5 Hacks For Donating, Selling Or Swapping The Clothes You Don't Wear Anymore
Like magpies, women love to collect the best and shiniest items for their personal collections. Unlike the birds, our tastes trend more towards sequins than scraps of tin.
An H&M stop here and a friend's vintage trunk show there seems harmless, until the day you comb through your closet in search of a particular going-out top. Instead of coming away victorious, you find yourself buried under last season's trend items and bandage skirts you'd never be caught dead in.
The idea finally dawns on you: It's time to clean out your wardrobe and begin again. Instead of throwing those wedge sneakers in the garbage, consider options that are more sustainable.
The world doesn't need more trash, so put your cast-offs to good use. Selling or donating your clothing will rack up good karma and get your wardrobe more use while it's still in good condition.
Once your giveaways are freshly laundered and folded, sort through them and throw away anything badly coffee-stained or ripped. If you'd feel embarrassed putting it on, chances are someone else would, too.
Now, stash your goods in to-go bags. You're ready to get rid of them.
1. It's 2015, sell your trendy pieces online.
In the age of the smartphone, it doesn't make sense you'd actually have to leave your apartment to get rid of clothing. Instead of schlepping everything to your car, download an app that makes buying and selling secondhand clothing easy.
Top-rated picks like Poshmark, Threadflip and Tradesy will allow you to snap images of items and post them online.
Pro tip: Shoot your items in soft natural light to give the photos a flattering cast. Your items will look more professional.
2. Swap your old sh*t for better.
Hidden between Urban Outfitters and Ann Taylor Loft locations, you've probably overlooked a veritable wealth of secondhand stores that are not only good for selling old clothes, but also for picking up new buys.
Stores like Buffalo Exchange and Beacon's Closet are happy to snap up your recently vacated pieces in exchange for cash or store credit (which is nearly double the amount you'd get in dollars). Just bring by a reusable bag and a valid ID, and you'll be on your way.
Pro tip: Like retail stores, these specialty shops hope to keep their stock stylish. Bring in pieces for the upcoming season, or check the store's website for specific requests. Tragically, the itchy turtleneck your grandmother stitched probably won't make the cut.
3. Don't stress, donate via pick-up service.
The real trick to giving away clothing is finding the easiest way to do it. Luckily, charities have caught onto our need for convenience and will drop by your house in a predetermined window of time to scoop up your goods.
Schedule your own appointment online with the Salvation Army or the Vietnam Veterans of America to find a truck near you.
Pro tip: These services are tax deductible and often collect more than just clothes. If you're in the midst of spring cleaning, check various accepted donations lists to see what else you may be able to give away. Furniture, bedsheets and old TVs are usually included.
4. Drop off a load to a nearby charity.
If you're more interested in becoming an active member of your community rather than raking in the dough, turn to a local charity to make your donations.
While a national chain like the Salvation Army will do, you can also use websites like Donation Town or Charity Navigator to find a reputable spot close to home.
Pro tip: If you have a car, now's your time to load it up. Plenty of local centers offer car-side pick up.
5. Swap with equally stylish friends.
Here's one way to give back while getting: trade clothes you no longer wear with friends. Everyone gets something new to wear that weekend, and you get to splurge on a few extra glasses of wine at the bar.
We call that a win-win situation.
Pro tip: Invite friends with similar aesthetics. No one wants to feel as if his or her clothing isn't wanted.
