What do charity shops want?

[Emergencycake]

I have been having a bit of a clear out and found some bikinis that will very unlikely ever fit me again, and that got me wondering would it be ok to donate them, or is that a no no?

Any advice on that and other items would be helpful. Thanks

Which charity shops take rag bags? This is great news.

I think most charity shops take rag bags, ideally clearly labelled as such.

I shop in them all the time and most of the ones near me take a lot of the things people have listed here. The only issue I know some have are with electrical items as some don't have the means to test them. So it depends on what shop you're thinking of donating to.

I think most charity shops take rag bags, ideally clearly labelled as such

The big chains certainly do. I'd ask at a small independent though.

You can often give bedding directly to local homeless charities in the winter.

Another thing I'm not sure about is coats and parkas that have seen better days to the point that I'm not sure anybody would buy them in a charity shop but they would definitely keep a homeless person warm over winter - what to do with those? It seems a waste to recycle them just because they're just a bit too knackered for anyone to buy them.

Our train station has a book swap area where you can leave a book you've read and pick up another one while you wait an age for a delayed train
Animal shelters sometimes take duvets and bedding.

Someone asked about Old coats, sometimes our food banks takes them, or the local homeless group.

Our local charity shop won't take soft toys apparently for hygiene reasons. Dog shelters love them though.

My local craft shop will no longer take DVDs or CDs - they can't shift them basically.

OK, thanks. Tried to offer three sets of immaculate lined curtains to the British Heart Foundation shop a couple of weeks back and they refused them. I didn't ask why because we were having a complicated conversation about sofa collection, but I'll try a few other places with them now that I know it's not some overarching rule (I was wondering about fire safety labels and suchlike).

In my experience curtains sell really well. Especially the very loud 1970s ones.

Lots of people don't buy curtains for curtains if you know what I mean, but to use the fabric for craft, cushions or whatever.

If you can't take bedding and so on to a chairty shop why not try Freegle or your local homeless charity? They might be happy to take it.

You need to ask the specific charity shop you are considering donating to. Our local hospice charity shop for example sells used swimwear.

With books lots of larger train stations have book exchanges in the waiting rooms so they could always be left there if in good condition. Or schools may want them of they are kids books.

Also remember that anything really nice won't reach the shop floor, it will go home with the volunteers, maybe for a few pence. That is an old meme, needs to be retired. It's utterly fucking insulting!

And yes, almost all will take rag bags... ask first as some generate more utterly filthy rags than the rag man likes, so they have to be more careful. We have had some amazingly gross bags handed in.

Curtains are usually wanted, bedding too - but ask, some places get a glut and they do take up a lot of space. But many take them and sewers like me grab them for projects.

Curtains fall oustide soft furinishing regulations - I know that in the day job! That covers upholstered furniture, beds, divans, matresses, pillows and toppers (not quilt covers, sheets and pillow cases) and scatter cushions.

I hate it when charity shops turn me down. There's one near us and the man is such a grump, he's always trying to "catch you out" donating something they won't accept, like you're doing it on purpose. I go elsewhere now as it always makes me feel so crap.

I have seen plenty of bikinis in charity shops though, so they should be OK, if they're clean.

If the books are fairly recent and in good condition, your local library might take them to add to their stock!

PineappleDanish, you have only picked out one little bit of the post.

This has happened with people I know that volunteer or manage, not all volunteers but from experience, many commandeer items and pay a few pence for them, one I know takes things home without paying, one pays a small amount.

Things that are the wrong size go to family, I also knew someone that did this, also sold them on Ebay and not for the charity.

Your personal experiences are different to mine, it doesn't mean I am volunteer bashing or lying.

I have had a clear out and have 11 bags of good quality clothes.
Not one Charity Shop will come and collect it, reason being, they cannot collect as they do not have anyone to do it.

I don't have a car, what do I do with these clothes ?

"Black bin bags " not carrier bags

I just don't know what to do with my used machete collection now

Animal rescue places usually want old towels/duvets etc, even when they're past the condition that normal charity shops would accept.

COATS : wrapuplondon.org.uk/
www.safestore.co.uk/blog/2019/10/wrap-up-2019/

Ilovewine- British Heart Foundation offer to collect here- maybe ring your nearest branch and ask?

Not going to apologise for not knowing thieves likte @DontCallMeShitley has among her circle. Not saying it doesn't go on. But to assert that everyone's at it and there's no point giving anything decent as someone will just steal it to take it home is just WRONG.

@il0vew1ne - that's quite a clear out!!! I would in your situation put it out for one of the kerbside collections, bit only if it was one of those organised by a legit charity like the Salvation Army and not one of those cash for clothes companies which give a tiny fraction to charity.

Vet surgeries are also happy to take old towels, even ones that are ripped or threadbare. They got all of ours which had gone grey after about 20 years!