How to Donate Clothing to Recycle

Remove all the clothes from your closet, including everything on your shelves and hangers. Spread the items on a clean surface, such as your bed, or on top of a sheet on the ground.

Create three separate clothing piles; one for clothes you want to keep, and another for the ones you will donate and the last one for the clothes you will throw away. Use trash bags for the donation pile.

Check each item for rips, tears or stains that can be cleaned or fixed. If something is not wearable, throw it away or use it as a household rag. You should only donate items that are in good condition, or if they have very small or unnoticeable tears and stains. As a general rule, clothes that have not been worn in one year are generally never worn, so donate these.

Wash or dry clean the clothes you are planning to donate. Many donation centers ask that you send only clean clothes. It is also more hygienic.

Fold the donation items before you put them into the trash bag. You'll fit more clothes in the bag, if they are organized and neatly folded.

Prepare an itemized list of all your articles of clothing. This will be helpful for the donation center, which will provide you with a receipt you can use for a tax deduction.

Search online or in the phone book for a local thrift store or drop-off location to donate your goods. Most cities have a Salvation Army or Goodwill. If you are unable to make a drop-off, some donation centers provide free pick-up services. Most of these services must be scheduled a week or two in advance, and vary based on location.