What do you do with your old clothes?
By liquorice
@liquorice (3887)
June 14, 2008 6:22pm CST
Well, my cupboards are bursting with old clothes that I haven't worn for years, drawers are filled with a mixture of clothes that don't fit me and ones that I wear quite often, so that I have to rifle through them each time to try to find the ones that I want to wear. There isn't enough space for all of my current things because of this curious mixture.
I know I'm very lucky to have all these clothes, but it's a bit pointless if I'm not actually wearing lots of them, as they're either too old and falling apart, too small (from my pre-child days), too uncomfortable or just too horrible.
I don't buy new clothes very often as I don't work, but even if I did, the lack of space would put me off. I desperately need more room, but never get round to sorting them out properly. It's something I put off as it's such a big job and something else always seems to be above it on my list. So, I need to give myself a big kick up the backside to get going with this.
..And when I do, what should I do with them? As far as I can see the options are charity shops, recycling (not sure exactly what happens to clothes when they're recycled??
), or keeping a lot of them in the attic just in case they come back in fashion/they magically fit me again some day/my daughter wants to use them for dressing up/someone wants to put them in a museum!! I don't really want to sell them as I couldn't bring myself to actually charge anyone for them - not sure anybody would be willing to pay for most of these things; I might need to pay people to wear them 
.
Are you in a similar position with clothes or do you manage your clothes better then me? What do you do with old clothes? Do you have some kind of system where you don't buy any more clothes unless you get rid of some old ones?
), or keeping a lot of them in the attic just in case they come back in fashion/they magically fit me again some day/my daughter wants to use them for dressing up/someone wants to put them in a museum!! I don't really want to sell them as I couldn't bring myself to actually charge anyone for them - not sure anybody would be willing to pay for most of these things; I might need to pay people to wear them .
Are you in a similar position with clothes or do you manage your clothes better then me? What do you do with old clothes? Do you have some kind of system where you don't buy any more clothes unless you get rid of some old ones?7 people like this
42 responses
@cream97 (29087)
• United States
14 Jun 08
Well for the ones that don't fit me, I usually just give them away to the Salvation Army. If it is something that is not worth keeping, then I will just throw them in the trash. Yes, with me, I will try to get rid of all of my old clothes, before I decide to buy anymore. It is almost like, not buying anymore food for your refigerator until you have gotten rid of what you already have.
4 people like this
@liquorice (3887)
•
18 Jun 08
Thanks for your answer. Yes, it's nice to give them to charity, at least you know they won't go to waste. Well, you sound like an organised person, and it's a good comparison to make with the food in the fridge. I never thought of it like that :0)
@Desierra1004 (1213)
• Malaysia
15 Jun 08
Hie Liquorice, I use to pass them to my mother and she will bundle them up and give them to the poor native families in my hometown.
Before she does that she will check and make sure that the old clothes are still usable and not torn or too soiled to be used.
She always tells me that it's not a right thing to do to pass rags to other people just for the sake of clearing them out and getting new clothes for ourselves.
And if she come upon old clothes that are too soiled, she will cut them up to suitable sizes and use them as rags for wiping things,cleaning, or keep them for future cloth patches.
Some she& my dad will wear them esp.when she does her gardening or cleaning the house. Mostly do not fit her at all...lol. but she doesn't as said it's just in the house and no one will notice anyway.
Cheers,
@liquorice (3887)
•
18 Jun 08
Well, your mother sounds like an amazing woman, very clever and kind. I'm glad that your clothes are put to good use. I like the fact that she wears your clothes even though they don't fit her! I guess it doesn't matter in her house and garden.
Thanks for your reply :)
@Desierra1004 (1213)
• Malaysia
19 Jun 08
You are welcome and thank you. Well! She does exercise but at her age...60's, she thinks my baggy T-shirt is still fashionable for her...lol
Cheers,
1 person likes this
@Desierra1004 (1213)
• Malaysia
13 Jul 08
Hie Liquorice, thank you for the BR. Wish you a good weekend
Cheers,
Cheers,
@biggerb (2024)
• India
15 Jun 08
I live in a plantation where there are lots of labourers who are in need of clothes.I usually give away my old clothes when I buy new stuff.I give it all to them,the children's clothes,my hubyy's and mine.They are thrilled to get these good clothes and they like flaunting it.That makes me feel good.
3 people like this
@marababe (2503)
• Philippines
15 Jun 08
Hi liquorice!
Some of my old clothes that I just used once or twice, I give them to my cousins. My cousins have always liked my clothes. So I give some to them, but those clothes that are worn out already like I've been using them for years, I donate it to charity. Space is a must for me. That's my number one problem in my room. I have a lot of stuffs that I don't use but don't throw either and I keep buying new ones, so they are all stocked up. That's why as much as possible, I get rid of my old ones before buying new ones (which is rarely the occasion).
