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Donate

How to prepare your donation

None of this is hard, and it makes a bigger difference than almost anything else you can do. Poor-quality or contaminated goods cost us money to throw away — money that would otherwise fund the work.

The seven that always apply

  1. 1

    Wash it if you can, and make sure it is dry

    Damp fabric grows mould in a closed bag within a day, and it can ruin everything packed with it.

  2. 2

    Keep types separate

    Clothing in one bag, shoes in another, books in a small box, breakables wrapped. It saves hours of sorting we would otherwise pay for.

  3. 3

    Empty every pocket, drawer and bag

    We find keys, cards, cash and passports every week. We return what we can identify, but the surest way is to check first.

  4. 4

    Keep sets and hardware together

    A pot without its lid, one shoe, a bookcase without its screws — each is worth close to nothing. Together they are worth real money.

  5. 5

    Erase and unlock your electronics

    Factory reset, sign out, turn off activation lock, and take the SIM. A locked device cannot be sold or even recycled properly.

  6. 6

    Label the box when it helps

    "Fragile", "kids 4–6", "recycle only" — one word on a box changes where it goes.

  7. 7

    Keep it out of the rain

    Please do not leave donations outside overnight or in wet weather unless we have specifically asked you to.

By category

Only the things that are specific to each kind of item.

Clothing

Adult clothing
  • Wash it if you can.
  • Make sure it is completely dry.
  • Fold it and put it in a bag you can close, or a box.
  • Keep clothing separate from shoes and household items.
Children's clothing
  • Wash it if you can.
  • Make sure it is completely dry.
  • Group by size if that is easy — it saves us sorting time.
Coats and outerwear
  • Check the pockets.
  • Zip or button it closed.
  • Make sure it is dry.

Shoes & accessories

Shoes
  • Pair them together — tie the laces or use a rubber band.
  • Knock the dirt off.
  • Keep them in a separate bag from clothing.
Bags, belts and accessories
  • Empty every pocket and compartment.
  • Keep pairs and sets together.

Household goods

Kitchen and household goods
  • Wash anything that touched food.
  • Wrap breakable things in paper or cloth.
  • Keep lids with their pots and sets together.
  • Label the box "fragile" so we handle it correctly.

Furniture

Small furniture
  • Wipe it down.
  • Keep hardware in a bag taped to the piece.
  • Do not take it apart unless we ask you to.
Large furniture
  • Send a clear photo of the whole piece in daylight.
  • Measure doorways and stairs if access is tight.
  • Empty every drawer.
  • Keep hardware in a labeled bag taped to the piece.

Books & media

Books
  • Pack them flat in a small box — a big box of books gets too heavy to lift safely.
  • Keep them dry.
Records, CDs, DVDs and games
  • Match discs to their cases.
  • Stand records upright so they do not warp.

Toys & kids

Toys and games
  • Wipe it clean.
  • Bag loose pieces and tape the bag to the box.
  • Include the batteries only if they are new.

Electronics

Small electronics
  • Back up anything you want to keep.
  • Do a factory reset.
  • Sign out of your accounts and turn off activation lock or Find My.
  • Remove the SIM and memory cards.
  • Put the charger in the same bag.
TVs and monitors
  • Include the stand and remote.
  • Wrap the screen so it does not get scratched.

Appliances

Small appliances
  • Clean it out.
  • Wrap the cord.
  • Include any removable parts.

Sporting goods

Sporting goods and bikes
  • Clean off the dirt.
  • Keep sets together.
  • Note anything that needs a repair.

Tools

Hand and power tools
  • Include the battery and charger.
  • Keep bits and blades in a closed container.

Collectibles

Collectibles and antiques
  • Do not clean or polish it — that can lower the value.
  • Bring any paperwork.

Luxury

Designer and luxury items
  • Include dust bags, boxes and receipts if you have them.

Textile recycling

Worn-out textiles
  • Keep it dry.
  • Put it in its own bag.
  • Write "recycle" on the outside so we do not sort it as wearable.

Why we are direct about this

Every bag we have to throw away costs us money in disposal fees, plus the time it took to open it. That comes straight out of what a donation raises. We would rather tell you clearly and respectfully what works than quietly absorb the cost and raise less.

Not sure whether we take something? Check the accepted-items list.