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Wondering where to recycle your work clothes — or donate, or sell them? It can be easy to know how to get rid of other clothes, but work clothing (with linings and more probably with a high polyester content) can be a little
If you made a New Year's resolution to clean out your closet, found inspiration by watching Marie Kondo's new Netflix series, or were motivated by our recent post on how to know when to throw out workwear, today's advice on where to recycle your work clothes — as well as some ideas , donate, and sell your work clothes is for you.
We've previously talked about the pros and cons of thrifting for workwear, asked how often you declutter your wardrobe, and discussed decluttering in general.
(By the way, to do your part to avoid buying fast fashion, or at least limit your purchases, see our guide on How to Avoid Fast Fashion for Work Clothes. If you're interested in picking up a new hobby, check out our post on the best sewing patterns for workwear outfits!)
Here's our guide to where to recycle your work clothes, as well as donate and sell them!
Where to Recycle Your Work Clothes
- As we recently noted, this post on refashionNYC and this piece on clothing recycling in North Carolina can give you a good idea of what to Google to find a similar clothing recycling program in your area.
- H&M: Stores accept clothing from any brand in any condition in exchange for a coupon.
- Levi's: You can recycle jeans at any store and get 20% off one item.
- Blue Jeans Go Green: Denim is upcycled into UltraTouchTM Denim Insulation. Donate your jeans at Madewell, J.Crew, or Rag & Bone and get a discount on a new pair — or mail them in.
Where to Donate Workwear
Here are some options beyond the usual suspects like Goodwill, the Salvation Army, and Vietnam Veterans of America:
- Dress for Success: Check with your local affiliate for its guidelines for what sorts of workwear items it will accept.
- Soma: Donated bras are given to women in local domestic violence shelters and women who are homeless.
- DSW: The company partners with Soles4Souls and Be Strong and will add 50 points to your VIP account when you donate shoes.
- Contact homeless shelters, domestic violence shelters, refugee assistance groups, and places of worship in your city and ask what they need.
Where Not to Donate Clothing
- Savers: If you want to make sure your clothing is donated to a nonprofit or directly to people in need, avoid this “for-profit professional fundraiser” that accepts clothing donations “on behalf of” local nonprofits. (Value Village and Unique are also part of the Savers “family.”) Unsold clothing is recycled or sold to resellers in developing countries, which harms domestic garment and textile industries.
- Planet Aid: You may have seen one of their big yellow collection bins — there are 19,000 of them — but you may want to think twice about using one. The nonprofit is said to have ties to an alleged cult and has been criticized for being less than honest about its selling practices.
Where to Sell Work Clothing
Here are the basic details for some popular places to sell your clothes online. I've had some luck with eBay over the years but no success yet with Poshmark or Facebook groups. Readers, how about you?
- eBay: You can list up to 50 items per month for free, and you'll pay a “final value fee.” Here's an example from my own experience: eBay charged me $2.05 for a shirt I sold for $13.49. You decide the shipping method and what to charge the buyer for shipping (if anything — I'm experimenting with free shipping right now).
- Poshmark: If you want something simpler, try a site like Poshmark. Listing items is free upfront, and you receive a free pre-paid shipping label. Sellers hand over 20% for listing prices over $15, and below that, you'll give up $2.95.
- The RealReal: Consign luxury brands by mailing or dropping off your items or by having them picked up (depending on your location). TRR's staff will price and list your things, and you'll earn up to 85% of the sale price. Example: consignors who sell items with original resale list prices of $146–$195 receive 50%.
- thredUP: Another option that doesn't require you to list items yourself is thredUP. When you order a Clean Out Kit, you can choose to donate your clothing or get cash/credit. ThredUp only takes about 40% of the items on average, and they'll recycle the rest (or return them to you for $10.99). If something sells, you'll get 5%–90% of the listing price.
- Craigslist/Facebook Marketplace/Facebook groups: Your experiences will differ dramatically based on your location, the groups you post in, and the individual buyers. Here are some tips for Craigslist and Facebook.
What are your recommendations for where to recycle your work clothes — and what about selling and donating? Have you used any of the sites above?
How often do you go through your closet to downsize your wardrobe, and do you find it easy to decide to get rid of things you no longer wear … or not?
Stock photo via Deposit Photos / AntonMatyukha.
Gail the Goldfish
Some animal shelters will take donations of old clothes to use as bedding. I think they prefer old linens and towels, but will take clothes. And this is my favorite “old clothes recycling” story: https://www.wral.com/duke-lemurs-want-your-old-jeans/16745571/
catlady
They will also take used stuffed animals sometimes!
NOLA
Yes! I have donated stacks of old towels to animal shelters, especially after a natural disaster. Rescues will also take baby scales and carriers.
NOLA
I have been donating clothes to Bridge House, which has a thrift store benefitting their shelter/substance abuse program. They’re not profiting and I like what they do. I also gave a lot of clothes recently (in good condition) to some of my former students who needed clothes for work, etc. I offered on Fb (in size ranges) and invited them to come over and shop in my closet. I regularly offer up shoes on Fb to friends, if the shoes are in good shape. I’m pretty sure one of my friends hasn’t bought her own shoes in years. If the shoes are dressy pumps that are worn out, I donate to my friends who ride in Muses – they glitter them up and throw them at the parade. One of my friends does *gorgeous* glittered shoes and I have given her so many that she regularly will give me one of mine back decorated. I’ve thought about experimenting with Poshmark because I have some really nice clothes that are in good condition. Not sure if I have the time or energy to bother.
