How to Recycle Old Clothing (even the stuff you think nobody wants)

Photo by Prudence Earl on Unsplash

Whenever I start a project, Feng Shui, Organizing or Interior Design, I always begin with decluttering.  It is such an important step towards transforming your home into a healing environment. You should only surround yourself with things that you love and items that support your current self. Then, it is time to say goodbye (with gratitude) to all that does not.  Your closet is a good place to start.

Now that your closet is decluttered, here are some responsible ways to bid farewell to the piles of clothing on the floor. 

Your unwanted items can…

Photo by Damir Spanic on Unsplash
 

MAKE YOU A LITTLE EXTRA CASH

If you have items in great condition consider trying these trusted online resale market places:

MERCARI You can sell (almost) anything. New or used. Fashion to toys. Shoes to electronics. If you can ship it , you can sell it. Their app is very user friendly.

thredUP is the world's largest online thrift store where you can buy and sell high-quality secondhand clothes.

GET YOU STORE CREDIT TOWARDS PURCHASES

Many of our favorite retailers are becoming socially responsible by rewarding and ensuring a hassle-free recycling program. 

The North Face – Clothes The Loop Program 

Drop off unwanted clothing and footwear (any brand, any condition) at one of their stores and you will receive a $10 reward coupon toward your next purchase of $100 or more at The North Face. 

H & M

Known to be one of the most sustainable brands in the industry, H&M’s garment collecting initiative makes a hugely positive impact. Here’s how it works: you can drop off your unwanted garments (no matter what brand and what condition) in all H&M stores across the globe, and in return H&M will give you a coupon to use toward your next purchase.

Madewell

Madewell’s Denim Donation Program takes in your old jeans and donates them to make housing insulation for Habitat for Humanity builds. For every pair of jeans you donate, Madewell will give you $20 off your next jeans purchase. Now that’s a sweet reward.

HELP THOSE IN NEED

If you have clothing that is in good wearable condition, but don’t want to deal with the challenge of reselling, donating to those in need is a great option.  Drop them off at a Thrift Store or homeless shelter.  You can also search for organizations that will pick up donations is your area.

Donation Town is a site that helps you find a local clothing donation pick-up service in your area.

 
Photo by Prudence Earl on Unsplash
photo via pexels

photo via pexels

save the Planet

85% of clothing and textiles end up in a landfill even though 95% can be reused or recycled. Do your part to keep unwanted clothing out of the landfill.

Soles 4 Souls is a national shoe recycling program.

Secondary Materials and Recycled Textiles is an online platform that will help you find the nearest textile recycling outlets near you.  

Nike, Reuse-A-Shoe: Nike collects old athletic shoes from any brand that they grind up and use to create courts, fields, tracks and playgrounds.

There are probably many more I haven’t mentioned, but hopefully through one of these resources, you’ll be able to find a way to make your unwanted clothing live on or give back.

Survival is the new JOY!

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Decluttering vs. being prepared during COVID-19? We should have a tidy balance of both.

As a Certified KonMari™ Consultant, I teach clients to tidy using Marie Kondo’s method.  I ask them to visualize the life that they want to have, and together we declutter and make room for the person that they can become.  

I help them choose what to keep by identifying items that “spark joy.” We should only be surrounded by things that we love and that we use.  Then, donate or discard the rest.  If a client asks “but what if I need this someday?”  my pre-pandemic response would be “someday means never.”  I would reassure them that most items can be replaced for less than $20 in a matter of 20 minutes.

Well, that was not the case during the quarantine.  Were we able to just purchase another?  Nope, the store shelves were bare for months.  As the lock down was about to take place, people rushed to the stores and no hand sanitizer or toilet paper was to be found.  In a state of panic, some folks rushed out and hoarded these items driven by fear.  

Photo by Allie on Unsplash

Photo by Allie on Unsplash

This pandemic has adjusted my practice of teaching of the method – I have realized that it is okay (and smart) to hold onto things that we might need someday for an emergency and self-care.   

Photo by Erik Mclean on Unsplash

Photo by Erik Mclean on Unsplash

Prior to quarantine, I gave away so many travel sized bottles of hand sanitizer.  You see, hand sanitizer is not something that I used, it did not spark joy and I would prefer to just wash my hands.  Hand sanitizer sparks joy for me now because it makes me feel safe and prepared.

So, now after experiencing a lock down, I have adjusted my practice to take into consideration preparing for an emergency.  We should all have a basic disaster kit, including toilet paper, face coverings and hand sanitizer.

 

Would a case of toilet paper taking up space spark joy?  Hell yes, after what we have been through!

 Here is a link to The Department of Homeland Security’s recommendation for a Basic Disaster Supply Kit, which has this note:

“Since Spring of 2020, the CDC has recommended people include additional items in their kits to help prevent the spread of coronavirus or other viruses and the flu.”

Photo by Vera Davidova on Unsplash

On this list is cloth face coverings (for everyone ages 2 and above,) soap, hand sanitizer and disinfecting wipes to disinfect surfaces.  

Funny, they don’t list toilet paper.