How to prepare clothes that will raise funds

Short answer: clean, dry, and free of names on the label. That's the difference between clothing a shop can sell immediately and clothing that goes straight to recycling.

Before you donate

• Wash and dry everything — shops cannot sell damp or musty-smelling clothes.
• Check every pocket. Keys, cards, cash, USB sticks and tissues left in pockets are one of the most common reasons donations get delayed or damaged in sorting — a tissue through a wash can ruin an entire load, and valuables left in pockets are usually gone for good.
• Check for stains, tears, and missing buttons. Minor repairs are fine; visible damage isn't.
• Cut or remove any sewn-in name labels, common on school uniforms and care-home clothing. Shops legally cannot resell named clothing.
• Pair shoes together and give them a quick wipe or polish.
• Fold rather than screw items into a bag — it makes sorting faster for volunteers and keeps things presentable.

What shops can't sell even if it's clean

Underwear, swimwear, and items with heavy pilling or bobbling are usually turned away regardless of condition, for hygiene and presentation reasons. When in doubt, ask the shop directly — most would rather answer a quick question than receive something they have to bin.

Too worn to sell? Recycle it instead

• Council textile banks (often sited at supermarkets) and some shops still take worn textiles as "rag" for recycling, even though they can't resell them — ask before you leave.
• Recycle Now finds your nearest textile bank, and some councils offer free doorstep textile collection.
• Bras specifically: Against Breast Cancer runs a free bra recycling scheme — post them or find a local bank.

Use the directory to check which shops near you currently need clothing before you make the trip.