[than4]

I've read a lot about the problem of people dumping rubbish and unusable goods at charity shops in Victoria and don't want to contribute to the problem. So I'm hoping that someone can give me some answers as to what I can and can't (or perhaps should and shouldn't) give to a charity shop.

Most of my clothes I am sick of before they wear out so they all go to charity. But what about bras and things? I have seen bras for sale at some charity shops. And underwear and socks? I have heard that some charity shops use underwear, socks and some clothes for 'rag bags' which they can sell. Is this correct?

DH wears out most of his clothes and shoes so I mostly just put them in our normal bin for landfill. Is there another place they can/should go?

I use freecycle for most other household stuff that I want to get rid of and otherwise it goes on hard rubbish.

Really grateful for any advice or suggestions as to the best ways to ethically dispose of unwanted goods. Thanks.

[seepi]

I'd like to know this too!

I thought you could donate any old clothes, as they were turned into rags, but now it seems only some charities do that?

I heard a Salvos man on radio saying they only wanted clothes in very good condition.

I know you can donate bras to UPLIFT, but you have to get them to a collection point. Many charity shops do sell bras though. I would donate new looking undies - eg - wore once, didn't fit.

[noi'mnot]

It really depends on the charity. The best thing to do would be to call your local ones so they can let you know, some are quite strict about what they will and won't take.

[Oriental lily]

Undamged, clean useable items.
Nothing that needs repaired and is in sellable condition.

Yes many clothes gets changed to rags but this can actually be costly to the charity.

Getting rid of people's junk called donations costs charities millions of dollars ever year.

Op decent bras, socks and underwear is fine.

[CFMummy]

Torn compleatly worn out cloths chuck in the bin worn but still good items give to charity. Or I like to think would I buy this if answer is no it is to go in the bin

[SeaPrincess]

Where I volunteered, we didn't want any used underwear at all - if it didn't have tags on, it just went in the bin (and we invested in gloves for sorting because we got so many!) We didn't waste time pairing socks - if they weren't already in pairs, they went into a rag bag. No electrical items because we didn't have anyone who could test and tag them. No children's car seats because you don't know their history. When we cleaned out the back room, there were car seats that were over 20 years old, so they obviously didn't sell from there either.

The Salvos don't want anything they can't sell. They wouldn't take our old lounge suite, which I had spent time cleaning because it had a few scratches from the cat. It went from the verge within hours.

[vanessa71]

I know Vinnies won't take any underwear that is not still new with tags. Even a pair of socks that have never been worn, but removed from the packet are not acceptable.

[JRA]

Check with each charity. One of our locals which is in a very disadvantaged area loves electrical goods. They have an electrician who donates his time to do checks. We donated two old oil electric type heaters - they thought it was brilliant.