Do you wash clothes before donating them to charity?

United States
October 8, 2010 12:34pm CST
I have bags and buckets full of clothing that I no longer fit into/no longer want. Most of them are in good condition, they are just old. A few of them have never been worn at all (gifts, etc. that I never wore). My question is-- should I wash these clothes before donating them? I feel like I should, especially for the clothes that are older and were worn often, but there are so many of them, and it is a little overwhelming. I'm in the process of moving in with my boyfriend-- we will not have a lot of space, and I won't be able to bring bags of clothing with me. Is it okay to donate unwashed clothing?
3 responses
• United States
8 Oct 10
I wash clothes before donating them however I do not if you have to, you can contact the place you want to donate and ask...
@cher913 (25782)
• Canada
8 Oct 10
nope, i dont but when i buy from a thrift store, i generally wash the clothes first.
@asyria51 (2861)
• United States
8 Oct 10
I would contact the thrift store/charity you are donating to see if they wash the clothes before they put them out on the sales floor. If they do, then I would not wash them. I know that i wash all of the clothes I buy, whether from a second hand store, or from a normal store, before I wear them as well.