It’s easy to assume that a donation center will take just about anything you no longer need. You clean out a closet, clear out the garage, load everything into the car, and drop it off feeling good about giving those things another chance at being useful.
The reality is a little different.
Donation centers have to sort through everything that comes through the doors. Some items can be sold, some can be passed along to people who need them, and others have to be thrown away. Broken appliances, unsafe products, moldy clothing, and certain outdated items can create extra work and disposal costs for the people handling donations.
That doesn’t mean you should stop donating. It just means it helps to know what a thrift store can realistically use before you fill up the trunk.
Here are seven types of donations Salvation Army workers and other thrift-store employees would often rather not receive.
Broken or Filthy Appliances
That greasy coffee maker that hasn’t worked in years probably isn’t going to find a new home.
The same goes for rusty toaster ovens, blenders with missing parts, and appliances that only work if you hold the cord at a certain angle. A donor might see something that could be repaired, but the store usually doesn’t have the time, staff, or equipment to fix every broken appliance that comes through the door.
If an appliance is dirty, damaged, missing important parts, or unsafe to plug in, it may end up being discarded.
Before donating an appliance, give it a good cleaning and make sure it actually works. If it doesn’t, check whether your community has an appliance recycling program instead.
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Huge Old TVs and Outdated Electronics
Those enormous tube televisions that have been sitting in the basement since the early 2000s can be tough to get rid of.
Older TVs are heavy, take up a lot of storage space, and can be difficult or expensive to recycle. The same problem applies to outdated printers, DVD players, stereos, computer equipment, and other electronics that few people are looking for anymore.
A thrift store may have little use for something that takes two people to move and still might not sell.
Before loading old electronics into your car, check your local recycling options. Some communities have special collection days or electronic recycling centers that are better equipped to handle them.
Mattresses and Box Springs
Mattresses are another item that many thrift stores are unable or unwilling to accept.
Even a mattress that looks perfectly clean can raise concerns about bed bugs, stains, odors, and sanitation. Stores also have limited ways to inspect, clean, and store used mattresses before putting them up for sale.
Because of those concerns, many donation locations have rules against accepting mattresses and box springs in the first place.
If you’re replacing a mattress, check with your local waste department, recycling facility, or mattress recycling service to find out how it should be disposed of.
Related: 12 Things You’re Probably Keeping Only Out of Guilt
Wet, Moldy, or Mildewed Donations
A bag of damp clothing might seem harmless when you drop it off, but moisture can quickly turn into a much bigger problem.
Clothing, books, bedding, stuffed animals, and other fabric items can develop mold or mildew if they’ve been sitting somewhere damp. Once that happens, the items may be unsafe to handle or impossible to sell.
A wet bag can also cause problems for everything stored around it. Donation centers often have large piles of clothing and other soft goods waiting to be sorted, so one moldy or damp batch can affect more than just the original donation.
If something smells musty, feels damp, or has visible mold, don’t put it in your donation pile. Deal with the item according to local disposal guidelines instead.
Car Seats and Baby Gear
Baby items can seem like great donations, especially if they’re still in good condition. Unfortunately, safety is a big concern with many of these products.
Car seats can expire, be recalled, or have been involved in a crash that isn’t obvious from looking at them. A used crib, stroller, swing, or other baby product may also be missing parts or instructions.
Donation workers usually have no way of knowing the complete history of these items. That’s one reason many thrift stores have strict rules about accepting used baby equipment.
If you have a car seat or other baby item to give away, check the manufacturer’s guidelines and local donation or recycling programs first. For some products, passing them directly to someone you know may be a better option.
Related: 8 Things Professional Organizers Wish More People Would Throw Away
Leftover Paint and Household Chemicals
Cleaning out the garage can uncover quite a collection of half-used products: old paint cans, pesticides, weed killers, automotive fluids, pool chemicals, propane containers, and strong cleaning products.
These aren’t ordinary thrift-store donations.
Hazardous chemicals can create safety risks for employees and customers, and stores may not be permitted to store or sell them. A donation center also can’t simply pour them down a drain or toss them into a regular dumpster.
If you have leftover paint or household chemicals, check your local hazardous-waste collection program. Some communities have designated drop-off sites or special collection events for these products.
Opened Makeup and Used Personal Care Products
That half-used bottle of lotion or expensive foundation might still look perfectly good to you, but once a personal-care product has been opened, a thrift store usually can’t verify its condition.
The same goes for opened shampoo, conditioner, skincare products, mascara, lipstick, and other cosmetics. Products can become contaminated, expire, or deteriorate after opening.
For that reason, used personal-care products often end up in the trash rather than on a store shelf.
Unopened, sealed products are a different story and may be accepted by some locations. If you have a drawer full of unused toiletries that are still sealed, those are much better candidates for donation.
