What Not to Give to Charity: Items Charities Actually Don't Want

Most folks have good intentions when they drop off a bag at the donation center. But here’s the kicker—charities spend tons of time and money getting rid of things people shouldn’t have given in the first place. Take my daughter Lydia: one weekend, we tried to donate old board games with missing pieces, thinking maybe someone could enjoy them anyway. Nope. All we did was give the staff another headache (and probably a mini treasure hunt for missing Monopoly money).

It’s easy to think any hand-me-down is helpful. But many items clog up storage, can’t be resold, or even break health and safety rules. Some charities get so overwhelmed with unusable stuff, it even costs them money to throw it out. Makes you think twice about tossing that bag of stained shirts or mystery kitchen gadgets into the donation bin, right?

If you want your generosity to really matter, knowing what NOT to give is just as important as what to donate. So, before you start cleaning out the closets, let’s dig into why these rules exist and what you should leave out of your charity pile.

• Why Some Donations Hurt More Than Help
• The Worst Offenders: What Charities Can't Use
• Clothing and Household Goods: The Surprising No-Go List
• Food and Toiletries: What’s Actually Usable
• Smarter Giving: How to Make the Biggest Impact

Why Some Donations Hurt More Than Help

This might sound backwards—how could giving stuff ever be a bad thing? But charities all over the world actually spend millions getting rid of things they can’t use. According to Oxfam UK, about 15% of the donations they receive are either unsellable, dangerous, or just plain useless. It’s not just about space. Sorting through bad donations eats up staff time that could be better spent helping people.

Imagine you run a food bank. Someone drops off expired canned food. Not only is it a waste, but now the staff has to pay for safe disposal because that food’s a legal and health risk. Or picture a thrift shop getting a broken vacuum cleaner—they can’t use it, can’t sell it, and have to haul it off to the dump. It’s not just annoying—it racks up costs quickly.

This isn’t just a UK issue. Goodwill in the US spends tens of millions every year taking broken or unsellable donations straight to landfill. That’s money diverted from job programs or local support projects.

The takeaway? Charities want to help people, not be a dumping ground. Dropping off items that are broken, unsafe, or just what you want to be rid of doesn’t help—it piles up extra work and drains budgets meant for good causes. If you’re planning to participate in charity events or clear out your house, a little careful thinking before you donate goes a long way.

The Worst Offenders: What Charities Can't Use

Charities often get stuck with stuff they never wanted. Why? Because people are cleaning out their garages, not thinking about what’s actually helpful. Here are the big offenders—things most organizations just can’t accept, no matter how nice you think your donation is.

• Charity shops can't take broken electronics or appliances. If a toaster or TV doesn’t work, it’s just landfill in disguise. Most places don’t have staff or money to repair things, and safety rules mean they can't risk it.
• Old mattresses and furniture with rips or stains almost always get rejected. Hygiene rules are strict. Bedbugs, smells, and stains make them impossible to resell or even give away.
• Recalled items and baby gear (like car seats) also land on the no-go list. If there’s the slightest chance something’s unsafe, charities can’t risk passing it on. Car seats especially are a legal nightmare and are nearly always refused.
• Unopened medicines and medical supplies—even if you mean well—are another headache. Laws stop charities from distributing donated meds, even over-the-counter stuff. If you can’t use them up, pharmacies sometimes offer disposal, but charities won’t take the risk.
• “Sentimental clutter” shows up all the time: used trophies, personalized memorabilia, old wedding dresses with names stitched inside. These have no value for anyone else and just end up in the back room until someone throws them out.

What really happens to these worst offenders? Most charities have to pay to get rid of them, which eats into funds meant to help people. So, if you’re ever not sure, call before you donate or check the website’s list of items they accept.

Clothing and Household Goods: The Surprising No-Go List

Most people figure that if something still zips or clicks, it can go straight in the donation pile. But that’s not how most charity shops or shelters see it. There’s a surprising amount of stuff they have to turn away. Some of it is because of practical limits, and some because of strict health or safety laws. If you ever wonder why donation bins sometimes overflow or stores only take certain things, this is what’s going on.

