When I'm on a decluttering mission, I try to either sell or donate as much as I can, versus throwing things out. Something to always keep in mind is that just
because something no longer has value to us, that doesn't mean it won't have value to someone else.
For instance, you may have a purse that's too small for your needs, but that purse may be
the perfect size for someone else.
You might have shoes that match nothing you own and you never wear them, but someone else may find those shoes perfect for them and wear them all the
time.
That being said, there are some items that you either shouldn't donate, or won't be able to donate to most thrift stores.
1. Clothing that is dirty, unintentionally ripped (stylish intentionally ripped jeans are usually fine to donate), stained, or smelly.
2. Shoes that have holes or that are falling apart.
3. Anything that has mold. (Check those books that have been sitting on your shelves for years, especially if they have been stored in a musty room.)
4. Dishes that are chipped, broken, or that have been broken before and glued back together.
5. Scratched DVDs/CDs.
6. Toys that are broken, have missing pieces, or have a battery compartment that battery acid that
has leaked into.
7. Mattresses. Most thrift stores won't accept them.
8. Furniture that is broken, stained, very worn out, or that is caked in pet hair.
9. Cribs, strollers, high chairs, car seats, and other baby items. There is a high recall rate on baby items, so most of the time, thrift stores will not accept them. Along these same safety lines, most thrift stores will not accept bike or motorcycle helmets, or wheelchairs, either. (Note: Always keep the product manuals that come with these items
when you purchase them. If you sell them at a rummage sale or give them to someone you know, always pass on the product manual with the item.)
10. Old newspapers or
magazines. Just recycle those old newspapers. Your thrift store will likely not take old magazines off your hands, BUT you may be able to donate them to a library, nursing home, or homeless shelter. Call and ask before you bring them.
11. Any appliance or electronic item that needs to be repaired. Thrift stores won't accept these. However, as long as you're honest about what's wrong with the item, you may be able to sell or give these to someone who tinkers with broken items.
12. Most large appliances. If you have a blender or a microwave that is working, you can likely donate. But many thrift stores will not accept large appliances, like refrigerators or washing machines.
Just as an FYI, even if you can't donate some items to a thrift store, this doesn't necessarily mean that nobody will want them. Here are a few examples:
Puzzles with missing pieces: Maybe you want to donate a puzzle that has only one missing piece. You might go onto Facebook and say, "I have a wonderful 1,000 piece puzzle that is free to a good home. It has one missing piece, but otherwise, it's in perfect condition." Include a photo of it. Chances are, someone will take it off your
hands.
Beat-up wooden furniture. A neighbor of mine recently placed an old, rickety end table at his curbside with a big sign on it that simply said "free". The next
morning, it was gone. It was likely at the home of someone in town who likes to repair and refurbish old furniture.
Partially-used shampoo or makeup: So you purchased
shampoo or makeup, used it once, and hate it. What to do? You may or may not know that you can actually return most beauty items, within 30 or 60 days, even if it was opened. So, simply return it and get your money back or a store credit. If today is well past the store's return time period, based on when you made your purchase, see if a family member or friend wants to give it a try. It may not have worked for you, but may work great for someone else.
