How to Declutter Your Wardrobe and Donate Unwanted Clothes
Updated for 2026. Decluttering your wardrobe is easier when you have a clear plan for the items you no longer wear. Start by keeping the clothes you use, repairing or altering items that still have potential, and setting aside clean, wearable pieces that could be passed on for reuse.
A simple wardrobe decluttering checklist
- Sort one area at a time. Start with a drawer, rail or shelf so the task stays manageable.
- Make three clear piles. Keep the clothes you wear; repair, sell or swap items with more life in them; and donate wearable items you no longer need.
- Check condition before you donate. Keep accepted items clean and dry, and tie paired shoes together so they stay together during sorting.
- Use the right route for every item. Check whether an item can be reused, repaired or recycled instead of putting textiles in the bin.
- Keep a donation bag handy. A regular small clear-out can be easier than one large wardrobe overhaul.
Book a free clothes collection
Clothes Aid collects unwanted clothes and other accepted items from homes in selected postcodes. Book a free home collection and check what we collect before you pack your bag.
We also offer collection options for schools, businesses, villages and community groups, and GNAAS supporters.
About the original 2017 campaign
The original Love Your Clothes and Recycle Week 2017 campaign information is retained below as a historical post. The checklist above is the current guide for donating and decluttering responsibly.
Here at Clothes Aid we’re delighted to partner up with Love Your Clothes for a campaign raising awareness of decluttering and giving tips about clearing out the unloved clothing in your wardrobe, whilst helping to support great UK charities such as Cancer Support UK, NSPCC and PDSA.
Our teams at Clothes Aid will be delivering over 1 million leaflets to households all over England, Wales and Ireland, starting from UK Recycle Week 2017 (Monday 25 September – Friday 29 September) and beyond. These leaflets will have great tips about clearing out your wardrobe and gifting that “new clothes feeling” to somebody else, whilst helping charities and keeping textiles out of landfill.
About Recycle Week 2017
Now in its 14th year, Recycle Week is a celebration of recycling, with this year’s theme being, “Recycling – It’s Worth It!”
Recycle Week is organised by WRAP (the Waste Recycling Action Plan) under the Recycle Now brand. The aim of the week is to encourage the public to recycle more, by demonstrating the benefits of recycling items from all around the home, from plastic bottles to their unloved clothing.
Watch this short video about this year’s Recycle Week.
Additional Links
(Clothes Aid is not responsible for the content of external websites)
WRAP website
Love Your Clothes website
Recycle week website
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