Your Questions Answered

It depends on who you are donating to, however most accept bags, shoes, accessories, bedding, drapes, pillow covers, towels, wash cloths, tablecloths, and sleeping bags.

Clothing with paint stains or that are contaminated with chemicals cannot be donated as they are considered to be hazardous. It is best to check with your local municipality on what to do with clothing that is contaminated.

Many people feel too embarrassed to donate their underwear or bras, but if the underwear is clean it can be donated. Believe it or not, there is high demand for bras on the second-hand market, even if they’re a little stretched.

It depends on where you’re donating. Larger charities and thrift stores often accept out-of-season items, as they usually have the storage space and downstream partners to repurpose or recycle what they can’t sell. However, if you’re donating to a local charity or shelter, it’s best to call ahead and ask what they currently need. Smaller organizations may not have the capacity or partnerships to manage excess donations, which means items they can’t use could end up being discarded.

Clothing with stains or that are damaged – holes, rips, broken zippers and missing buttons can generally still be donated. However, it is best to contact the organization to see what they accept if you are unsure.

All donated clothing should be clean, dry and odourless. It should also not be covered in pet hair.

Both charitable and for profit organizations in Canada collect used clothes for reuse and resale to fund their missions. On average, up to 95% of used clothing can be repurposed. Roughly 25% are resold into the Canadian marketplace through local thrift stores, and another 30% is sold overseas. Approximately 25% are repurposed into other products (bags/rags), 15% is broken down into low grade fibre that is used for insulation and other industrial products, and 5% ends up as waste.