Donating Messy Clothes to GoodWill?

Question

I would like to donate some clothes to Goodwill. The clothes are in good condition, though obviously worn. I have quite a bit to donate of clothes to donate to Goodwill though don't have the time to wash loads of clothes.

I would assume GoodWill would wash these clothes before selling them themselves right?

The clothes just need a wash, only thing is I personally can't wash it all. Help?

Answer 1

My friend worked at Goodwill for 1 1/2 years and I asked her if the clothes they receive get washed. And she said no!! I was shocked. They don't even have a washing machine. If they look really bad, they just throw them out.

I send my clothes, furniture, etc...to Salvation Army or to a homeless shelter.

Answer 2

goodwill doesn't wash the clothes, if they are dirty or if they smell they will just throw them out.

Is it possible for you to wash one load a week for the next few weeks and give them like that? That way it takes less time.

You could do the laundromat thing...use the huge triple loaders it will only take you a couple hours and $20 or so...

Answer 3

Take your time and wash them. Wash a load or two, and take them to Goodwill, just work away at it as time permits, but do wash them before donating them.   I doubt Goodwill has the facilities to wash them.

Answer 4

Anything that's too worn out or too old and dirty cannot be accepted as donations by non-profit organizations [such as Goodwill] or charities [such as Red Cross or Red Crescent].

They will only sell what's decent and they do not wash them. They're priority is to sell the product at a reasonable price and any profits will go back into their organization's departments or divisions or for future use.

Answer 5

Organizations like the GoodWill request that you DO NOT donate unwashed clothing. Most of them don't have their own washers/dryers and have to spend money to send them out to get washed.

It doesn't really take that long to do a couple of loads of laundry. Can you really not do the laundry yourself before donating? Maybe you could pay a friend to do it, but please don't donate unwashed clothing.

Answer 6

No.  Don't donate them until you have time to clean them.  It's only right.  Nobody at Goodwill has time to do it, either.  Nor have they the equiptment for it.

Answer 7

You should only donate clean clothing. Are they soiled or stained? I mean, you can't be expected to donate dry cleaned pressed clothing but it should not smell bad or have stains. And to answer your other question, no, Goodwill will not wash them.

Answer 8

I found on Goodwill's site - http://www.goodwill.org/page/guest/about... - that they ask that you clean items before donating them.

I just took two carloads of stuff to Goodwill last week and they checked everything over before they would take it.  If you were to just drop off dirty clothes at an unattended drop they would probably just throw them out.

If you really don't have time to wash the clothing items then perhaps you could pay to have them washed at a laundry service or pay a teenager to do the washing for you.  Otherwise, you should just dump the clothes, because that is what will happen to them anyway.

Answer 9

Goodwill does not launder clothes before they sell them.  If the clothes are dirty, Goodwill will just dispose of them.  They won't sell dirty clothes.  If you can't wash them first, you shouldn't give them to Goodwill.

Answer 10

Clean clothes are always preferrable over clothing that needs to be washed, no matter who you are donating them to. I know that Goodwill requests that any item donated be in good repair and clean. I suppose it is possible that your local Goodwill would accept clothing that needs to be cleaned, you'll have to ask them directly. I know that my local Goodwill does not have laundry facilities.

I volunteered for 8 years at a local charity that provided new and used clothing to school children in need. School Social workers would come by and select what was needed by the kids, and bring the clothing to them. Most of our donations came in clean and ready to use. However, we also received dirty, or musty, or worn out clothing too. We'd sort and mend what we could. We tried to set up a space to launder donations, but that never worked out....so each of us volunteers would take home bags of donated clothing to wash at home. I did at least one 33 gallon trash bag full of clothes every week.....on top of working part time and doing my own laundry at home. Trust me, I much preferred donations that were clean already! You aren't asking that a faceless charity clean your donations, your asking that a person clean your clothing. I realize that Goodwill does job training, and so they may have a laundry, but most of them do not. And so Goodwill workers, staff, and volunteers are the ones doing the cleaning or tossing.

Answer 11

Before donating the clothing, I would highly reccomend telling them that the clothes need washing before you donate them. That way, they know that they need to be washed.

Good for you for donating!

Best of luck.

Answer 12

You can drop off clothes to GoodWill that have not been washed as long as they aren't too dirty or have big stains on them. You should try and wash those only. I just dropped off clothes the other day that weren't washed because I didn't have the time, the ones that were really dirty- I stuck in the wash before I took it.

Hope this helps!

Answer 13

you dont need to wash your clothes no they dont wash them either they just sort and price them then hang them out its the responsibility of the buyer to wash them

99 percent of the people that walk in know its a wash then wear kind of place you are after all buying USED items theres a new section but its labled new items.

the toys need sanitized as does the shoes  the bedding and furniture even comes with red tags that say they dont know when it was last decontaminated its up to the buyer to wash and sanitize before using

its sweet of you to worry about, but please donate your clothing. the money goes to the jobs programs the goodwill has and helps people get back on their feet again.

Answer 14

I believe they wash the clothes anyway, but I'm sure if you call them, they'd be happy to tell you. If you don't want to call, just assume they won't and get a friend to help you wash them or something. I've donated a s**+*load of clothes before and somehow, I was able to wash everything. It can be done! :]

Answer 15

I feel strongly about making sure what your giving to the Goodwill will not make their jobs harder. I see too many people that are dumping junk & dirty clothing to people who can't afford good clothing anyways. Just like when there is a fire, when someone looses everything in a fire, it would be nice if people donated something that was in very nice condition and new, but not something that would put more hassle in their live when they already have enough on their plate.

Many of these people and employees don't have the time to wash them either...this is my opinion.

Answer 16

Please don't donate dirty clothes.   No Goodwill does not have the facilities to wash them.   Your dirt will contaminate other donations and they will end up being sold as low quality rags or Goodwill will have to pay to have them hauled off as garbage.   Besides which why donate something for some poor person to wear that you wouldn't wear yourself.  Wash a few things at a time as you do your regular wash or save Goodwill a garbage haul off fee and junk them yourself.

Answer 17

I don't wash them, I just fold them..

Anything with spots, that I know won't come out, go in the garbage.

Answer 18

Don't donate dirty clothing to the Goodwill.  It will cost them time and money to wash (if they even do such a thing) to process your clothing for sale.  Why not hang on to the clothes, wash it a little at a time and THEN donate?