Have you found yourself cleaning out a closet full of things that no longer fit, or maybe getting ready to move or downsizing your home, perhaps you're simply trying to declutter things you no longer use? Now you are left with a pile of perfectly usable items and wondering: “Can I donate this to a thrift store?” Good news, the answer is usually always yes — but not everything makes a good thrift store donation.A good rule of thumb is simple:
If it's clean, usable, complete, and something another person could realistically use or enjoy, it's probably worth considering as a donation.
Sun City, Arizona, thrift stores depend on donations from local residents to keep circulating affordable items in the community. It's a revolving door of neighbors helping neighbors through the act of donating. Clothing, furniture, housewares, books, home décor, toys, shoes, and countless other items can find a second life instead of ending up in the trash.
However, knowing what to donate and what not to donate, can make the process easier for everyone.
At Ruby Thrift, we're building a local thrift store around exactly that idea: good things finding new homes and residents sharing items they no longer need so someone else who has a need for it can take it home.
So if you're in Sun City, Sun City West, Peoria, Surprise or the surrounding West Valley and have things sitting around your house that you no longer need, here's what you should know before loading up the car and bringing in a bunch of items you cleared out of your home.
What Can You Donate to a Thrift Store?
Thrift stores are always looking for items that are useful, in good condition that can displayed, and sold to someone who will enjoy them at an affordable cost. Donation policies vary from store to store, so it's best to always check with the individual thrift store before bringing something unusual or oversized. In general, these are some of the most common types of donations thrift stores look for.
1. Clothing
Clothing is one of the most abundant things people donate to thrift stores, but also an item that is often needed by many customers.
- Consider donating: Women's clothing, men's clothing, children's clothing, jackets and coats, sweaters, jeans and pants, dresses, skirts, shirts and blouses, athletic clothing, seasonal clothing, vintage clothing, new-with-tags clothing.
Clothing doesn't have to be brand new to be valuable to someone else but it does need to be in good condition. A sweater you haven't worn in three years might be the exact thing another person in the neighborhood has been looking for recently.
Before donating any clothing, take a quick look for:
- Stains, rips or tears, missing buttons, broken zippers, excessive odors, pet hair or excessive wear.
A quick wash and inspection can make a huge difference as it will save a customer from ending up at home only to find the item they bought is defective.
2. Shoes, Purses & Accessories
It's easy to overlook the small stuff that might be tucked away collecting dust such as accessories but those items make great donations!
- Thrift stores can be great places to donate: shoes, boots, sandals, handbags, purses, wallets, backpacks, belts, hats, scarves, jewelry, sunglasses and other fashion accessories
Purses and shoes are often items that quickly turn into a collection that never gets used and starts to just take up valuable closet space.
If you've accumulated more than you can use or store but may have plenty of life left in them, consider donating them so someone else needing a special item for a special celebration or day can find it. The key is condition. Shoes don't need to be perfect, but they should be reasonably clean and wearable.
3. Home Décor
Home décor is one of the categories where you never really know what someone else is going to love. Seasons change, styles change and spaces change. That farmhouse clock you've had hanging on the wall for the last two years, suddenly isn't as ideal in that space as it once was. That clock though might be exactly what someone else has been searching for and wants for their first apartment.
Consider donating:
Picture frames, wall art, mirrors, vases, baskets, decorative bowls, candles and candle holders, lamps, seasonal decorations, holiday décor, figurines, collectibles, decorative boxes, small accent pieces.
And don't automatically assume something is too old-fashioned or out of style. because you never know what someone else is looking for and why. Vintage décor, retro pieces, unique artwork, and charismatic decorative items can all find new homes with the right shopper.
4. Kitchen & Household Items
A kitchen can easily become crowded and overrun with duplicate items that don't get used enough to justify taking up your space. Before you put everything in the trash, take a second look. Other people are always in looking out for kitchen items they need to replace or try out, including: Dishes, plates, bowls, glasses, mugs, serving dishes, pots and pans, kitchen utensils, bakeware, mixing bowls, kitchen gadgets, small working appliances, storage containers and table linens. If it's in good condition, there's a good chance there is a person nearby who will gladly give it a new place to call home.
5. Furniture
- Thrift stores are always in need of donated furniture. Many people especially in a tough economy, don't have privilege of purchasing new quality furniture. It often means going without if they can't find it at an affordable price. If you have any of these furniture pieces that you are no longer in need of thrift stores are often looking to take in: tables, chairs, end tables, coffee tables, nightstands, dressers, shelving, desks, bookcases, small cabinets, and accent furniture.
However, condition matters a lot with furniture as different thrift stores have different policies regarding large furniture, so it's a good idea to check before bringing oversized items. Before donating, check for: broken legs, major structural damage, severe stains, mold or mildew, strong smoke odors, excessive pet hair, missing pieces, significant damage, bugs and carcasses. Just keep in mind, furniture can be bulky and can take up a lot of floor space, so depending on the store's available space and donation policies, items such as these may be welcome or could be turned away.