@Abby123 (261)
•
15 Jun 08
Like you my drawers are stuffed with things that I never wear,but I have to keep them as if I dont my drawers will look empty,I have things that dont fit and things that I havent worn for years but they say if you havent worn a thing for six months then you should get rid of it,but im not into that way of thinking one little bit.Some of the stuff is too good to get rid of ,but I may think about sending it to a charity shop or givin g some away pretty soon.
@maryrajam1962 (257)
• Malaysia
15 Jun 08
I give away my old clothes to the poor around me. Some old clothes are recycled as rags.
3 people like this
@liquorice (3887)
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18 Jun 08
Thanks for answering. We don't have businesses with clothing drops in parking lots here. We have recycling bins for clothes though, which sounds good in theory, but I'm not sure how exactly clothes are recycled!??
How does it work with writing them off for taxes? How would the government know how many clothes you've donated to work it out? Not sure if we do that here. I'm just curious as I've never heard this before!
@fluffnflowers (1594)
• United States
14 Jun 08
I'd take the ones that are in good shape to a consignment store and see if they'll give you anything for them. Never hurts to see if you can earn a little cash! 
If the consignment shops won't give you anything for them, donate the ones in good shape to a Goodwill or Salvation Army.
The stuff that you've got that isn't in good shape can be used for arts and crafts, rags, patches, or given away to someone who can use them on Freecycle. If you can't get rid of them, then chucking them is always an option.
I love cleaning out closets!
If the consignment shops won't give you anything for them, donate the ones in good shape to a Goodwill or Salvation Army.
The stuff that you've got that isn't in good shape can be used for arts and crafts, rags, patches, or given away to someone who can use them on Freecycle. If you can't get rid of them, then chucking them is always an option.
I love cleaning out closets!@liquorice (3887)
•
18 Jun 08
Thanks for your answer. I'm not sure that we have consignment stores here, I've neer heard of one. We have lots of charity shops though, and I've given clothes to them in the past and probably will again, at least some of them. Freecyle's a good idea. I am a member of my local group and might do this if there is anything that I think people might want. I love the idea of using them for arts and crafts. Oh, if you love cleaning out closets I wish you could come and help me with mine!!
@curious888 (1212)
• Malaysia
15 Jun 08
I always give away old clothings to local charity foundation. Then they in turn give to the needy .This clear a lot of space of our cupboard.
2 people like this
@liquorice (3887)
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18 Jun 08
Thanks for your answer. We don't have garage sales here, and so I'm not sure it would work. I love the idea though and it's nice to know that people do this where you are. It sounds like a good method of replenishing your clothing supply!
@gagglefinish (132)
• Mozambique
15 Jun 08
I am a person who likes to hold onto things.I keep all of my clothing and I even have the clothes I wore when I was eight.I cannot give them up as they have many memories with me.Giving them up would be the hardest thing I would ever do in my life.
2 people like this
@CEVCEV (543)
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14 Jun 08
I see you have a problem like so many people these days.
you should wear your clothes to destruction if they fit you. I wear mine in stages, first, they are new and worn as best, Then they are worn a casual, they then get worn around the house, and then they can be worn for work, when they are coming to the end they are worn to do gardening or painting etc.
If you don't want to do this then try giving to relations or put to another good use like giving them to charity.
2 people like this
@liquorice (3887)
•
18 Jun 08
That's good that you really make good use of your clothes. When I finally get round to sorting them I may well find that I want to keep some of them either as I've forgotten about them (which I know is a bad thing), or else I might find that I can use them for something after all. I will try to make use of them.
@lanyoublue2008 (882)
• China
15 Jun 08
Sometimes, I will send the old clothes to my little sisiter or other people!
My mother always use the old clothes to make some other use !
@liquorice (3887)
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18 Jun 08
That's nice. I'm glad that other people get to use them.
Thanks for answering :)
@honeydew82174 (1720)
• United States
14 Jun 08
We have a big yard sale every spring for our old clothes. With the money we make we buy a feww new things for the up coming season. my toddler grows fast and is always in need of new clothes when the other ones are still like new.
@liquorice (3887)
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18 Jun 08
That sounds like a nice idea, and always good to make some money, especially as I have a toddler too! I've never heard of anyone having a yard sale here, and I don't know that anyone would come :(
We do have car boot sales but I've never tried that either.
Thanks for your answer.
