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Who doesn’t love a good closet clean-out? Decluttering our wardrobes both saves us time in getting dressed and helps us make smarter shopping choices. With a thoroughly edited closet, we can dress well, save money, and be less wasteful with our clothes by maximizing what we already have and love.
I’ll be honest — the fashion and textiles industry has room to improve in making sure consumers have sustainable options to get rid of their old clothes. However, there are some pretty good standouts you should know about!
This guide provides an overview of how to responsibly clean out your closet and where to send your old clothes.
Table of Contents
1. Keep or not? Ask yourself these questions.
Is it falling apart? And if so, can it be fixed?
I know this one might be obvious, but if a garment is damaged, it’s either time to get it fixed or get it out of your closet. If you still love it and if the damage is salvageable, the internet is a sea of resources to DIY the fix yourself. Sew Guide is one resource with easy-to-follow guides on common clothing repairs. Otherwise, taking damaged items to a seamstress (or a shoe repair shop for footwear) is always an option!
Does it fit? Can it be tailored?
If it’s too small, don’t keep it in your closet. It’s normal to grow out of our clothes (especially if they shrink)! And if you’re stuck in the “I’ll fit into one day” mindset, please don’t put that pressure on yourself! Your body is perfect the way it is and at the end of the day, your clothes should work for you. You do not need to work for the clothes.
If some of your clothes are too big, they can usually be tailored! I love getting my clothes tailored here and there because the end result looks and feels so much better and I end up keeping tailored items much longer.
Do I actually wear it?
I regularly get trapped in the “but I’ll wear it one day” train of thought. However, if I haven’t worn something for 1-2 months (within a given season), it becomes clear that the item is destined to keep collecting dust until I let it go.
Also, the clothes we don’t wear can have real sentimental value! This makes them all the more difficult to say goodbye to. If any of this sounds familiar, you can always ask Marie Kondo’s famous question, “does it bring you joy?” If the answer is no, it’s time to give your garment a new home.
2. Where to send your pre-loved clothes.
If your clothes are in good shape, donate, sell, or swap them!
Where to donate old clothes
Donating your old clothes is a great way to hand them off to someone who will love and wear them. Just make sure that the clothes you choose to donate are still wearable and in good condition. Otherwise, they run the risk of ending up in the landfill.
- Look for local spots near you via Google!
- Goodwill
- Salvation Army
- ThredUp (donate option)
- Schoola
- Soles 4 Souls (shoes)
- One World Running (running shoes)
- Donation Town (schedule a donation pick-up through a charity near you)
- Dress for success (work clothes)
- One Warm Coat (coats)
Where to sell old clothes
Selling your old clothes is a win-win since it both extends the life cycle of those clothes and you can make a few extra bucks! Try these spots for selling your old clothes:
- Look for local consignment stores near you!
- Poshmark
- ThredUp
- Depop
- Tradesy
- Crossroads
- Buffalo Exchange
- The RealReal (designer brands)
- eBay
- Facebook Marketplace
How to swap old clothes
If you ever want to upgrade your wardrobe without spending a dime, consider hosting a clothes swap with friends! Trading pre-loved clothes is an easy, fun, and totally free way to change up your style. Eco Age has a great article on how to organize a clothes swap of your own.
If your clothes are falling apart, time to recycle.
Where to recycle old clothes
Quick note: whether or not your clothes are recycled largely depends on companies (or governments) actually purchasing them to be recycled. In other words, the recycling systems for old clothes are not guaranteed. That being said, here are a few spots you can try:
Look for drop-off recyclers near you via these sites
- Recycle Nation
- Council for Textile Recycling
- Secondary Materials and Recycled Textiles
- GemText (for the Pacific Northwest)
Free places to ship your clothes
- Simple Recycling (city-based)
- The Bra Recyclers (bras)
- Blue Jeans Go Green (jeans)
Brands that will take back old clothes:
- Patagonia Worn Wear
- The North Face Clothes the Loop
- Eileen Fisher
- Levi’s (jeans)
- Madewell (jeans)
- Nike Reuse-A-Shoe (shoes)
Pay to recycle, but guarantees clothes won’t go to landfill:
- ($18) For Days take back bag
- ($103+) Terracycle Fabrics and Clothing Zero Waste Box
- ($92+) Terracycle Flip Flops Zero Waste Box
- ($109+) Terracycle Shoes and Footwear Zero Waste Box
3. Keep your closet organized.
Store your clothes effectively.
You can extend the life of your clothes simply by being cognizant of how you store them. For example, heavy sweaters last longer if folded (instead of hanging). This keeps them from getting stretched out. You can find more tips on how to make your clothes last longer, here.
Try the one-in, one-out rule.
To avoid closet clutter and to be more mindful about the items we purchase, this rule is a life-saver. It’s simple. For every new piece of clothing you bring home, one piece has to go (using steps #1-2, of course)!
Do a closet audit after each season.
Checking your closet after each season is a surefire way to keep your wardrobe streamlined. Rather than doing one massive closet clean out per year, try to take inventory and edit your closet more regularly. This way, it will be easier to keep tabs on what you already have. It will also be much easier to send small batches of pre-loved clothes to the right place.
How do you clean out your closet responsibly? Let us know in the comments!