6. Books, Games & Media
- Books can sometimes pile up, people read them, connect with them and have a hard time parting ways, until there is no more room on the shelf. If your bookshelf is out of control, your unused books will become someone's next read at the thrift store. Consider donating: Novels, cookbooks, children's books, coffee-table books, art, books, puzzles, board games, card games, DVDs, CDs, records, video games.
For games and puzzles, be considerate and ensure that all the pieces are complete. Nobody wants to get home with a 1,000-piece puzzle and discover that piece #742 has disappeared into another dimension.
7. Toys & Games
- A kids room is often overfilled with toys and games that never get played with. Those toys would bring much joy to a new family whose budget is just too tight to splurge on every kids desire, consider giving dolls, action figures, toy vehicles, building toys, board games, puzzles, outdoor toys, craft supplies, children's books and games.
Be kind and remember to check is completeness and condition. No parent wants to give their kid a toy missing half its pieces.
8. Linens & Household Textiles
- If you linen cabinet is stuffed to the max, consider passing along gently used household textiles such as towels, sheets, blankets, comforters, tablecloths, curtains, decorative pillows, and other household linens
As with everything else make sure that the items you pack up to donate are clean and free of significant stains, damage, mold, or strong odors.
9. Electronics
- If your storage area has a box of old unused electronics that you know you will continue to just sit there and collect dust, those items can be great fit as thrift store donations as long as they're working and in usable condition. Most thrift stores will accept items such as speakers, small electronics, game systems, DVD players, radios, small appliances, lamps, and other household electronics
Protect yourself before you pack it up to donate and make sure you remove your information before donating it. If something requires any special access to get inside or whatnot, be kind and write that info down so the next owner can get inside.
And if an electronic item doesn't work, keep in mind that the thrift store will not be able to repair it so keep it out of the donation pile.
What Should You NOT Donate to a Thrift Store?
What to keep out of the donation pile is just as important as knowing what you can donate. Thrift stores rely on donations, but unusable items can create quickly take a toll on a thrift store between disposal costs and sorting costs of broken or unusable items. Before donating any item, ask yourself: “Would I feel comfortable giving this to someone else?” If you've answered "no", keep it out of the donation pile. Some common examples of items thrift stores may not accept include:
Mattresses & heavily used bedding, Broken or damaged furniture, Hazardous materials, Recalled or unsafe items, Car seats and certain baby equipment, Broken electronics, and extremely dirty or heavily damaged clothing.
Many of these items that are not accepted are due to city restrictions on operating such a business, so if one thrift store in Peoria or Sun City doesn't accept, more than likely another one down the road won't either.
The Best Way to Prepare Your Donations
You don't need to spend hours preparing every donation. Thrift stores want to make the donations processes easy on you so that you choose to donate versus dispose of items in the future. But at the same time just a few simple steps can make your donation much more useful.
1. Clean it if possible. Wash clothing and linens. Wipe down household items. Clean dirt and dust from furniture.
2. Do a quick inspection of the item. Look for broken pieces, missing parts, stains, cracks, and other damage.
3. Make sure its complete so it can be used. If a board game has instructions and pieces, keep them together. If an appliance has removable accessories, include them when possible.
4. Always Test it before packing it up. If you're donating an electronic or electrical item, make sure it works. You are more familiar with how the item is supposed to work than the thrift store employee.
5. Grouping similar items together makes sorting much faster for the employees. Try putting books with books, kitchenware with kitchenware, and clothing together.
Where Can You Donate in Sun City, AZ?
You can find several thrift stores and community donations organizations in Sun City and the surrounding West Valley. Each store has its own donation policies, donation hours, accepted items list, and some even offer pick up, so check directly with the organization before heading over. For example, Ruby Thrift accepts donations 24/7 as long as they are left in the back of the store. Other stores can only accept donations during business hours as the location they are in is not set up to handle a donation pile outside. The important thing is to check each store's individual donation policy. Just because one thrift store accepts something doesn't necessarily mean another one will. Find out more about where we are located and our hours.
Donating to Ruby Thrift in Sun City
And, of course, there is Ruby Thrift right here in the Sun City community. We are conveniently located at the corner of where Sun City, Peoria and Surprise meet in order to make is easy to serve a broader community. We're always accepting donations at our store on 107th Ave & Union Hills. Our mission isn't just to create another place to shop, there is an abundance of retail stores around the city. We want Ruby Thrift to become a place where good things get another chance, shoppers can find affordable items, and neighbors can discover something unexpected all while strengthening the community through affordable finds and a community where neighbors can run into neighbors and have a quick chat and a great time.
Ruby Thrift is the place that could have a vintage piece of furniture you have always wanted or a dress you didn't know you needed. A set of dishes for a couple hosting their first Thanksgiving or a book that becomes someone's new favorite.
Something as simple as a coffee mug that makes its way into someone's morning routine. That's what we mean when we say: Good Things Find New Homes. If you have something to donate, check our DONATIONS page to see what we accept or you're unsure whether something is appropriate, please contact us before bringing it in.