Here’s a checklist of items most charities almost always reject:

• Stained, ripped, or worn-out clothes: If you wouldn’t wear it yourself, neither will anyone else. Torn coats, stretched-out sweaters, or shirts with sweat stains just get tossed.
• Used underwear and socks: New only. Pretty self-explanatory — hygiene rules are strict here.
• Broken electronics or appliances: If it doesn’t work or is missing cords, charities can’t sell or use it. They pay fees to recycle e-waste.
• Cribs, car seats, and mattresses: Safety standards change fast. Most shops can’t take these because they can’t guarantee it’s still safe, and it could put someone’s child at risk.
• Old pillows and duvets: Stuff gets dusty, harbors allergens, and is a nightmare to clean or check for bedbugs.
• Furniture with rips, stains, or broken frames: Most organizations don’t have the space or the tools to fix up rough furniture.
• Out-of-date televisions or computers: If it’s so old you wouldn’t use it at home, neither can they.

People are shocked when they hear that up to 70% of clothes donated in the UK to major charity chains are turned away or sent to textile recyclers—usually because they’re not saleable. In the US, Goodwill spends tens of millions every year disposing of the stuff they can’t use. Sometimes the money spent tossing junk could literally run a meal program for a month.

So, if you’re cleaning out the garage or your kids’ closets, just ask yourself: would you feel okay buying this secondhand? If not, it’s better to recycle it properly or toss it, rather than giving charities more to deal with. If in doubt, check the charity’s website—they often list exactly what they do and don’t want.

Food and Toiletries: What’s Actually Usable

People are always keen to throw a couple cans of soup or spare shampoo in the charity bin, but here’s the thing: food banks and shelters can’t use just anything. Food safety rules are strict, and nobody wants to get sick because Aunt Ruth’s pickled beets from 2003 finally surfaced. You want your donation to help, not to end up in the trash.

Here’s what makes the cut for most places:

• Non-perishable, unopened, and in-date food only. Anything expired or without a label? Straight to the bin.
• No homemade or opened food. Charities can’t guarantee it’s safe.
• Check size and packaging. Some smaller shelters can’t handle mega-sized bulk items.
• For toiletries, original, factory-sealed packages only—think toothpaste, soap, and sanitary items. No half-used bottles or things missing lids.

If you want to stick with the basics, canned vegetables, pasta, rice, and shelf-safe milk always go fast. For toiletries, it’s all about the essentials: soap, toothbrushes, and menstrual hygiene products. Interestingly, most places get more shampoo than deodorant or razors, so variety actually matters.

Here’s a quick look at common donation rejects and what’s actually welcomed. According to Feeding America (one of the biggest food nonprofits in the U.S.), less than 5% of rejected donations are due to food recalls—it’s mostly expired goods or opened packages.

If you’re ever unsure, just call ahead or check the website for their wish list. You’ll make life easier for charity staff, and your charity donation actually reaches someone who needs it.

Smarter Giving: How to Make the Biggest Impact

If you’re ready to step up your charity game, it’s not just about what you give—it’s how you do it. A charity that gets exactly what it needs can help more people, more efficiently. Here’s how you can make your donation count for real.

The best place to start is simple: ask the charity what they actually need. Most organizations keep a running wish list on their website or Facebook page. You’ll see things like brand-new socks, non-perishable food, or school supplies. But some years, all they beg for is toilet paper or cleaning spray! Directly checking stops you from sending in random stuff that just collects dust.

• If you’re donating goods, stick to items in great condition. Think like you’re giving them to a friend—you wouldn’t give a buddy broken dishes or worn-out shoes.
• Check the charity’s list of banned items. Some don’t accept electronics, bulky furniture, or even stuffed animals for safety and space reasons.
• For food banks, go for non-expired, unopened, and shelf-stable foods. Skip the decade-old canned veggies from the back of the pantry. They really do check expiration dates!

Cash is king. One Red Cross study found that for every $1 donated, they can get $4 worth of relief supplies, thanks to bulk buying. Most organizations can stretch money way farther than we can with retail shopping. Don’t be shy—sometimes a donation of cash makes the most sense.

If you're tempted to declutter, ask your local charity before dropping off a carload. And for holiday drives—check for real-time needs. Last December, Lydia’s school swapped its usual coat drive for new bedding, since the shelter said that’s what they were desperate for.

A little research turns a good deed into a great one. Want to make your next gift stick? Just call, message, or check your favorite group’s latest request. When you match your giving to what’s needed, you help charities do what they do best—help more people, more quickly. That’s how you make a true impact.