Do charity shops wash clothes before they are sold?

[upandleftthenright]

I donate a lot of clothes etc to charity shops and always wash and iron everything beforehand but a friend said the shops wash everything anyway and I might as well just bundle them up in black bin bags. I could ask in the shops but don’t have a drop off scheduled any time soon.

I very much doubt it. I think I've seen someone ironing things out the back of a charity shop before now.

I wouldn't think so as most charity shops have that well distinctive charity shop smell.

No of course they don't 🤣

No but they are steamed

I would imagine not because you know that musty smell you get in charity shops? That is unwashed clothes.

Things might get a steam press but that’s about all.

No they don’t , that would cost a fortune to do that ! If it’s a fancy dress it might get a quick steam but otherwise it’s straight out on hangers

No, charity shops don’t wash clothes. They steam everything and wouldn’t put anything on the rails that looks dirty. I buy a lot of charity clothes and always wash them before wearing.

Whether they do or not, I couldn't donate them without washing them, unless they were literally unworn.

I can’t speak for all of them, but I volunteered in one (an independent local wildlife charity) and they don’t. There are no washing or drying facilities. If something is worth a bit, then the manager would take them home to wash, but otherwise dirty clothes would go in the rag bag. The charity receives a very small amount of money for rags, but not much.

Please on behalf of all the charities, continue to launder your donations 💜

Charity shops in my area don't wash donated clothing, they simply don't have the resources or the time to do that.
There are very few people who donate clothing that is in poor condition and or dirty/ unwashed.
Charity shops just bin anything that comes in that looks dirty or poor condition.
What the shops have been doing though in the last few years is deodorising the clothing some sort of clothing deodoriser that is industrial strength!
So much so that it takes a number of washings and hanging in the fresh air to completely eliminate the odour.

No. And it's certainly not universal that they're steamed, either.

@iwishihadaname - not in many they aren’t. If they don’t need steaming they don’t get steamed. Not every shop has a steamer or the time/volunteers to do this.

@upandleftthenright if you can wash them fabulous, if you can be bothered ironing - you are an angel. Frankly in our shops that sounds like a heavenly donation.

and I recommend to anyone who buys secondhand clothing - wash before you wear.

Most don't have a washing machine and dryer, so no. They will iron tho or steam

I've worked in 2 albeit not recently. No they don't wash clothes. They may have a washing machine for the odd high price items that need a wash. All item are steamed though.

What the shops have been doing though in the last few years is deodorising the clothing some sort of clothing deodoriser that is industrial strength!
So much so that it takes a number of washings and hanging in the fresh air to completely eliminate the odour.

@Catnapsallday I thought that was those horrible scent booster balls you add to the washing… Some things from Vinted stank of it.

I've really never noticed a charity shop smelling of unwashed clothes. I buy a lot of my clothes from them. I go in my local British Heart most weekdays when I'm waiting for the bus, it smells of very little.
I always wash things before I donate.
A friend of mine volunteered in a St Luke's charity shop once and they steamed everything.

I think you are wasting your time ironing them, they will be all creased again anyway from the bag or process.

Not the ones I’ve bought and I buy a lot. Most smell nice, the rest just musty. I just wash them all

The one I volunteered at had a steamer, that kind of sterilised everything, but didn't actually remove dirt. Anything marked just ended up in cloth recycling, even if it was good quality and would have been sellable if clean, as they just didn't have the facilities to wash it.

This 100%.

No, they are steamed though

Unless it’s still got its tag on, or I’ve marked it for the rag bag I’d wash and iron my donations.

Dont want people to think badly of me 🤣

I volunteer in a charity shop. No washing or steaming. Anything dirty,smelly or too worn gets binned straightaway

Your friend is a dirty fecker for not washing stuff before donating 🤢

Utterly disgusting to donate dirty unwashed clothes to the charity shop 🤢