Charity shop managers/volunteers - best type of donations please

[BorisKilledMyHusband]

Whenever I go into a local charity shop with a bag of donations the volunteer usually looks suspicious and asks me what I’ve got.

Can any charity shop volunteers/workers give me a steer on the best things to donate. I have a massive Stacey Solomon-style decluttering job on my hands. Main things to go include: men’s clothes (including formal workwear), women’s clothes (including plus size), shoes, CDs, DVDs, books…

Not current volunteer but know different areas will have different demand levels for different types.

Clothes should be in a condition you would pass on to a friend. If there's buttons missing or stains, think twice about donating. Unless it's designer, most won't be willing to overlook. However, some will take damaged clothes for rags. Bag these separately and label clearly and give them opportunity to refuse.
A lot (but not all) won't take CDs and dvds now so box those up separately to books so it's easy for them to refuse and you take them away again.

When I'm in a major declutter session I go to a specific charity shop because they take everything. When I'm at a more relaxed pace I have a 6 shop list based on their preferred or only stock (eg ones only for children's stuff, Habitat for Humanity Restore for home goods/DIY products/paint)

If you are looking for everything to make a quick exit, take 20 mins to phone round local charity shops before you start. Nothing more disheartening than driving round a carload of donations trying to find it a new home! Chains will be more likely to take everything compared to stand alone who may run out of space to store donations.

Also check with your recycling center as they may have some donation bins. Ours has clothes, furniture and homewares and books and dvds all year round, and toys at Xmas.

Hope your decluttering session is as satisfyingly as a sort your life out show!

Keep it seasonal . Many charity shops have no space to store clothes that are out of season . So donate winter clothes and summer ones in the appropriate season.

Clean , good condition and reasonably uncrumpled .

I've come across trousers with dirty knickers still in them , tops with used paper hankies , obviously a care home patients clothes ( name tag in them ) with dried up food down the front . And mens trousers , piss coloured yellow on the inside crotch area .
Basically if you wouldn't buy it. Don't donate it.
If it's jigsaws , toys , or something that has parts . Make sure they are complete and working .
Most charity shops are very welcome of donations and appreciate all donations ( except the above examples )
If your one is questioning every bag full you are taking , try another charity shop !

Having said that , they might be asking because they have excess of certain things so again , because of space restrictions are being a bit picky .

Different shops accept different things.

Our local Oxfam for example does not accept any electrical items and does not sell children’s clothes. So they always ask when accepting donations and if it’s one of those two divert to a nearby shop for a different charity which does take these things as otherwise they would have to bin the electrical items and put the children’s clothes in their ragbag which is just a waste.

Also your local recycling centre is worth looking at as an option. Our local has a reuse shop as well.

I would have thought that was dependant on area? A charity shop in Weston-super-Mare probably doesn’t have the same clientele as one in Brixton.

But I should think they just don’t want unsaleable crap, ie worn out clothes that are only for for the bin or torn books.

Thanks. This is useful. I will bag up CDs and DVDs separately.
The clothing is all good quality. Is plus size difficult to shift due to a more limited market?

No all sizes are taken in and sold . It's good to have a variety of different ones.

Thanks. Thats useful to know.