Most people have clothes they no longer wear. You can donate them to a charity shop, put them in a textile bank or take them to a recycling centre, sell them, or repair them and keep them in use. The right choice depends on the condition of the item and on what your local council accepts. As a simple rule, clean clothes in good condition should go to a charity shop or be sold. Damaged, dirty or wet items need a different route, so check your council’s rules first.
How many clothes go unworn?
Oxfam published its State of Style report on 1 September 2026. The survey covered 3,037 adults across the UK and ran from 10 to 17 July 2026. It found that the average UK wardrobe holds 80 items. About a third of those items, roughly 26 pieces, had not been worn in the past 12 months.
Four in ten people said they had worn an item just once for a single occasion and never again. One in five said they throw unwanted clothes away, rather than repairing, donating or reselling them.
Oxfam’s advice is to keep clothes for as long as possible, repair before replacing, and pass on what you no longer want. Its Second Hand September campaign asks people to choose second-hand for 30 days or more.
Option 1: Donate to a charity shop
Most charity shops accept clean clothes and textiles, along with accessories such as shoes, bags and jewellery. The items need to be in good condition. Torn clothing and garments with broken zips usually cannot be sold, so shops tend to turn them away.
Dirty items are not suitable either. Bags left outside a shop overnight can get damp, and charities cannot sell damp goods. Derbyshire County Council’s guidance also says that donations damaged or interfered with after being left outside cannot be sold. So take your bag inside the shop during opening hours, or hand it over at the counter.
Policies differ from one charity to another. If you are unsure whether a particular item is acceptable, ask the shop before you bring it in. The council guidance does not say anything about underwear, so ask the shop directly if you have some to give.
Oxfam says that donating, rather than selling, means every item goes further. Its website also has a shop finder, and it lists hundreds of shops across the UK.
Option 2: Use a textile bank or recycling centre
Clothes should not go in your household recycling bin. Durham County Council is explicit that clothes, shoes, fashion bags, bedding and textiles must not go in the blue-lidded bin. Many councils run other routes for textiles, usually at a household recycling centre, often called a tip, or at a textile bank in a local public place.
At Durham’s recycling centres, textiles and shoes can be dropped off. The council also accepts duvets, pillows and cushions there, along with dirty or wet clothes, but these must not go in the non-recyclable skip on site. Rules vary by council, so check your own local authority’s website before you go.
Option 3: Repair, alter or sell
Repair is often worth trying first. A missing button, a dropped hem or a split seam can bring a garment back into daily use. Oxfam’s report says that a third of people (33%) have repaired, altered or upcycled clothing rather than replacing it. Its guidance is to repair before you replace.
If something is in good condition but simply does not suit you any more, you can sell it. Selling takes more effort than donating, but it may give you a small return.
Quick guide: which option suits which clothes
| Your clothes | Best option | Things to check |
|---|---|---|
| Clean, in good condition, still wearable | Charity shop or sell | Ask the charity about the items they accept |
| Torn, stained, or with broken zips | Repair first, or take to a recycling centre | Do not put damp or dirty items in the household bin |
| Worn out, but clean or dry | Textile bank or recycling centre | Council rules on textiles vary |
| Small faults you can fix | Repair, then donate or keep | A simple fix can save an item |
How to clear a wardrobe
- Take everything out and sort it into four piles: keep, repair, donate or sell, and recycle.
- For each item, ask whether you have worn it in the past year. If not, and you do not love it, it goes in the donate or sell pile.
- Check the donate pile for damage, stains and broken zips. Anything not in good condition goes to the repair or recycle pile.
- Wash what you keep and what you plan to donate, so it is clean when the shop sees it.
- Put donations in a bag and keep them dry until you drop them off.
- Make a short list of repairs and tackle the easy ones first.
Key points
- Oxfam’s 2026 report found 32% of wardrobe items unworn in the past year, about 26 of an average 80.
- Charity shops usually want clean, good-condition clothing. Damaged, dirty or damp items are often refused.
- Do not put clothes in the household recycling bin. Use a textile bank or recycling centre, depending on your council.
- Repairing an item is often the first step before donating or keeping it.
Frequently asked questions
Can I donate clothes with a small hole or stain? Charity shops generally need items in good, clean condition. A stained or torn piece is often refused, so mend it first, or use a recycling centre or textile bank. Check with the individual charity, since policies differ.
Can I put old clothes in my recycling bin? Not in most councils’ household bins. Durham County Council says clothes and textiles must not go in the blue-lidded bin. Check your own council’s guidance for alternatives.
Can I take wet or dirty clothes to a recycling centre? At Durham’s recycling centres, yes, but they must not go in the non-recyclable skip. Other councils may have different rules.
What is Second Hand September? It is an Oxfam campaign that encourages people to shop and donate second-hand clothing in September. It asks people to choose second-hand for 30 days or more.
Where can I find my nearest Oxfam shop? Oxfam’s website has a shop finder. It says there are hundreds of shops across the UK, run with the help of thousands of volunteers.
Is it better to donate or sell old clothes? Oxfam encourages donating or reselling rather than throwing clothes away. Donating is simpler and quicker, while selling can bring some money back but takes more time.
If you want something new
If you are looking for something to wear rather than something to get rid of, handmade clothing made from pre-loved fabric is another option. Emalolabella is a one-woman handmade clothing business that makes made-to-order dungarees, bags and accessories from fabric such as vintage duvet covers and offcuts. Each piece is cut and sewn by hand, so no two are exactly alike.
Sources
- Britains unworn clothes waste enough water to supply one million people for life — oxfam.org.uk
- Oxfam State of Style Report 2026 — oxfam.org.uk
- Secondhandseptember — oxfam.org.uk
- All you need to know about donating — derbyshire.gov.uk
- Clothesrecycling — durham.gov.uk