75+ Things to Throw Away Now That You Probably Can’t Donate
Wondering if you should hold onto something to donate/sell or just get it out of the house right away? This list of 75+ things to throw away now will give you peace of mind.
Newsflash: charities don’t want your garbage.
In my early days of minimalism and decluttering, I had a hard time letting things go. This made it even harder to understand when something was truly donation worthy or just plain garbage.
One man’s trash is NOT another man’s treasure when it comes to donating your used goods.
Since then, I have learned four general rules of thumb when deciding if it goes in the trash/recycling or donation box. There are a few rules to the exception (especially when it comes to outdated technology) but as a general rule, these rules are great for helping you make a quick and easy decision.
Stained/Ripped/Items with Holes:
If it’s even slightly stained, ripped, or has any holes, donation is not an option.
- Bedding
- Clothing
- Jackets
- Hats & Gloves
- Underwear
- Pajamas
- Socks
- Towels & Wash Cloths
- Table Cloths
- Old Curtains
- Tennis Shoes
- Dressy Shoes
- Purses or Handbags
- Slippers/House Shoes
- Inflatable Summer Toys
- Garden Hoses
- Air Mattress
Broken/Defective Items:
Though a lot of these items can be recycled, anything that’s broken or missing important pieces should not be put in your donation box.
- Toys
- Dishes & Mugs
- Scratched Sunglasses
- Puzzles Missing Pieces
- Board Games Missing Pieces
- Stained Tupperware
- Scratched DVDs/CDs
- Tarnished Cheap Jewelry
- Old Pots & Pans
- Sandbox Toys
- Christmas Lights
- Dull Scissors
- Broken Staplers
- Rusty Tools
- Luggage with Broken Zippers/Wheels
Expired or Out of Date Items:
Some out of date items are accepted by charities, so make sure you do your due diligence and research what is accepted by your charity of choice.
- Medicine
- Makeup
- Nail Polish
- Body Wash
- Body Lotion
- Shampoo or Conditioner
- Cleaning Supplies
- Leftovers
- Condiments
- Spices
- Items in Your Pantry
- Cell Phones
- Printers
- Makeup & Toiletries Samples
- Computers
- Computer Software
- Other Electronics
- Cords to Outdated Electronics
- Old Paint
- Used Motor Oil
- Calendars
- Business Cards
- Phone Books
Used Up/Worn Out Items:
A lot of the items in this category are also great candidates for recycling.
- Magazines
- Junk Mail
- Old Unnecessary Receipts
- Product Packaging & Boxes
- Furniture Manuals
- Coloring Books
- Take Out Menus
- Pilly Sweaters
- Backpacks/Duffle Bags
- Candles
- Toothbrushes
- Combs
- Hair Brushes
- Makeup Sponges
- Makeup Brushes
- Flat Pillows
- Non-fuzzy Fuzzy Blankets
- Notebooks & Notepads
- Mattresses
- Twist Ties
- Bath Mats
- Swimwear
- Sports Bras
- Plastic Shopping Bags
After you’ve decided your item fits into any of the four categories on the toss list, the first thing you should do is consider if it can be recycled.
We want to avoid items going straight to the trash if at all possible
Here are a few commonly found items that can and should be recycled (Google for exact local specifications and drop off sites) that most overlook:
- any plastic item with the recycle symbol
- magazines and mixed paper
- computers
- electronics & appliances
- cell phones
- batteries
- tennis shoes
- cosmetics
- prescription drugs
- mattresses
- Christmas lights
- plastic shopping bags
After all of the above options are exhausted, make sure your item is disposed of properly.