Alicia
Just unhappy about this today – I’m job searching right now. A start up that had given me a verbal offer (without a salary) and was pressuring me to respond yes or no without a written offer just emailed me saying that “we are not prepared to make an offer”. Why were you talking to me about health insurance and insisting I respond last week then? Not to mention that I couldn’t get in contact with her for a week after 1) she had made me a verbal offer and 2) I had asked for a written offer.
High value
Nope….don’t be sad…be glad and move on – they don’t get to pressure you without giving you a written offer….that’s crap! They should put a preliminary offer in email to you (subject to final approval), to document what has been discussed. If they can’t do that you don’t want to work there….thank the universe for showing you their true colors
Jo March
I know it sucks now, but it really seems like you dodged a bullet. You’re better off working somewhere that is more organized / above board than that.
anon0307
I remember you posting before… sounds like you dodged a bullet tbh. Wth knows what’s going on internally.
Alicia
Yep sorry I forgot the name I used last time. It’s annoying, but they seem pretty unprofessional. I know it’s a startup, more casual etc, and I’m wary about being too uptight because I’m coming from a more corporate background . . . but c’mon there are minimum standards.
anon
There are! And you don’t want to be in there trying to teach them standards that they should already know.
S in Chicago
Keep all of this in mind should they come calling again. Because you want to run the other way.
Here’s my read on it: Start-up has no sense how to hire (or maybe budget) since they are new at this, someone made an impulsive decision without the authority to do it or was regretting they acted impulsively and wanted to take it back after meeting someone else. They didn’t have any sort of process for alerting others the position was closed, much less regard for the fact that you may have started to give notice or wind down based on their verbal offer (and shame on them for making you request it in writing).
Whatever happened, this is a dysfunctional place to work. They have showed you that. Don’t be tempted should they come calling in a few weeks or months.
It stinks to job search. But you are better than this.
Alicia
Thank you for this. I’m going to reply to this email with the usual niceties, but I’m not really sure what to say. I could ask for feedback but . . . I don’t really want it.
Cat
I’m sure the anon Shirts poster would be happy to put any unwanted business attire to… good use.
Vicky Austin
Snorting.
anon
LOL
Anonymous
I’m booking a cleaning service for the first time… Do I hide all my valuables? Any other advice?
anon
I’ve never hidden anything. But I will also only use cleaners that are recommended by a personal connection (not a list serve or similar). I’d also suggest being home at least the first time to help orient and show them what you want.
Small Firm IP Litigator
I sort of hide things, as in not letting valuables/money/documents with PII sit in plain sight. I’ll just put that stuff away in a drawer or in my briefcase or something, not in a safe. We also have someone at home when they are there because we just don’t feel comfortable otherwise, but that is a personal thing.
Anon0307
I generally trust people but also don’t like to tempt people. In every place I’ve lived I’ve switched out 1 closet doorknob with a locking version (seriously $10 and 10 min) and just chuck anything valuable in there that could be walked off with (engagement ring I don’t wear, laptops, etc… I told my husband to do the same and he put in all his comic books lol… I was like- no one wants those!).
Ellen
I learned from my first experience NOT to leave anything valueable out that could easily be stolen. When I lived in DC, I had a cleaneing lady come and clean my apartement and my Movado watch disappeared. I asked the cleaneing lady about it and she said she did not see any watches. I do not know if she was lying, but the timing was to crazy to blame it on anyone else. The guy I was seeing then had a lot of money, so I am pretty sure he could care less about a woman’s Movado watch. I kept the cleaneing lady on for a few more months, but at the end of the semester, I told her I would NOT be needing her any more.
Idea
What! I did not know about that PlanetAid cult tie story – that is crazy!! It needs it’s own podcast series 10/10 would listen
Canyouwink
I also recommend Project Beauty Share as a place to donate unwanted beauty supplies, but I still need to find a place to donate unwanted lipsticks and nail polishes. : https://projectbeautyshare.org/
Anonymous
Please consider donating work clothes to your local public defender’s office for use as trial clothing for women who don’t have the means to purchase appropriate clothing or are incarcerated.
Anonywitch
I never thought of that! Great idea!
ValkyrieLawyer
Donations of bras and feminine hygiene products can also go to “I Support The Girls” (add a dot org to that phrase for the s!te, for more info).
Anonymous
We do eBay, shoes and purses sell quickly, everything just moves on out of our lives at a steady pace, about one item a week. Except for altered pants, those I donate.
HigherEd
Consider donating good-quality work clothes to a local university or law school – many have clothing closets for students in need who are trying to build a professional wardrobe! Check the career services/student activities offices. You might consider doing a drive at your office to have a greater impact. I work in higher ed and professional clothing can really be a challenge from student from low-income and first-gen college/grad school backgrounds.
Ellen
This is a great idea, but if you don’t live in the same place, it is difficult. I went to GW, and that is in DC. I could not imagine dragging all of my old clotheing on the ACELA to go back to GW to give them boxes of old (but still good clotheing). Perhaps a good idea is to have RECIPROCITY — if I give to local NY Law schools my old clotheing, this would allow others working in DC to get nice clotheing from local law schools that are donated by people who went to a NY law school but live now in DC. I would call it the “Legally Blonde Swap Shop” Kat/Kate, what do you think?
Lobbyist
FYI I bought some pants from Thred Up and they were great. I searched by my brand, my size and nearly new and got about 8 pairs for $240 or something and 6 worked great. Very worth it for staples.