What to do with old socks and underwear
Below is the path for each common case, with the named program that runs it today. No marketing inflation — only programs with a live intake page.
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Wearable socks — donate first
Socks are the single most-requested clothing item at homeless shelters in the United States. Bombas built its one-purchased-one-donated model around this gap and has published the shelter-need framing in its annual Impact Report year after year. Most clothing drives collect coats, sweaters, and jeans. They rarely collect socks, and shelters run out.
Where to drop off: any homeless shelter in your city accepts new and gently-used clean socks. Salvation Army, Goodwill, ARC's Value Village, and St. Vincent de Paul also accept socks alongside general clothing donations. Tie laces, use a rubber band, or clip the pair together so they stay matched through intake — single socks are one of the most common reasons for charity rejection.
Condition standard: shelters generally accept any sock without holes, with elastic still intact, and freshly laundered. Branded "athletic" socks, compression socks, and wool socks are especially valued. Heavily worn or single socks should go to the textile recycling stream instead.
Worn-out socks — textile recycling
Socks with holes, thinned heels, or no matching pair are not trash. They are textile feedstock. H&M runs an in-store garment-collection bin at every U.S. location that accepts any textile from any brand in any condition. The bag content gets routed to wearable resale, downcycled rags, or shoddy fiber for insulation and stuffing.
In the Twin Cities metro, Ridwell picks up textiles (including socks) from your doorstep as part of a subscription. Other regional textile collectors — USAgain bins, Helpsy bins on the East Coast, and Simple Recycling curbside in some municipalities — accept the same material.
How to pack: dry, clean, and bagged separately from donation-quality clothing. Mark the bag "textile recycling" so it does not get accidentally routed to a resale floor.
Underwear donation — unopened packages only
Most general charities will not accept used underwear for health reasons. There are two national programs that do accept new, in-package underwear donations. Undies for Everyone distributes new underwear to children in need across U.S. school districts and shelter networks. I Support the Girls distributes new bras and menstrual products alongside underwear to women experiencing homelessness, poverty, and displacement.
Donation rules for both: new in original packaging, all sizes welcome. Both run mail-in programs and maintain affiliate drop-off partners in major U.S. cities. Check each organization's site for the current intake address before mailing.
Used underwear: textile recycling stream only. H&M's in-store bin accepts it. Ridwell accepts it. Do not put it in a charity bag.
Natural-fiber socks — compost as a last resort
If a sock is too worn for any stream above and it is made of 100% cotton or 100% wool with no synthetic blend, it can compost. Cut into 1-inch strips, mix into a hot home compost or a municipal organics bin where accepted. Synthetic-blend socks (most athletic socks contain spandex, nylon, or polyester) will not break down and contaminate the finished compost — those go to textile recycling.
Step-by-step: sort + route
- 1. Sort by condition. Wearable goes in one pile. Holes, thinned heels, or single socks go in a second pile. Used underwear joins the second pile.
- 2. Wash the donation pile. Shelter intake assumes freshly laundered. A bag of clean socks gets accepted on sight. A bag of unwashed socks gets put on a delayed-intake shelf or rejected.
- 3. Pair and bag. Tie laces, use a rubber band, or clip pairs together. Bag donation- ready socks separately from the textile-recycling pile. Mark each bag clearly.
- 4. Look up your nearest drop-off. Try /check with your ZIP code. We will show the closest shelter, Salvation Army, Goodwill, and H&M textile bin for your address.
Frequently asked
Do homeless shelters really want socks?
Yes. Socks are the single most-requested clothing item at U.S. homeless shelters because most clothing drives collect coats, sweaters, and jeans but rarely socks. Bombas built its one-purchased-one-donated model around this gap and publishes the shelter-need framing in its annual Impact Report. Any clean, intact pair is welcome.
Can I donate used underwear?
No. Almost every charity rejects used underwear for health reasons. Used underwear goes in the textile recycling stream — H&M's in-store bin and Ridwell both accept it. New, in-package underwear is welcomed by Undies for Everyone (children) and I Support the Girls (women experiencing homelessness).
Where can I donate new packages of underwear?
Two national programs: Undies for Everyone distributes new children's underwear to U.S. school districts and shelters; I Support the Girls distributes new underwear, bras, and menstrual products to women experiencing homelessness, poverty, and displacement. Both run mail-in programs and maintain affiliate drop-off partners.
What do I do with socks that have holes?
Textile recycling, not trash. H&M accepts any textile from any brand in any condition at every U.S. store. Ridwell picks up textiles from your doorstep in the Twin Cities and other served metros. The material gets downcycled into insulation, rags, and shoddy fiber.
Can I compost old socks?
Only if they are 100% cotton or 100% wool with no synthetic blend. Cut into 1-inch strips and mix into hot home compost or a municipal organics bin where accepted. Most athletic socks contain spandex, nylon, or polyester and will not break down — those go to textile recycling instead.
Why do shelters reject single socks?
Intake volume. A pair gets distributed; a single sock sits in a sorting bin until a match shows up, which rarely happens. Tie pairs with a rubber band or clip them so they stay matched through transport. Single socks are better routed to textile recycling.
Does Bombas accept used-sock donations?
No. Bombas does not run a take-back program for worn socks. Their model is one-purchased-one-donated for new socks. For used socks, donate wearable pairs to a local shelter and route worn-out socks to H&M's in-store textile bin or Ridwell.
Can I drop socks in the H&M garment bin?
Yes. H&M's Garment Collecting program accepts any textile from any brand in any condition at every U.S. store. That includes socks, underwear, T-shirts, towels, jeans, and worn shoes. Drop them in the in-store bin during regular hours.
Check your local intake before you drop off
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