How to Recycle Your Old Clothing

Recycling clothing is one way to pass on your items, short of tossing them in the trash.

Cleaning out closets and drawers, whether for annual spring cleaning, making room for new purchases or changing styles, typically results in a pile of clothing with nowhere to go. To put your used and unwanted items to good use, opt to recycle clothing. You can recycle clothing in a variety of ways, freeing yourself of some clutter and possibly helped out a few people along the way.

Things You'll Need

• Digital camera
• Notebook
• Calendar

Instructions

1. Gather all clothing, including shoes and accessories. Organize your clothing into piles according to size. Make a list of how many items you have in each size. Divide the list into more specific categories such as pants, shirts and coats. For example, have your list say 10 pairs of women's size 12 pants, 15 pairs of women's size 9 shoes and five pairs of toddler boy pants in size 3T.

2. Determine which items you want to sell as a means of recycling. Opt to sell items at yard sales and flea markets. Find flea markets by searching the National Flea Market Associations website to locate a member market close to where you live. Pull out the clothing you will be selling at the flea market. Price items low enough so you will not have to bring many back home after the sale.

3. Take some of your higher end, designer clothes to a consignment shop for resale. Know that each consignment shop offers different selling terms and that you should discuss the amount of money you will make off of each item before signing any agreements or leaving clothing in the store. Find a store by searching through member companies associated with the Association of Resale Professionals.

4. Contact The Salvation Army by finding the drop-off location closest to you. Bag items being donated to The Salvation Army and deliver all clothes to the location closest to where you live. The Salvation Army accepts clothing suitable for babies, children, men and women.

5. Drop off clothing at a Goodwill Industries drop-off location. Similar to The Salvation Army, Goodwill Industries accepts clothing donations on a routine basis. This is yet another way to recycle your clothing as the organization resells and distributes clothing to support program initiatives.

6. Find alternate charities and organizations that accept clothing to be recycled to those in need. Churches, women's shelters, halfway houses and other charities allow clothing donations. Find a reputable charity by searching through the Internal Revenue Service's online database of charities.

7. Have a clothing swap. Invite friends, family and colleagues to your house and have everyone bring items of clothing they no longer want or need. Allow people to trade items or just simply give clothing away if it can be put to use once again.

Tips & Warnings

• Keep unwanted clothing in a separate area of your house or in a storage bin so that you are aware of what is to be given away, donated or otherwise recycled.

• Do not give away clothing if you might have a need for it yourself once again. For example, if you are unsure whether you will have more children, do not give away all baby clothes until you are certain you won't need those items again.

References

• National Flea Market Association: Site Search
• The Salvation Army: Donate Goods
• The Association of Resale Professionals: Shopping Guide
• Goodwill Industries: Donate
• Internal Revenue Service: Search for Charities