reusable coffee cup sleeve. If you have several meaningful clothing items, you can cut them into squares and make a memory quilt with them.

An easy option that requires no creativity is to transform old clothes into cleaning rags. Simply cut them up into the size you prefer for cleaning. This option works best for soft fabrics like cotton T-shirts or old socks. It's an effective way to make extra worn, faded, stained or damaged clothes into something useful.

Find a Clothes Recycling Program

For the least amount of work possible, choose a clothing recycling program. Some options, such as Retold, accept all types of textiles, not just clothing. Others focus on specific types of garments, such as Blue Jeans Go Green for denim made of cotton and The Bra Recyclers, headquartered in Mesa, AZ, which collects lingerie for recycling. Some programs offer drop-off locations. Others accept garments mailed to the facility. You may need to purchase a shipping package for your items.