It’s easy to throw things away when you’re decluttering, especially when they’ve been sitting in a closet or cabinet for years. But just because you no longer use something doesn’t mean it belongs in the trash.
The Salvation Army accepts all kinds of secondhand items, including things you might not think are worth donating. Before you fill another trash bag, consider these nine items that might be better off in the donation pile.
Seasonal Clothing
Winter coats, sweaters, jackets, and boots can take up surprising closet space, especially when nobody in your household wears them anymore. If they’re clean and in good condition, they are useful donations that can help someone else update their wardrobe without spending a fortune.
Collectibles and Memorabilia
Old figurines, vintage toys, sports memorabilia, and other collectibles might seem like random clutter, but thrift shoppers love hunting for them. Before donating anything that looks rare or valuable, do a little research to make sure you’re not giving away something you could sell for a decent amount.
Slow Cookers
If you’ve upgraded your slow cooker or haven’t touched the old one in years, there’s no reason to let it keep taking up cabinet space. A clean, working slow cooker with its lid and insert intact could be a useful secondhand find for someone furnishing a kitchen on a budget.
Pots and Pans
Don’t throw out extra saucepans, skillets, stockpots, and baking dishes just because you’ve replaced them with something newer. Cookware that’s still safe to use, with no serious damage or peeling nonstick coating, can have plenty of life left in someone else’s kitchen.
Small Kitchen Appliances
Blenders, toasters, coffee makers, hand mixers, and other small appliances can pile up in kitchen cabinets. If they’re clean, working, and have the necessary parts, consider donating them instead of letting them collect dust or throwing them away.
Plates, Bowls, and Mugs
You don’t need a complete matching dinnerware set for your old dishes to be useful to someone else. Individual mugs, serving platters, bowls, and plates can appeal to shoppers replacing broken pieces, furnishing a first apartment, or putting together a mismatched collection.
Related: 8 super functional ways to repurpose coffee mugs you no longer use
Holiday Decorations
Those boxes of Christmas ornaments, Halloween decorations, and seasonal table settings can easily sit untouched for years after your decorating style changes. If everything is clean and in usable condition, donating it gives someone else a chance to decorate their home without paying full retail prices.
Artwork and Wall Decor
Consider framed prints, paintings, decorative mirrors, and other wall decorations before they end up in the trash. Thrift shoppers often look for affordable artwork and unique frames, so something that no longer fits your home might be exactly what someone else has been searching for.
Vases and Decorative Pottery
Flower vases, ceramic bowls, decorative pitchers, and pottery pieces can add up quickly, especially if you’ve received them as gifts or picked them up over the years. As long as they’re free of major chips and cracks, shoppers looking for inexpensive ways to decorate can give these pieces new homes.
