Where Your Old Clothes Can Go Next

Clearing out a closet feels good. Sending each piece to the right place makes it do some good too.

Remember this

1. Sort clothes into resell, donate, repair and recycle piles.
2. Donate only clean items in good condition; charities have to pay to dispose of the rest.
3. Donated clothing must generally be in good used condition or better to be tax-deductible.
4. You can deduct donated clothing only if you itemize; the new 2026 deduction for non-itemizers covers cash gifts only.

Before you bag everything up, sort it. Each pile has a different best destination.

Sort into four piles

1. Resell: good-quality pieces in excellent condition, especially from well-known brands. Consignment shops and resale apps can return some of your money.
2. Donate: clean, wearable clothes in good condition.
3. Repair: favorites that need a button, a hem or a small seam fixed. See alterations that are worth paying for.
4. Recycle: stained, torn or worn-out items, for textile recycling.

Donating well

Charities sort by hand, and items they can’t sell cost them money to dispose of. Help by:

• washing everything first
• checking pockets
• keeping pairs of shoes together
• calling ahead about bulky items or large amounts

Worth knowing

Some clothing collection bins are run by for-profit companies rather than charities. If supporting a charity matters to you, check who operates the bin, or donate directly.

The tax side

If you give clothes to a qualified charity, the IRS rules include:

• Condition: clothing must generally be in good used condition or better to be deductible. An item that isn’t can be deducted only if you claim more than $500 for it and attach a qualified appraisal.
• Value: you deduct fair market value, generally what similar used items sell for, not what you originally paid.
• Records: keep a list of what you gave. For a contribution of $250 or more, get a written acknowledgment from the charity. If your noncash donations total more than $500 for the year, file Form 8283.
• Itemizing: noncash donations are deductible only if you itemize. The new deduction that starts in 2026 for people who take the standard deduction, up to $1,000 or $2,000 for married couples filing jointly, applies only to cash gifts.

Rules change, so check IRS Publication 526 for the year you donate, or ask a tax professional.

Breaking the cycle

A big clear-out is a good moment to notice what you never wore and why. Our guide to fewer, better clothes turns that into better shopping habits.

You asked

Q: How do I value donated clothes for taxes?

A: Use fair market value, which for used clothing is generally what similar items sell for in thrift or consignment shops, usually far less than the original price.

Q: Do I need a receipt?

A: Keep a record for every donation. For any single contribution of $250 or more, you need a written acknowledgment from the charity, and noncash donations totaling more than $500 require Form 8283.

Q: What about clothes that are too worn to donate?

A: Look for textile recycling drop-offs or retailer take-back programs. Some charities pass unsellable textiles to recyclers, but ask before dropping off damaged items.