The complete guide to donating your preloved clothes and rediscovering the floor of your closet!
Don’t we all have clothes that are just lying at some corner of our wardrobe? Are you looking to donate clothes near you?
It could be a dress that’s out of fashion or a college t-shirt that no longer fits. Whatever it is, you know you are holding onto something you no longer use. Give away your unwanted clothes and we will ensure they reach someone who truly needs them.
So, are you ready to donate clothes? But hold onto those shirts and jeans for a wee bit more! Before you donate, let’s make sure we’re all on the same page about which clothes and related accessories are acceptable and which aren’t. Many of us have wardrobes filled with items we haven’t worn in ages, or we notice parents struggling with outgrown outfits each season.
Many of us have closets filled with unused clothes, or we see parents struggling with outgrown outfits each time their kids grow. Community centers and shelters also organize clothing drives and often look to donate in bulk.
However, by helping you understand what can be donated on our platform, we can ensure these items find a new home where they are truly need and make a huge impact in someone’s life:
Acceptable and Non-Acceptable Items for Clothes Donation in India
Category | Acceptable | Non-Acceptable |
Clothing Items | Gently used, clean, and undamaged clothing items such as shirts, pants, dresses, skirts, and jackets. Clothing should be free of stains, tears, or excessive wear. | Clothing that is heavily soiled, stained, torn, or in poor condition. Clothing with missing buttons, broken zippers, or other damage that cannot be easily repaired. Undergarments and unmatched socks. |
Outerwear | Coats, jackets, and sweaters in good condition. Rainwear and winter accessories such as gloves and scarves. | Outerwear that is heavily worn, damaged, or in poor condition, such as jackets with missing or broken parts like buttons, or sweaters with lint on them. |
Accessories | Belts, scarves, hats, and bags in good condition. | Accessories that are heavily worn, damaged, or in poor condition, such as worn-out belts with missing or broken parts, or belts with sharp buckles due to rusting. |
Household Textiles | Sheets, blankets, pillows, towels, and curtains in good condition. | Household textiles that are heavily worn, stained, torn, or in poor condition. |
Frequently Asked Questions (FAQs)
Donation Guidelines
What to do before donating clothes?
There are a few things to keep in mind if you plan to donate old clothes to charity :
- Make sure that the donated clothes are in wearable condition.
- Try and wash and fold the clothes before donating them.
- Make sure you have them ready for pickup before the time of your pickup.
Is it good to donate old clothes?
Yes, it is a wise step to donate clothes to them. You can help reduce your impact on the earth and maybe provide some good clothing for someone else. If you’re planning on throwing it all away anyway, sorting through it isn’t even necessary. Just donate, get more space in your wardrobe and make someone’ life better.
What types of clothing items can I donate?
You can donate a variety of clothing items, including gently used shirts, pants, dresses, skirts, and jackets. Outerwear such as coats, sweaters, rainwear, and winter accessories like gloves and scarves are also welcome. Accessories like belts, scarves, hats, and bags in good condition are appreciated. Household textiles such as sheets, blankets, pillows, towels, and curtains in good condition are also accepted.
Do you accept heavily worn or damaged clothing items?
We accept clothing that is gently used, clean, and undamaged. This includes items free of stains, tears, or excessive wear. However, we do not accept clothing that is heavily soiled, stained, torn, or in poor condition. This includes items with missing buttons, broken zippers, or other damage that cannot be easily repaired. Undergarments and unmatched socks are also not accepted.
Booking Process
How can I donate my preloved clothes?
To schedule a pickup for your preloved clothes and accessories in India, just visit our website and follow these steps:
- Click here to get started with the donation pickup request.
- Put your location and choose from the pickup options available in your area.
- Select a convenient slot, fill in your details, make the payment, and schedule a pickup.
Donation Tracking and Transparency
What happens to the donated clothes?
When you raise a request on our website sadsindia.org, our NGO mapping algorithm picks an NGO for your donations depending on various parameters- location, items to be donated, their quantity etc.
Then the donations are picked up by our logistics partner and delivered to the matched NGO the same day directly. You are notified of the details of the NGO where your donations went via automated email.
Quantity
Do you have a minimum or maximum quantity for donations?
We’re excited to accept donations of all sizes, from just a few sweaters to an entire box of clothes—every bit helps! You can choose from our Light Pickup for smaller donations or opt for the “Medium to Heavy” pickup for more volume. You can select the “large suitcase” volume option one or multiple times depending on the volume of your donations.
For larger bulk donations, Share At Door Step offers a convenient collection drive option. This service allows you to organize donation drives at various locations such as societies, workplaces, tech parks, and schools.
To set up a drive, provide details about the organizer, the location, and the types of items to be donated. Share At Door Step ensures that your donations are collected and delivered to those in need, making the process smooth and impactful
What time slots do you have for scheduling a pickup?
The 2-wheeler pickups are near-instant and are available every day in most cities. Sunday slots may not be available in a few locations. Typical slot timings for pickups are 10-12 PM, 12-2 PM and 2-4 PM.
For “Medium to Heavy Pickup”, we have pickup slots available every Wednesday in all the cities. Bengaluru has slots available every day. The slot timings would be confirmed to you a day in advance by our logistics partner.
Surplus or Excess Stock Donation
Can I donate surplus stock (on behalf of my company)?
Yes, you absolutely can! If you have surplus stock from your company that you’d like to donate, please contact us at [email protected] or WhatsApp us at +91-8884784742. We’ll coordinate with our NGO partners to ensure that your items are needed and help you arrange a pickup that fits your schedule. This is a fantastic way to give back and make a positive impact with your clothing items that you just don’t use anymore.
Packing Guidelines
What’s the best way to pack the clothes for donation?
For two-wheeler pickup, you can pack in a disposable bag as the bag that riders carry is super small.
For medium to heavy pickup, the ‘2 carton combo’ or ‘large suitcase option’ is equivalent to a large suitcase (that you carry to the airport) volume-wise. You can pack them in anything you have as long as the volume constraint is met (i.e volume of donations does not exceed the volume of items you selected while booking).
Generally, people use those blue-black disposable bags or old bedsheets to pack the items as they are easily available at home.
Drop-Off
Can I drop off my donations instead?
Absolutely! When you book, just opt for the ‘drop-off’ option. We’ll email you a list of local charities/organizations that you can coordinate with and plan your visit. Please ensure to coordinate with them and confirm their requirements and open hours before planning the visit.
Convenience fee
Is there a fee for the pickup service?
Yes, a nominal convenience fee is charged to facilitate the pickup from your home.
For a two-wheeler pickup (upto 10 Kgs in 1 bag), the convenience fee is Rs. 199 onwards based on your distance from the nearby matching NGO. For “medium to heavy” pickup, it starts with Rs. 699 for a large suitcase volume.
For each subsequent addition, you would be charged 500 or 550 depending on the volume of the additional item added. You will see the exact convenience fee at the bottom when you schedule a pickup (at step 3 when you choose the items you wish to donate).
Why are charges applicable for the pickup?
We are a tech platform that facilitates the pickup service for giving away old clothes. We charge a convenience fee to cover the costs incurred in providing these services and to fairly compensate for the effort involved in the pickup process.
If in case, you do not wish to pay, you can choose the 4th option ‘drop yourself’ to get the list of nearby NGOs that you can coordinate with and plan your visit. You can let us know via email if you need our help with the same.
Donate your preloved clothes and accessories in India to clear up space, declutter your wardrobe, and boost your productivity. Plus, it’s great for the planet and helps others too.
Join Share At Door Step and turn your forgotten items into valuable tools for others. Schedule your pickup today and make a positive impact!