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Finance

10 Common Items You Should Avoid Donating

Last updated: June 9, 2025 3:54 pm
Oliver James
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6 Min Read
10 Common Items You Should Avoid Donating
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Donating is a wonderful way to give back and contribute to the community, but tossing everything into the donation bin isn’t always helpful. Some items can actually create more problems than they solve. Charities often have limited resources, and receiving unusable or unsafe items forces them to waste time and money sorting, storing, or disposing them.

Contents
1. Used Underwear2. Broken Electronics3. Used Bedding4. Outdated Textbooks5. Expired Medications6. Stained or Torn Clothing7. Hazardous Materials8. Used Car Seats9. Half-Used Toiletries10. VHS Tapes and CassettesInterested in more content about valuable things lying around your home?

To make sure your generosity has the impact you intend — and reaches the people who truly need it — it’s important to know what not to give. Here are 10 things you should never donate — and what to do with them instead.

1. Used Underwear

A pair of gray, worn-out underwear with visible rips and frayed edges, laid flat on a gray background.A pair of gray, worn-out underwear with visible rips and frayed edges, laid flat on a gray background.
bbostjan/istockphoto

Let’s be real: No one wants someone else’s used underwear. It’s unhygienic and generally not accepted by charities. Instead, recycle old undies if they’re beyond repair or repurpose them as cleaning rags. Some brands like Subset even offer recycling programs for old underwear, so check to see if your favorite label has a take-back initiative.

2. Broken Electronics

A cluttered assortment of various outdated electronic devices and accessories, including phones, remote controls, cables, and chargers. The items are overlapping and randomly scattered, creating a chaotic and dense visual.A cluttered assortment of various outdated electronic devices and accessories, including phones, remote controls, cables, and chargers. The items are overlapping and randomly scattered, creating a chaotic and dense visual.
SteveAllenPhoto/istockphoto

Charities don’t have the resources to fix broken TVs, laptops, or phones. If it doesn’t work, it won’t really be a helpful donation. Instead, look for e-waste recycling programs in your area to dispose of electronics properly and safely.

3. Used Bedding

Two stacked mattresses in the corner of a room. The mattresses have visible stains on the surface, and the room's floor is tiled in light color. The walls are plain white.Two stacked mattresses in the corner of a room. The mattresses have visible stains on the surface, and the room's floor is tiled in light color. The walls are plain white.
fadfebrian/istockphoto

Mattresses, pillows, and heavily-worn sheets can harbor allergens, bacteria, and mildew — or worse, bed bugs (barf). Most charities won’t accept them for health and safety reasons. With old bedding, it’s usually best to just recycle or dispose of them entirely. Some cities also offer waste pickup services for bulky items like mattresses and furniture for free or for a small fee.

4. Outdated Textbooks

A stack of open and closed books sits on a wooden shelf. In the background, a variety of colorful books are neatly lined up, showcasing different covers and spines. The scene conveys an atmosphere of reading and knowledge.A stack of open and closed books sits on a wooden shelf. In the background, a variety of colorful books are neatly lined up, showcasing different covers and spines. The scene conveys an atmosphere of reading and knowledge.
Mercedes Rancaño Otero/istockphoto

As curriculum standards and information evolve quickly, old textbooks become outdated and lose their usefulness. Instead, check if a local recycling center accepts books, or look for organizations that specialize in sending educational materials to developing countries. Platforms like OpenStax also allow you to sell or give away old textbooks.

5. Expired Medications

Three open prescription bottles lay on a white surface, spilling various pills—orange oval, white oblong, and teal round tablets. The bottles have orange caps and blurred bottle labels, suggesting medication organization.Three open prescription bottles lay on a white surface, spilling various pills—orange oval, white oblong, and teal round tablets. The bottles have orange caps and blurred bottle labels, suggesting medication organization.
timnewman/istockphoto

Donating expired or opened medications isn’t just unsafe, it can be illegal. To ensure proper disposal (especially for sharp items like needles), consider taking them to a pharmacy or a local medication take-back program. Some pharmacies and programs also offer drop-off boxes year-round for added convenience.

6. Stained or Torn Clothing

Person holding a light blue shirt against a blue background, with a visible dark stain near the pocket area.Person holding a light blue shirt against a blue background, with a visible dark stain near the pocket area.
Halyna Romaniv/istockphoto

Clothing with stains, holes, or excessive wear also won’t be useful to charities. But you can give these garments a second lease at life by donating them to textile recycling programs or repurposing them as cleaning cloths.

7. Hazardous Materials

A person wearing dotted work gloves is opening a can of white paint. The can is placed on a speckled surface. The person appears to be kneeling down and is wearing blue jeans.A person wearing dotted work gloves is opening a can of white paint. The can is placed on a speckled surface. The person appears to be kneeling down and is wearing blue jeans.
FG Trade Latin/istockphoto

Items like paint, chemicals, or batteries may contain hazardous materials and can be dangerous to handle, which is why most donation centers won’t accept them. Check with your local waste management for safe disposal options.

8. Used Car Seats

A man is carefully installing a child car seat in the backseat of a car. He is adjusting the seat to ensure it fits securely. The interior of the car is visible, with grey upholstery and the car door open.A man is carefully installing a child car seat in the backseat of a car. He is adjusting the seat to ensure it fits securely. The interior of the car is visible, with grey upholstery and the car door open.
Oleksandr Hrytsiv/istockphoto

Unbeknownst to many people, car seats have expiration dates (typically around seven to 10 years). This is because materials like plastic and foam can degrade over time, making them less effective at absorbing impact in a crash. If a car seat has been in an accident, it’s considered unsafe and shouldn’t be reused, even if it looks fine on the outside. Some places like Target offer a trade-in program, in which the store recycles used car seats and offers customers a significant coupon when they trade theirs in.

9. Half-Used Toiletries

A bathroom shelf displays various bath product bottles against a blue tiled wall. The bottles vary in color, including green, white, red, pink, and blue, with different shapes and dispenser types such as pumps and flip caps.A bathroom shelf displays various bath product bottles against a blue tiled wall. The bottles vary in color, including green, white, red, pink, and blue, with different shapes and dispenser types such as pumps and flip caps.
enviromantic/istockphoto

Opened or partially used toiletries are unhygienic and generally not accepted by charities for health and safety reasons. Instead, use them up yourself, or dispose of them properly by checking local waste guidelines.

10. VHS Tapes and Cassettes

Hands inserting a VHS tape into a vintage TV with a static-filled screen. The scene is illuminated by soft pink and blue lighting.Hands inserting a VHS tape into a vintage TV with a static-filled screen. The scene is illuminated by soft pink and blue lighting.
Marco_Piunti/istockphoto

These outdated media formats are rarely used nowadays (unless you’re a collector of vintage memorabilia or a fan of retro tech). Instead, consider recycling them through e-waste programs, which can safely break down the materials. You could also check with local artists or even schools that repurpose VHS tapes and cassettes for art projects and other sustainability efforts.

Interested in more content about valuable things lying around your home?

First, check out 10 Recyclable Items You Can Turn Into Cash. We think you’ll also find How To Make Money By Selling the Old Electronics You Forgot About and 12 Things You’re Throwing Away That Could Be Sold Instead a fun read.

The post 10 Common Items You Should Avoid Donating appeared first on Wealth Gang.

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