When decluttering your home, it’s tempting to bag up unwanted items and drop them off at a charity or thrift store. After all, it feels like a good deed. You’re giving your unused things a second life and helping someone in need. But what most people don’t realize is that not all donations are helpful.

In fact, some items can burden charities instead of assisting them. Processing, storing, or disposing of unusable items costs time and money—resources that should go toward helping those in need.

To truly make an impact, you need to know what not to donate. Here are 10 products you should stop donating to charity right now and what to do instead.

10 Products You Should Stop Donating to Charity Right Now

1. Used or Expired Food

Food pantries and shelters appreciate donations, but they can’t accept opened packages, expired goods, or perishable items that aren’t properly packaged. Unfortunately, these well-intentioned “donations” often end up in the trash because they’re unsafe to serve.

Better Alternative: Donate sealed, unexpired, non-perishable food items, or consider contributing cash so organizations can purchase fresh produce or specific foods they need.

2. Broken Electronics

Old TVs, DVD players, or computers that don’t work create headaches for charities. Most organizations don’t have the resources to repair them, and disposing of electronics requires special handling due to hazardous materials like lead or mercury.

Better Alternative: Recycle broken electronics through certified e-waste programs. If the device still works, consider donating it to a school or local community center that can use it.

3. Worn-Out Shoes or Clothing

While gently used clothing is always welcome, charities can’t make use of heavily stained, torn, or worn-out garments. These items often end up in landfills, creating more waste than good.

Better Alternative: If clothing is too damaged to wear, repurpose it into cleaning rags or look for textile recycling programs. Donate only items you’d still feel comfortable wearing in public.

4. Mattresses and Pillows

Due to hygiene and pest concerns, most charities refuse used mattresses, pillows, and bedding. Bedbugs, mold, or allergens make these items a high liability risk, even if they look clean.

Better Alternative: If your mattress is still in good shape, try selling it locally or checking if your city has a mattress recycling program. For pillows, wash them and repurpose as pet bedding.

5. Large or Broken Furniture

Oversized or damaged furniture is difficult for charities to store, transport, or sell. Sofas with stains, missing legs, or sagging cushions cost more to repair than they’re worth.

Better Alternative: Offer gently used furniture through local “buy nothing” groups or online marketplaces. For broken furniture, consider upcycling projects or responsible disposal.

6. Expired Beauty or Personal Care Products

Lotions, makeup, and skincare products expire, and expired items can cause irritation or infections. Charities often discard these donations for health and safety reasons.

Better Alternative: Donate unused, unopened personal care items like soap, toothpaste, or feminine hygiene products—items shelters always need.

7. Outdated Baby Gear

Car seats, cribs, and strollers often have expiration dates due to safety recalls and wear. Donating older models can put children at risk, and many charities won’t accept them for liability reasons.

Better Alternative: Check with local family resource centers or crisis pregnancy programs that accept certain gently used baby gear. If items are expired, recycle or dispose of them according to manufacturer guidelines.

8. Old Textbooks and Outdated Reference Materials

Charities don’t have much use for old encyclopedias or outdated textbooks. These items take up valuable shelf space and rarely get sold or reused, especially if the content is no longer relevant.

Better Alternative: Donate current educational materials to schools, libraries, or tutoring programs. Outdated books can often be recycled rather than donated.

9. Used Underwear or Socks

While donating clothing is encouraged, used undergarments, even if washed, are generally not accepted due to hygiene standards. These items often get thrown away, costing charities time and money.

Better Alternative: Donate new packaged socks or underwear. These are among the most requested items at shelters. For used items, recycle textiles rather than donating.

10. Cheap Promotional Items

Branded pens, tote bags, and giveaway trinkets from events often pile up at charities because they’re low-quality or not useful. These items rarely sell in thrift stores and often end up in the trash.

Better Alternative: If you want to give functional items, consider donating quality household goods, school supplies, or kitchenware instead of unwanted promotional clutter.

Why Donating the Wrong Items Hurts Charities

When unusable items are donated, charities must spend time sorting, disposing of, or recycling them—resources that could have gone toward helping people. In some cases, the cost of dealing with bad donations outweighs the value of usable ones.

This doesn’t mean you should stop donating altogether. It means being intentional about what you give. Thoughtful donations, aka those in good condition and truly needed, make a bigger impact and help organizations focus on their mission rather than waste management.

How to Make Your Donations Truly Helpful

To ensure your donations are useful rather than burdensome, keep these tips in mind:

• Check donation guidelines on the charity’s website before dropping off items.
• Ask what’s needed most. Many organizations keep a “wish list” of in-demand items.
• Donate quality, not clutter. If something is too worn or broken for you to use, it’s likely not helpful for others.
• Consider financial donations. Cash often allows charities to buy exactly what they need at bulk discounts.
• Think seasonally. Shelters may need coats in winter and fans in summer.

By giving thoughtfully, you ensure your contributions actually improve someone’s life.

Are Your Donations Helping or Hurting?

Donating to charity feels good, but not every item you drop off is a blessing. By avoiding these 10 problematic products, you can ensure your generosity truly benefits those in need rather than creating extra work.

What’s the most surprising item you’ve learned is better to recycle or discard than donate?

Read More:
7 ‘Charities’ That Are Legally Operating—But Keep Almost None of Your Donation

10 Hidden Truths About Donated Clothing That Thrift Stores Keep Hush-Hush

Riley Jones

Riley Jones is an Arizona native with over nine years of writing experience. From personal finance to travel to digital marketing to pop culture, she’s written about everything under the sun. When she’s not writing, she’s spending her time outside, reading, or cuddling with her two corgis.