Spring cleaning is all about getting a fresh start so why not clean out your closet and eliminate those wardrobe pieces that you just don’t wear anymore? Plus, clothing is essentially 100% recyclable. While Americans are recycling 3.8 billion pounds of clothing a year, this only accounts for about 15% of clothes that are disposed and the remaining 85% ends up in a landfill.
The Decision Process
You know that article of clothing that you’ve “been holding onto” for years but haven’t worn? Well, now’s the time to toss it. If you want to make room for new finds you must first part with the old. If you haven’t worn it in months, then you probably won’t wear it again.
The Recycling Process
1. Donating:
This is the easiest way to get rid of clothing. First think about any friends or family members that might want to go through your closet. There’s always a friend of a friends that’s looking for clothes, especially when it comes to expecting mothers on the search for baby clothes.
Then of course there is the option of dropping your piles of clothes off at a local Goodwill or Salvation Army. Your donations will be sold at low cost, making it affordable for low-income families. Even if your clothes are too worn or damaged to be sold, these donation sites will send away your stuff to get recycled.
2. Selling
If you’re looking to make some extra money to replace your wardrobe, then consider selling your clothes. You can post your collection up on Ebay or place an ad on Craigslist.
There are also sites that make selling your clothes even simpler. Threadflip allows you to transform your closet into your own “personal boutique.” The site makes it easy to sell your old clothes and buy news ones.
3. Swapping
If you’re not expecting to make much money from selling your clothes, you can always consider swapping. Some secondhand shops like Buffalo Exchange and Plato’s Closet will offer you store credit or cash for clothes.
You might even be able to search for local swapping events where you can drop off your clothes and take home finds from other people’s closets. There’s also Facebook swapping groups where you can post photos of your clothes and take a look at what other people are trying to get rid of. If you’re looking for some unique finds this is a great option.
4. Crafting
With social sharing sites like Pinterest, there’s no reason that you can’t turn an old t-shirt into a tote bag or use extra fabric to make a headband or other accessory. Seriously, it’s pretty much the sky’s the limit when it comes to the potential you have with a bag of old clothes. You might even be able to get a few unique gift ideas.
Looking for more information from our Spring Cleaning Disposal series? Find out how to dispose of Electronics, Paints & Medications.