How to dispose of old clothes
Find your nearest donation site or textile bin
Type your ZIP at /check for the verified nearest Goodwill / Salvation Army / textile-recycling bin.
Donation (try this first)
Salvation Army (satruck.org), Goodwill, Habitat for Humanity ReStore, and Furniture Banks Network all accept clothing donations free. Most offer free pickup for larger loads (boxes / bags). Donation receipts are tax-deductible. Items should be clean, not torn, and (for outerwear and shoes) in wearable condition.
Textile-recycling drop bins (for unwearable items)
Even torn, stained, single-of-a-kind, or worn-out clothing has recycling value. Textile-recycling companies (Bay State Textiles, Helpsy, USAgain) place drop bins at schools, grocery stores, and church parking lots. They shred the textiles into industrial rags, home insulation, carpet padding, or new fiber. About 95% of every donation is reused or recycled — only 5% landfills.
Brand take-back programs (any brand)
Several major brands accept any brand of used clothing free and offer a small store credit. H&M takes any textile in any condition for a $5 voucher. Madewell takes denim jeans of any brand for a $20 voucher (the denim becomes home insulation via Blue Jeans Go Green). Patagonia's Worn Wear program accepts Patagonia items for store credit + repair service. Nike Reuse-A-Shoe accepts any athletic shoes free.
Consignment + resale (designer / vintage / good-condition)
Designer, vintage, or current-trend clothing in good condition can earn you cash via consignment. In-person: Buffalo Exchange, Plato's Closet, Crossroads Trading (urban locations). Online: Poshmark, Mercari, eBay, Depop, ThredUp. Average return is 20-40% of the original price; designer pieces can earn more.
Special items: shoes, coats, wedding dresses
Shoes: Soles4Souls (athletic and dress shoes), Nike Reuse-A-Shoe (any athletic shoes). Coats: One Warm Coat drive (annual in fall/winter), Salvation Army coat drive (December). Wedding dresses: Brides Across America (military + first-responder brides), I Do Foundation. All accept free with often-free shipping.
Frequently asked
Where can I donate clothes for free pickup?
Salvation Army (satruck.org) and Habitat for Humanity ReStore offer free pickup in most metro areas. Goodwill and Furniture Banks Network often offer pickup for larger loads. Schedule online; most pickups happen within a week. Bring a tax receipt for any donation — clothing donations are tax-deductible.
Can I recycle clothes that are torn or stained?
Yes — drop them in a textile-recycling bin (Bay State Textiles, Helpsy, USAgain bins are at most schools, grocery stores, and church parking lots). About 95% of every donation is reused or recycled; only the residual 5% landfills. Recycled textiles become home insulation, industrial rags, and new fibers.
Does H&M really take any brand of old clothes?
Yes. The H&M Garment Collecting program accepts any textile of any brand and any condition (worn-out, stained, missing buttons — all fine). Drop in any H&M store and get a $5 voucher per bag. The textiles are sorted: wearable goes to second-hand markets, unwearable goes to recycling.
Can I throw clothes in the trash?
Legally yes in most U.S. states, but it's the worst environmental option. The EPA estimates Americans landfill 11M tons of textiles per year, ~85% of which could be reused or recycled. Donation or textile-recycling bin is always available and almost always free. The only items worth trashing: clothing contaminated with chemicals, mold, or biohazards.
What about underwear and socks?
Goodwill / Salvation Army generally don't accept underwear or single socks. But textile-recycling bins (Bay State Textiles, Helpsy, USAgain) accept ALL textile types including single socks, underwear, bras, and rags. The fiber recycling stream doesn't care about wearability.
Do consignment stores buy clothes?
Yes — Buffalo Exchange, Plato's Closet, and Crossroads Trading buy current-trend clothing in good condition (typically 20-40% of resale value paid cash). Online: Poshmark, Mercari, eBay, Depop, ThredUp let you list and earn 60-80% of sale. Designer / vintage pieces earn more; fast-fashion brands earn less.