@liquorice (3887)
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18 Jun 08
Another thought is that I'm also not sure that people would want to buy my old clothes, I don't buy expensive clothes and most of them are probably not that good quality... Sorry for all my negativity here!! I really appreciate your reply, and will consider selling some of them if they're any good, maybe on ebay or somewhere like that.
I really appreciate your reply, and will consider selling some of them if they're any good, maybe on ebay or somewhere like that.
@robert19ph (4577)
• Philippines
15 Jun 08
I don't have any issue with old clothes. My wife give them to my and her relatives. We have a lot of relatives that work in the farm and they appreciate the clothes we are giving them. We usually give those that are still wearable and not the tattered type. Other clothes we donate to charity for those affected calamities, like fire, flood, earthquake, etc. Clothes will come in handy for those who need them. So don't just let them rot in your closet, everybody can have a good used of old clothes. For the tatter ones, we convert rag for cleaning and other used. I think there are others uses, try looking for ways to recycle them old clothes.
2 people like this
@Elixiress (3878)
•
15 Jun 08
I would say that I manage my clothes a lot better as I am constantly buying new clothes, so I need room in my wardrobe and draws, so I constantly get rid of old clothes that do not fit right, are damaged or I just don't wear (I sometimes buy something and then go off it a month later and never wear it again).
I usually pass most my old clothes down to my younger sister as she is not as bothered as I am about wearing slightly damaged clothes etc. The rest of them I try and sell on the internet, but if this is not successful then I donate them to charity.
No I do not have system of buy a new thing and get rid of an old thing, because then I would end up getting rid of clothes that I do like just because I saw something else I liked in the shop. Old clothes can come in useful for when you are cleaning the house, painting and doing other messy jobs.
1 person likes this
@Elixiress (3878)
•
23 Jun 08
My sister is 5/6 years younger than me, so many of my clothes cannot be passed down to her, such as trousers, because I am about 1 foot taller than her, but things like tops can be passed down.
@liquorice (3887)
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23 Jun 08
Thanks for your answer. I'm glad you're so organised with your buying/disposing of clothes. It's useful that you can pass them to your sister. My sister takes a different size to me and wears really different clothes so I can't do that. Yes, I'm considering things like ebay if I can get into them, but I'm sure that I'll give some of them to charity shops. Thanks for the good ideas!
@dragonstar1 (330)
•
15 Jun 08
Have a good clear through them. I normally try a few bits on that I haven't worn for ages, see what I feel. Is anyhting really good quality, would you regret it if you gave them away? Always keep the good things, I've made so many stupid "oh I'll never wear that again" com,ments and regreted it! I've picked up some gems in charity shops, I've bought nice labels. I find that Ebay is a great way to recoup so of the overspends. I like to see if friends or anyones kids can make use of some of the stuff. Kids love scarfs etc for dressing up. I've also made a few denim and mixed fabric cushion covers from old jeans and heavier materials. My mum suggested maybe denim clutch bags and maybe boot sale them? I find that donating clothes to agencies that send them to the needy is often a better way to give a gift. Charities have lots over heads and often not enough of the money they generate gets to those that need it. Old T-shirts are great for dusters and rags for painting, at least you can give them a wash a reuse them time and again if neeed be, therefore saving you on dusters!
1 person likes this
@dragonstar1 (330)
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23 Jun 08
Excellent glad to be of help. Hope you enjoy trying out some of the idea. I've never been that good a sewing but have been amazed at how well some of the items have come out.
@liquorice (3887)
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23 Jun 08
Yes, good point, once things are given away you can't get them back!
I haven't ventured into ebay land yet so I'm still a bit wary of it, but maybe I'll go there some time and take the plunge...
I like the idea of doing crafty things. Sounds really creative
Thanks for all your great ideas. I'm sure I will use some of them.
Thanks for all your great ideas. I'm sure I will use some of them.
@Defaultsound (55)
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15 Jun 08
In my opinion giving them away to friends or charity is the best thing to do, If there completely torn or ripped it's for the best to throw them away. That's basically where all my old clothes end up.
-Sound
@fayyaya (6)
• China
15 Jun 08
In fact ,There are many people who can't pay the load to result in clothes.A murderer put on the prisoner's clothes to say by now i passed through best clothes.This matter is really ,occurs in my country.So you can give the clothes contribution the Project Hope
@awapak (1275)
• Pakistan
15 Jun 08
It is always better to give old clothes to the poor and needy persons.This is what we do in our country.God Almighty always showers His divine blessings on those people who think for others........Please get rid of your old clothes in this manner.I assure you will never waste them.
@liquorice (3887)
•
18 Jun 08
Thanks for your answer. Yes, I agree, I think it's good to pass them on if others can use them. I will do that with at least some of them, the ones that are wearable.
1 person likes this
